Homeless World Cup Foundation to hold Inaugural Four Nations Challenge Cup
September 17, 2021
The Homeless World Cup Foundation (HWCF), a Scottish charity that uses football to inspire people who are homeless to change their own lives, will hold its inaugural Four Nations Challenge Cup in Edinburgh this weekend. Since 2003, HWCF and its partners have impacted the lives of one million homeless people around the globe.
A 2005 United Nations survey on global homelessness estimated that there are 100 million homeless people worldwide, and as many as 1.6 billion people lacking adequate housing. The HWCF challenges people’s perceptions and attitudes on the issue. By showing the human side of homelessness, it aims to help breakdown stereotypes and change the ways people address homelessness.
Via a network of partners, the organisation supports football-based programmes and social enterprise development around the world. Its street football partners operate in more than 450 locations, reaching 100,000 annually and holding a 500 player Homeless World Cup tournament each year.
However, after two postponed annual tournaments because of the pandemic, the Foundation introduced this special two-day regional event between HWCF’s Street Football Partners from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The Four Nations Challenge Cup will allow players from the home nations to compete again and mark the welcome return of Homeless Football tournaments for not just the Foundation’s UK partners but also its global partners.
“Since 2003, we have proved that using the power of football can change lives and through our partnerships, across the world we want to include and support as many people as possible...We hope that passers-by will drop by and watch some quality football, some fun exhibition matches and enjoy the other entertainment we’ve got planned across the weekend,” said Mel Young, HWCF President and Founder.
Street Soccer Scotland will be taking part in the Four Nations Challenge Cup as the official Team Scotland partner. Over two days, men's and women's teams will compete in a round-robin tournament with the Finals on Sunday. Street Soccer Scotland will also organise a number of activities and activations to interest people of all ages across the event.
“Every year the Homeless World Cup offers players from around the world a life-changing experience, creating new goals and making new friends along the way. Sadly, due to the pandemic, the Homeless World Cup hasn’t taken place since 2019 and we are delighted to be a part of this smaller event and will hopefully kick of preparations for the next tournament in 2022,” said David Duke, CEO and Founder of Street Soccer Scotland.