Homeless individuals from around the world gathered in South Korea for the Homeless World Cup, where the stakes were much higher than just winning. In London, a team trained under a Scottish coach for this unique tournament, which included players like Mikiale Tsegay, a refugee from Ethiopia. Tsegay fled his homeland in 2021 due to civil war and struggled in the UK, spending two years in a crowded hotel with minimal resources while seeking asylum.
Tsegay was not the only refugee on the England team, which also included native homeless players. Homelessness in the UK is on the rise, with 309,000 people without homes as of last year. For many, like England’s manager Craig McManus, football has become a way out. After struggling with addiction and homelessness, McManus found purpose through Street Soccer and went on to play in the 2016 Homeless World Cup in Scotland. Now, he uses football to help others in similar situations.
McManus emphasises building trust and support, using football as a vehicle for change rather than just competition. The Homeless World Cup in Seoul ran from September 21-28, featured 56 teams from 44 nations, marking its first event in Asia.
https://www.dw.com/en/homeless-world-cup-we-want-to-do-something-special/a-70218267