Day 6 round-up: Shoot outs and sporting behaviour the order of the day in Oslo 2025
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It was quarter-final eve in Oslo today, as play reached the end of the second group stage. With so much at stake- both on and off the pitch- teams were difficult to split.
Mexico may be on the march for their eighth women’s Homeless World Cup in a row, but today on the pitches in Rådhusplassen, it was the African champions Uganda who got the win after a tense penalty shoot out. But all’s not lost for the current champions: Mexico play Ivory Coast in tomorrow’s quarter-final while Uganda face India.
Uganda had further cause for celebration today, picking up the day’s first award from FIFPRO’s Raymond Beaard for sporting play in a tie against Austria, taking their foot off the gas when ahead so both teams could enjoy the occasion. While it’s the first time outside the East African country for most of their players, they’re a strong, sociable team who are enjoying meeting the whole world in one place at the Homeless World Cup.
The Welsh women have had a day to remember too. When Greece’s luggage was lost en route to Oslo, their counterparts from Cymru lent them their socks. This spirit saw the Welsh awarded the second FIFPRO Award for fair play today, a moment their coach Jo Price says was as good as winning the Homeless World Cup. Tomorrow, they’ll take their place as one of two European teams in the quarter-finals for the top trophy, matching up against Kenya. Romania play Egypt in the final pairing of the top eight.
Vietnam and Finland women needed penalties to split them up, the Vietnamese taking the tie, but both now go through to the third tier trophy women’s quarter-finals.
In the men’s competition, shoot outs settled the score in matches between Brazil and England, Bulgaria and Costa Rica, Denmark and Kyrgyz Republic and Northern Ireland and Scotland. After an exceptional 3-3 game, Brazil pegging the English back from 3-1 down, England’s keeper Martin Forshaw made two heroic saves sending his team into the top trophy quarters and Brazil into the second stage trophy.
Martin’s team will play Portugal tomorrow, with champions Mexico taking on Egypt, Chile playing Poland and South Africa taking on the Scottish in the race for the Homeless World Cup.
Two days to go and all to play for in Oslo.
Words by Dan Tyte| Photos by Anita Milas