Voices in Football - Homeless World Cup Milan 2009

Everyone who has played football at whatever level knows the benefits that the game brings you as a person. Whatever your position in life whether rich, famous or poverty stricken football gives people an alternative to the troubles and worries of day to day life. What comes from participation is a sense of achievement, well being and a feeling of fulfulment as part of a team. For many homeless people such aims are not emotions they are able to experience regularly.

The Homeless World Cup is an annual, international street soccer football tournament where those involved can forget life situation or social hardships and strive to achieve. Uniting teams of people who are homeless and excluded, it gives those involved a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country of birth and hopefully change their lives for the better. Just as any footballing tournament requires pre-organisation, planning and development so the influence of the Homeless World Cup has triggered projects and supported grass roots football projects in over 60 nations around the world. This alone allows positive work to be carried out with over 25,000 homeless and excluded people throughout the year.Back in 2003 the first tournament took place in Graz, Austria with the event attracting an estimated 25 TV stations and 90 accredited journalists who covered the tournament over the six days. It is estimated that over 20,000 people turned out in Graz to see the 144 players and 18 teams contesting the event. The impact of such an event was brought home with 95 players (46%) improving there housing situation after the event and many others having lives changed for the better. In terms of football national street soccer leagues soon grew allowing greater social inclusion across various nations.

With subsequent World Cup events in Gothenburg, Edinburgh, CapeTown andMelbourne seeing the growth in the profile and success of the tournament so the impact on those particpating has been noted. The impact is said to be consistently felt each year with 73% of participating players changing their lives for the better by coming off drugs and alcohol, moving into jobs, education, homes, training, reuniting with families. There is also evidence of players from teams going on to become project organisers, players and coaches for pro or semi-pro football teams.

With the event in Milan 2009 fast approaching Voices in Football took time out from watching the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa to talk to the Homeless World Cup Communications and Event Director Kat Byles about the forthcoming event.

V.I.F: “Katherine, the Homeless World Cup is currently based at the home of Scottish SPL Team Hibernian FC at Easter Road Stadium in Edinburgh. Why was Edinburgh chosen as the headquarters for the International Event?”

K.Byles: “The Homeless World Cup was founded by world-leading social entrepreneur Mel Young. Mel Young is also the founder of 'The Big Issue' Scotland and the International Network of Street Papers. With Edinburgh being Mel's home so the Homeless World Cup has been based here since Graz 2003. We have just recently moved to a new base at the Hibernian Football Stadium to give us plenty more space for communications, fundraising, planning and publicity as the event is growing fast.”

V.I.F: “The 2009 Homeless World Cup is to be held in Milan. Football today (for example in Milan with clubs like AC/Internazionale) is more about millionaire footballer signings and the club as a 'media company'. Why then choose to play the Homeless World Cup in Milan? Do you think people will see this as a bit of a contradiction?”

K.Byles: “Football is for everyone. Not just the elite. It is a great leveller, a universal language with the power to unite and to create powerful change. Over 70% of players participating in the Homeless World Cup change their lives coming off drugs and alcohol, moving in to jobs, homes, education, becoming football players, coaches, social entrepreneurs and repairing their relationships. It has triggered football programmes in over 70 nations and engaged over 100,000 players since the beginning.

A number of cities bid to host the Homeless World Cup and for 2009 the successful bid was awarded to a collaboration of Milan City Council, Milan Provincial Council, Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Internazionle FC and Nike Italy. Far from a contradiction the event in Milan will be a strong demonstration of the passion of Italy married with the power of football to create real and lasting change. We expect around 100,000 people to attend the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup - Italy loves football - it will love the Homeless World Cup where football is fast entertaining and for everyone.”

V.I.F: “Both Manchester United and Kaiser Chiefs are stated on your website as being 'partners' of the event. What exactly do these clubs do?.”

K.Byles: “ Manchester United support Team England in the Homeless World Cup providing football coaching and also training facilities. Kaizer Chiefs were great supporters of the Cape Town 2006 Homeless World Cup helping to raise awareness and with Chief players participating as ambassadors. They assisted with the training of Team South Africa and also attending the event. They continue to support Team South Africa.”

V.I.F: “ Eric Cantona is an Ambassador for the event. Is he planning on being in Milan?”

K.Byles: “ We will soon announce ambassadors attending and supporting the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup shortly before the tournament. Please keep checking the Homeless World Cup Website for further information. Recently, Marcel Desailly joined us to mark 100 days to Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup and participated in a football match against Team Italy the day before the Champions League Final in Rome. ”

V.I.F: “ Why is the event not played in a proper stadia and instead hosted in a civic park, public Park by way of street soccer rather than a focus on an 11 a-side game?”

K.Byles: “ The Homeless World Cup is about street soccer. It is 4 x 4 (8 players per team) on a playing pitch 22 x 16. This format means that it is fast with lots of goals, grit, spirit and glory. This also allows entertainment for those watching. We build a street soccer stadium in the heart of the city and take the power of football right to the centre of the host venue to create impact and change. This means that people who are previously homeless, marginalised and ignored are now right at the core of the city where they are cheered and can transform before fans into football heroes.”

V.I.F: “ We detect that the event still perhaps has a lower profile than it could possibly have due to it taking place in a park or in an audotorium that holds a few thousand. Every body need to review, re-assess and make thing better. Is the nature of the 'venue' or structure of the event going to change or is it going to retain its original concept?”

K.Byles: “The Homeless World Cup continues to have huge potential and we will continue to build the vision, create an impact for the players national teams and engage more and more fans around the world in making a difference, and really celebrate the beautiful game. The Homeless World Cup will be in Rio De Janerio in 2010, Paris in 2011, Asia in 2012 and Poznan Poland in 2013. This means that by 2013 the event will have been in every continent in the world.”

“As for the format we will always play street soccer and continue to take this to the heart of the city. This is because this format works better and is incredibly powerful. We are always continuing to build the Event from this core. In Melbourne 5,000 people watched Afghanistan lift the trophy in the finals day which involved 50,000 people. It transformed the centre of the city and the impact continues with a legacy of 30 street soccer programmes across Australia.”

The Homeless World Cup is an event that captures the hearts of football supporters wherever it is played. Its supporter base at a high level includes UEFA, Nike, UN, Manchester United, Real Madrid an Ambassador in former player and move star Eric Cantona as well as international footballers Didier Drogba and Rio Ferdinand. However, for the event to grow - as the excellent initiative is - the organisers need the help of both business and football fans. In order to allow more players to take the courageous step to move forwards with their lives additional sponsorship and donations are required. This will allow teams and players from some African nations the chance to participate.

Lynn Jarvis from the organising team has recently spoke to Voices in Football and highlighted how teams from India, Malawi and the Philippines urgently require funding to allow then to reach the event in Milan. The 3 teams of homeless and excluded people are accompanied by 2 support workers, and once the team have arrived they are fully catered for by the event itself. However, there is still a shortfall of £10,000 to secure the visas and travel required. There are items such as a signed Bobby Charlton shirt and a signed Manchester United shirt available in a charity auction and anyone interested in bidding should email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it with name, address and bid before 5pm on Wednesday July 22nd 2009.


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