Hat-trick hosts: Mexico City to stage Homeless World Cup in 2026
Mexico 2012 Homeless World Cup
On the eve of Finals Day at the Oslo 2025 Homeless World Cup, the Homeless World Cup Foundation has today announced that the 2026 Homeless World Cup will be held in Mexico City, Mexico.
Mexico’s capital city will welcome players and teams from across the world to compete for their country in the Homeless World Cup, a world-class sporting event, that harnesses the power of football to create a positive change for thousands of people and shapes attitudes and perceptions towards homelessness.
The tournament, the third time it has been held in Mexico City, will once again take place at the impressive Zócalo, the central plaza is in the heart of Mexico’s busy and thriving capital city and was also the venue for the 2012 and 2018 tournaments.
The event will be hosted with Fundación Telmex Telcel alongside the Homeless World Cup Foundation. Oslo will host this year’s Homeless World Cup, welcoming over 500 players to Norway’s capital city for the 20th edition of the tournament in August (23rd – 30th).
Mel Young, President and co-founder at the Homeless World Cup Foundation said:
“We are delighted and encouraged to announce Mexico City as the host for the 2026 Homeless World Cup. In less than two months, over 500 players from across the globe will be in Norway’s capital for the 20th edition of the Homeless World Cup and to now have the venue, city and country confirmed for 2026 is a huge positive for us all.
“Everyone at the Homeless World Cup Foundation and our global network has fond memories of our previous tournaments in Mexico City, in 2012, a record 168,000 spectators came to watch the passionate and incredibly entertaining football on show over the 8-days but to also cheer on and support our players, allowing them to be recognised and celebrated as the athletes and heroes that they are.
“Starting to work on and prepare for the Mexico City 2026 Homeless World Cup before our next event this summer puts us in a fantastic position to maintain the wonderful momentum and sustained global interest in the tournament, which only further cements the Homeless World Cup as a desirable proposition and permanent fixture in the major sporting event calendar.”
José Antonio Aboumrad, Sports Director at Fundación Telmex Telcel said:
“Mexico City is honoured to once again host the Homeless World Cup. Our city has twice witnessed the extraordinary spirit of this tournament, where football changes lives and communities come together in unity. In 2026, we will build on that legacy and create an event that inspires our nation and the world”.
Mexico is the Homeless World Cup’s most successful nation in both the Men’s and Women’s competition and will be hoping to continue this tradition on home soil next year.
Mexico Women won a record 9th Homeless World Cup at the tournament in Seoul last year, beating Romania in the final and not to be outdone, the Mexico Men’s team completed the double at the Seoul 2024 Homeless World, winning the tournament for the 5th time, the most successful Men’s team in Homeless World Cup history.
The Oslo 2025 Homeless World Cup finishes tomorrow in Norway’s capital city. Mexico Women are once again in the final, taking on Uganda in the Women’s Homeless World Cup and Egypt take on Portugal in the Men’s Homeless World Cup Final.