Day 4: Chile sizzle in the sun as tournament turns up the heat
Tuesday 26 August 2025
Oslo’s Rådhusplassen, all Nordic functionalism along the banks of the fjords, may be a world away from their usual surroundings, but on Day 4 of the Homeless World Cup, Chile created a little corner of home away from home.
Coach Juan Erazo has plugged the team into the local Chilean community, taking his team to practice folk traditions and eat comforting food from back home.
¡Tranquilo! That’s the advice you hear shouted over and over from Erazo on the sidelines as his team attack. And Chile’s country folk who turned out in force today to support the South Americans from the stands saw lots of that. They were treated to one of the games of the tournament as a ding-dong game against twice winners Scotland ended 6-6. Chile won a tense penalty-shoot, to follow up an earlier three points against hosts Norway.
A good day’s work for the 2023 winners, who now sit pretty at the joint top of Group C, just ahead of Denmark, who also finished the day with a win in normal time and after a shoot out. If they keep it up, there might be a few more Pastel de Chocos cooked up by their adoring fans.
Anyone who’s watched the Netflix global hit film The Beautiful Game will remember the dancing and singing of the South Africans, inspired by the real life team led by coach Clifford Martinus. This spirit led to the award of the day’s FIFPRO Award cue, yes, more dancing.
In the women’s competition, Kenya and Poland recorded two wins a piece in Group A; Mexico and Uganda secured six points each in Group B; USA sit solo at the top of Group C; two newcomers top the table in Group D with Tanzania on six points and Vietnam five after a win and two for a penalty shoot-out.
In the men’s competition, Egypt top Group A with two wins; Mexico and Portugal share top spot in Group B with six points apiece; the dancing South Africans and 2013 hosts Poland have 100% records in the second stage’s Group D; Greece and Canada both won their sole game in Group E, with Germany and Ghana the same in Group F, Japan and Hong Kong matching that in Group G and Austria and Argentina in Group H.
Words by Dan Tyte | Photos by Anita Milas & Donnie Nicholson