Hope hangs in the air as 20th tournament kicks off in the Gateway to the Fjords
When Mel Young and Harald Schmied came up with the idea for the Homeless World Cup in a bar in Cape Town in 2001, little did they know that the 20th edition of the tournament would kick off in the shadow of the Nobel Peace Centre on a sunny Saturday in the Norwegian city of Oslo in 2025.
But that’s what happened today as 500 players from 48 nations communed in the Gateway to the Fjords for a festival of football that realises Mel and Harald’s dream to use football to inspire change. Since its inception in 2003, the HWC network has impacted the lives of 1.3m million people and now supports over 200,000 participants each year.
Impact research shows that 94% of players report a positive effect on their lives, 83% improve relationships with family/friends and 76% continue playing football after the event. Not bad going for an idea between pals in a South African bar.
Outside Oslo’s Central station at lunchtime, fresh from flights from around the world, athletes from each team gathered behind their nation’s flag for a parade through the central streets. Crowds of fans (and surprised shoppers) were treated to cheers, chants and dance; Team India showing off saris, kangaroos waltzing to the claps of the Australians, Italian centurions looking more set for the Coliseum than the fast-paced four v four football of the Homeless World Cup.
While national pride was understandably on show, the players knew they were united by much more than borders: the opportunity of sport to help them overcome the obstacles of life.
As the march snaked towards the water, the tournament pitches of Rådhusplassen (City Hall Square) came into view, as Norwegian superstar DJ Matoma took to the wheels of steel to provide a pulse-raising beat to the shouts of the excited crowds.
After all that, there was football. And lots of it. Each country took their place on the pitches in front of packed stands. India’s women took the victory in the opening game against the hosts, coach Pankaj Prakash Mahajan certain the heaving crowd was supporting the Indian team just as fiercely as the Norwegians. Brazil- winners of the men’s Homeless World Cup the last time the tournament was held in Oslo- took on the home team next, running out 7-2 winners in a game closer than the scoreline suggests.
Mexico’s men got their title defence off to a solid start, but were made to work for it against neighbours Costa Rica, while Greece and Canada had fun in a nine-goal thriller and Poland beat Chile 7-4. In the final game, Indonesia equalised with a last touch volley but still couldn’t get past Kyrgyz Republic on penalties.
In the women’s tournament, Uganda pushed past Tanzania, impressive Austria saw off a spirited Ireland, Wales beat USA 6-2, while Romania- regulars at the deep end of the tournament- got past the Danes.
But as always at the Homeless World Cup, it’s not just about the shots and saves.
Hope hangs in the air. What will unfold in Oslo over the next week is much more than a game.
Words by Dan Tyte | Photos by Anita Milas