The Homeless World Cup Foundation changes lives and drives global impact by uniting the world through our annual tournament, advancing solutions through our Cities Ending Homelessness Forum and working year-round with more than 70 Member Countries to create lasting change through football.
FOOTBALL CHANGES Lives
Our tournament gives people a renewed sense of purpose at a time when many feel they have lost their own, inspiring confidence, connection and the belief that change is possible.
Homelessness can be deeply isolating, leaving people feeling disconnected from society and alone. Joining a football programme with one of our Homeless World Cup Member Countries may seem like a small step but for many it becomes a powerful moment of belonging: the first step back into community, teamwork and self-worth.
We use football as a global support network that helps people rebuild their lives, offering structure, encouragement and a place where they are valued for who they are.
Our aim is to create an environment where individuals feel empowered to shape their own futures and where every participant arrives at the Homeless World Cup already feeling like a champion, long before they step onto the pitch.
Beyond the tournament, our year-round work connects and strengthens a global movement of more than 70 Member Countries, creating shared learning, international pathways and collaborative support.
Through our Cities Ending Homelessness Forum, we bring together city leaders, practitioners and partners from around the world to exchange solutions, influence systems and drive long-term change.
Every year, this international network inspires and supports more than 200,000 people experiencing homelessness, offering pathways to connection, wellbeing, skills and opportunity.
At the tournament itself, more than 500 players compete in over 400 matches across eight days - a celebration of resilience, unity and the transformative power of football.
1.7m lives changed
since 2003
200,000 people supported and inspired
every year
94%
say the Homeless World Cup positively impacted their lives
88%
of players said participation improved their mental health.
73%
say the Homeless World Cup changed their lives significantly
One of our core goals at the Homeless World Cup Foundation is to challenge, shift and ultimately change public perceptions of homelessness. We work to show the human reality behind the issue, breaking down stereotypes and encouraging people everywhere to rethink how we see, speak about and understand homelessness.
The annual Homeless World Cup tournament is one of the most powerful ways we achieve this. It creates a unique environment where spectators witness the resilience, talent and humanity of every player - challenging assumptions simply by placing people experiencing homelessness at the centre of an inspiring global stage.
Independent research by La Trobe University found that attending the Homeless World Cup significantly improves spectators’ attitudes towards people experiencing homelessness. Exposure to the players’ stories, courage and determination has a measurable impact on how people view individuals affected by homelessness and the issues surrounding it.
Alongside the tournament, our Cities Ending Homelessness Forum brings together mayors, policymakers, city leaders and practitioners to share evidence, rethink narratives and promote solutions that address the systems surrounding homelessness - ensuring perception change happens not only among individuals but at the highest levels of influence.
By connecting people to the real lives and experiences behind homelessness and by bringing cities together to drive long-term change, our work helps move society beyond stigma and judgement towards empathy, understanding and action..
CHanging Perceptions
75 Member Countries
Are part of our Homeless World Cup family, giving us true global reach
71%
Of attendees felt more aware of the issues facing people who are homeless after the mexico city 2018 tournament
93%
of spectators at the mexico city 2018 homeless world cup said they would recommend going to the event
Since 2003, and our first tournament in Graz, Austria, the Homeless World Cup has shone a global spotlight on major cities around the world - using the tournament as a powerful platform to raise awareness of the issues surrounding homelessness while celebrating the culture, community and spirit of each host city.
The tournament has been held in iconic locations including Cape Town, Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Seoul, Oslo, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Sacramento and many more major cities across the globe, each proudly showcasing the transformative energy of welcoming a truly global event that unites nations and inspires change through football.
Since 2023, alongside the tournament, we have also hosted our Cities Ending Homelessness Forum - a gathering of mayors, policymakers, practitioners and global partners committed to driving systemic solutions.
The Forum began in Sacramento, was strengthened in Seoul, and at the Oslo 2025 Homeless World Cup became our largest yet, running across all 8-days of the tournament and embedding city-level collaboration at the heart of our global movement.
HOST City impact
18 Major cities
have hosted the Homeless World Cup
“The Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup brought together people of all cultures and experiences to raise community awareness of homelessness and provided a real opportunity to provide positive change in the lives of the participants”
The Hon John Brumby
MP Premier of Victoria
“The week long tournament in Cardiff provided an incredible platform: for the players to demonstrate their skill and passion; for the public to engage with the tournament and with the varied debate and discussion that sat alongside the football.
The Tournament generated a huge amount of positive good will in Cardiff and beyond, and the work to harness this and take it forward into a positive, lasting legacy, has already begun.”
Michael Sheen
Homeless World Cup Champion
Global Homelessness Statistics
To help our supporters better understand this global problem, we have sought to compile the latest available statistics on the challenges faced by people around the globe.
You can support our work and help us reach even more people experiencing homelessness across the globe.
By standing with the Homeless World Cup Foundation, you are contributing to a movement that has already changed thousands of lives — and has the power to change thousands more.
One of the simplest and most meaningful ways to help is by joining our Virtual Stadium of Change. Every £5 ticket directly supports players and programmes around the world, helping people rebuild confidence, reconnect with their communities and begin a new chapter in life. Together, we can ensure the transformative power of football reaches those who need it most.
Help us end homelessness
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Donate today and help us change the lives of people experiencing homelessness - your support keeps our vital work alive across more than 70 countries and gives thousands of players the chance to rebuild confidence, community and hope.
A world without homelessness isn’t just a goal - it’s the future we are fighting for, together.
Thank you for standing with us and believing in the power of football to change lives.
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Move for Change: Walk, Run, Swim, Cycle
Choose your challenge and turn every mile, stroke or step into something extraordinary. Whether you walk, run, swim or cycle, your effort helps people experiencing homelessness find confidence, connection and a fresh start. Move for yourself and move for someone who needs hope today.
Donate Your Birthday: Turn One Day Into a Lifeline
This year, celebrate differently. Instead of presents, ask friends and family to donate to the Homeless World Cup Foundation. One birthday can spark a ripple of change: funding programmes that help people rebuild their lives, reconnect with loved ones and rediscover their potential through football.
Do It Your Way: Your Idea, Their New Beginning
Host a BBQ, organise a football tournament, run a bake sale, throw a fancy dress party - whatever brings people together. Every event, big or small, creates real impact. Your creativity can help someone take their first step into community, belonging and opportunity.
Get Your Boss on Board: Change Lives at Work
Ask your employer how your workplace can support the Homeless World Cup Foundation. From Charity of the Year partnerships to Christmas raffle donations or match-funding your efforts, your company can play a vital role in helping people experiencing homelessness transform their lives through football.
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The Stadium of Change is our virtual global stadium a symbolic arena where anyone, anywhere in the world can take a seat and stand alongside players experiencing homelessness.
Each £5 ticket represents a real act of support, helping us deliver life-changing football programmes, community outreach, coaching pathways and opportunities for thousands of people across more than 70 countries.
By buying a £5 ticket, you’re directly supporting players on their journey of rebuilding confidence, connecting with others and transforming their lives through football.
Every ticket helps fund year-round programmes across our global network, supports Member Countries on the ground, strengthens the Homeless World Cup tournament, and powers our Cities Ending Homelessness Forum — ensuring your support creates real, lasting change.
