IMPACT STADIUM POWERED BY GENIUS SPORTS LAUNCHES A GLOBAL FOOTBALL MOVEMENT AHEAD OF MEXICO CITY 2026
Take a seat. Change a life.
The Homeless World Cup Foundation has today launched the Impact Stadium powered by Genius Sports - a global virtual stadium aiming to unite football fans around the world ahead of one of the biggest periods in football history.
At the 1986 World Cup Final, a record 114,600 people packed into Estadio Azteca in Mexico City - the largest attendance ever recorded at a World Cup Final.
Forty years later, football returns to Mexico City. And so does the Homeless World Cup.
Now, the Homeless World Cup Foundation and Genius Sports are inviting the world to come together once again - not simply to watch football, but to help change lives through it.
The Impact Stadium aims to fill and surpass the historic 114,600 attendance by creating a virtual stadium of 115,000 supporters from across the world, with every £5 seat purchased helping fund football programmes supporting people experiencing homelessness and social exclusion across the Homeless World Cup Foundation’s global network of 75 Member Countries.
This is not a ticket to watch football.
It is a chance to show what football can do.
Buy your seat today at the Impact Stadium and help us change 5,000 lives across the globe
Every seat purchased helps create access to football, mentoring, support and recovery pathways for people experiencing homelessness and social exclusion around the world.
A sold-out Impact Stadium could:
• Support approximately 5,000 people annually through Homeless World Cup Member Country programmes • Strengthen support across 75 Homeless World Cup Member Countries • Expand access to football, belonging and recovery pathways globally • Help thousands of people rebuild confidence, identity and opportunity through football
Since 2003, the Homeless World Cup Foundation and its Member Country partners have positively impacted more than 1.7 million lives worldwide through football, reaching more than 220,000 people annually.
The campaign has been designed as a visible global movement where supporters, players, ambassadors, partners, businesses and Member Countries all play a role in helping “fill the Impact stadium”.
Supporters purchasing a seat will be encouraged to publicly share their involvement through the campaign message:
The campaign will also feature:
• Player stories from across 22 years of the Homeless World Cup • Supporter challenges • Milestone moments • Member Country activations • Corporate participation • Global social media campaigns • Football storytelling throughout the road to Mexico City 2026
As presenting partner, Genius Sports will support the campaign through fundraising activity, awareness building, storytelling and employee engagement initiatives throughout the campaign lifecycle.
Matthew Williams, Director of Marketing and Communications at the Homeless World Cup Foundation, said:
“Football has the power to bring people together in ways very few things can.
The Impact Stadium is not about watching football. It is about showing what football can do when people come together with purpose. Every seat represents somebody choosing to support dignity, belonging, opportunity and hope through football.
Mexico City holds a special place in football history and also in the history of the Homeless World Cup. Bringing the tournament back there for the third time in January 2027 for our 21s edition of the event makes this campaign feel even more powerful.
We want fans, players, clubs, businesses, our 75 Member Countries and communities around the world to say: ‘I’ve got my seat. Have you?’”
Tom Washington, Group Marketing Director at Genius Sports, said:
“At Genius Sports, we believe sport has the power to create meaningful social impact far beyond the pitch.
The Impact Stadium is an ambitious and inspiring campaign that brings football fans together around a shared purpose - helping change lives through the global work of the Homeless World Cup Foundation.
We’re proud to support a movement that combines football, community and storytelling in such a powerful way and we’re excited to help grow awareness, engagement and fundraising ahead of Mexico City 2026.”
The campaign officially launches on Friday 5th June 2026, with supporters able to purchase virtual seats and become part of one of the world’s largest football-for-good movements.
TAKE YOUR SEAT. CHANGE A LIFE.
The Mexico City 2026 Homeless World Cup will take place at the Zocalo Square in January 2027 (17th - 23rd January)