The (yellow) cape of good hope
It was the bright yellow jacket that caught the eye. The same bright yellow jacket that had shone through the drizzle on the opening day of Seoul 2024, protecting the solitary figure of 65-year-old Maryland, USA accountant and homelessness advocate, Darline Bell-Zuccarelli, as she gazed across the empty pitches, waiting for the tournament to start.
Could it be that the same Darline had pitched up amidst the chaos of day one in Oslo 2025?
“I figured if I wore the same jacket, somebody might remember me,” she laughs. “I said I would come back - and here I am.”
Flashback to twelve months ago and Darline had made a splash in Seoul, travelling solo after being inspired by an internet story and a commitment to championing the course of homelessness- despite having never played the game.
With end stage renal failure, Darline’s life expectancy is short and her ‘peaceful bucket list’ specific:
“I wanted to go to a football world cup. My passion is homelessness, so I decided to combine the two and come to Korea.”
Before a ball had even been kicked, this commitment saw Darline honoured with the first Whistle of Hope of the Seoul event; a special award created by Homeless World Cup icon, the late Hary Milas, after he offered his whistle to a player in a show of respect in Melbourne in 2008. The current refereeing crop now choose a daily recipient of the award to mark the memory of a man who brought professionalism and positivity to the tournament.
For Darline- like many involved in Homeless World Cup- the experience was addictive, and this summer she felt well enough to make another transatlantic trek.
“When I went home after Seoul, I was doubly inspired to do work for homelessness, I built another tiny house [she designs and fundraises to build small homes for those without] and spent time trying to get my friends to support the Homeless World Cup and make homelessness a mission. I even wrote to the White House.
“I’m just making sure that what’s left of my life is spent on this mission.
“It’s trying to change people’s hearts and minds, to see that anyone can experience homelessness - celebrities like Halle Berry were once homeless and if you don’t stigmatise people like them, why should you do that to others? It’s a mind-set change.”
Darline admits that being at the tournament last year had a huge effect on her, teaching her the many reasons people could become homeless - and the number of solutions which could be pursued to help the issue.
“I’m building teeny houses, someone is feeding the people, someone else is embracing the challenge using sport, others are focusing on the mental health aspect - there are many ways you can get involved, to help solve the problem; that’s what I’ve learned through Homeless World Cup.”
This year, she was accompanied at the start of her week-long trip to Oslo by her daughter, who she’s also converted to the cause.
“I’m feeling great, my spirit is great and my mission is clear.”
Will the yellow jacket score a hat-trick in 2026? Don’t bet against it!
Story by Isobel Irvine | Photos by Donnie Nicholson