Sacramento Gears Up for 20th Homeless World Cup
July 7, 2023
After being postponed three times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 20th anniversary edition of the Homeless World Cup (HWC) kicks off tomorrow in Sacramento, California in the US – the first time the tournament has been held in the United States and the country’s homelessness capital. The pioneering, globally celebrated event, tackles homelessness and marginalization by providing a platform for the underserved and underrepresented to inspire and demonstrate the power of sport in changing people’s lives.
The United Nations Human Settlements Program estimates that 1.6 billion people live in inadequate housing and more than 100 million people have no housing at all. In 2022, 30% of all people in the US experiencing homelessness resided in California alone. The HWC challenges people’s perceptions and attitudes on the issue by showing the human side of homelessness to help break down stereotypes and change the way people address the issue and homeless people.
The HWC showcases how sport can be used to create community, foster inclusion and use sport for social change. It challenges the stigma of homelessness and brings together projects supporting homeless people across 70 countries. Over the two decades of its existence, the tournament has touched the lives of 1.2 million people. Each year the network of 72 member countries inspires more than 100,000 homeless people globally, with more than 500 players participating each year.
This year’s HWC, running through July 15, has been highly anticipated by organizers, fans and hopeful players. Street Soccer USA, a national non-profit working to fight poverty and strengthen communities through soccer, will be hosting the tournament at California State University and Hornet Stadium. Over 500 players participate each year in more than 400 games over eight days. The first tournament was held in Austria in 2003.
“Be prepared to feel the true power of teamwork and community before, during and after this one-of-a-kind event. The HWC places those across the world who are most in need at the very center of our attention and showcases not their challenges, but their abilities and humanity,” said Lawrence Cann, Street Soccer USA co-founder and president.
As the tournament organizers say, being homeless can be incredibly isolating, making people feel removed from society. Joining a football team can be a small but hugely significant step in helping an individual to become part of a community. Member countries – grassroots organisations in 70+ countries, directly engage with homeless and marginalized people, using football as a tool. They also offer additional support services, including support with housing, documentation, mental health and vocational training. The network also offers mutual learning opportunities – events, exchanges and webinars that allow members to share their best practices – as well as referee training for players wishing to use football as an income-generating opportunity.
The hope is that the HWC will continue to grow and raise awareness of homelessness globally, eventually eradicating its need altogether explains Mel Young, co-founder of the tournament. “That’s our goal and it’s not something I say glibly because I think we should not have any homeless people... The exit plan is the world has got the message that homelessness is no good for anybody. Unfortunately, it’s a system failure we’ve got,” he said.