Hope is the Goal at the Homeless World Cup

Kicking off this weekend on the other side of the world, is an international sporting event where coming first isn’t the point.

Key points:

At the Homeless World Cup, what matters most is resilience, redemption, second chances—and rediscovering self-worth.

This year, the tournament is being held in Oslo, Norway, where teams of men and women from over forty countries will take to the pitch in a series of fast-paced street soccer matches. It may not make headlines or feature big-name players with multi-million dollar contracts, but the impact is profound.

This year marks Australia’s 12th appearance at the Homeless World Cup.

Throughout the week-long event, the spirit of competition is overtaken by something more powerful; the joy of participants doing something they once thought impossible. The Homeless World Cup is a celebration of sport as a tool for hope, healing, and life-changing opportunity.

Representing Australia once again are the Street Socceroos, supported by The Big Issue, a not-for-profit dedicated to helping people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage.

At the helm is long-time coach George Halkias, who proudly notes that this is his eleventh year coaching the team – “without being sacked and avoiding controversy,” he laughs.

It’s the personal development in the players that has kept George coming back year after year to work with his Street Socceroos.

“I gain motivation by the changes that I see in them. I’ve seen where some players come from and where they’ve got to (through street soccer)… With the learning, the experience, comes the resilience and determination that they can have. Not just for a short period of time in their lives, but for the rest of their lives,” George says.

Hope 103.2 is proudly supported by

“98% of participants improve their fitness. 61%… reduce their smoking. 84% eat more healthily, and 90% report a more positive outlook on life,” coach George Halkias explains.

A passionate sports fan with a background in psychology, George helped launch the Australian street soccer movement in the mid-2000s alsongside The Big Issue. Since then, the national program has delivered life-changing results.

“98% of participants improve their fitness. 61% say it helps reduce their smoking. 84% eat more healthily, and 90% report a more positive outlook on life,” George explains.

This year marks Australia’s 12th appearance at the Homeless World Cup. George hopes the event shines a light on the humanity behind homelessness—and encourages greater empathy for people who’ve made mistakes or fallen on hard times.

“Homelessness, mental illness, disability, long-term unemployment, barriers to community participation—these are the people we can invest in, care for, and support. That’s how we build stronger communities. We’re judged by how we treat our most vulnerable.”

The Homeless World Cup runs from 23-30 August in Oslo, Norway.

The Homeless World Cup runs from Saturday 23 August to Saturday 30 August in Oslo, Norway.

You can support and follow the Street Socceroos via the Homeless World Cup – YouTube, where games will be streamed live. Updates are also available on The Big Issue Australia | Facebook.

Article supplied with thanks to 96five’s Arthur Muhl.

Feature image: Supplied (All images supplied along with press release from The Big Issue by Hillary Wardaugh)