Double delight for Mexico on Homeless World Cup Finals day but everyone is smiling as the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup came to a conclusion

| All smiles in Seoul at the 19th edition of the Homeless World Cup, the first time the tournament has been staged in Asia |

Image: Anita Milas

---

A week ago today (Saturday 28th September), 52 teams from across the globe representing 38 nations from the Homeless World Cup Member Country Network took part in what is always a stunning finale to the Homeless World Cup tournament week: Finals Day.

Over the eight days, Seoul was home to a festival of fine football, strong friendships, and fun (lots of fun) for 450 players who’ve experienced a difficult path before proudly representing their nation at the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup.

And last Saturday, all eyes were on the finals as the 19th edition of the Homeless World Cup, the first time it has been held in Asia, reached its conclusion.

On the final day of the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup seven trophies were up for grabs in the Korean capital, with serial Homeless World Cup winners Mexico taking both the Men’s Homeless World Cup and Women’s Homeless World Cup home with them to Central America, winning both titles on the day.

Mexico defeated Romania in the women’s Homeless World Cup final in Seoul to win an unprecedented ninth title on the bounce. After a finely-balanced first half which ended 1-1, the Mexican Women’s team kicked into second gear in a dominant and classy second-half display that saw them run out eventual 5-2 winners. Romania started the brighter of the two teams in the first half but after the restart, Mexico soon took control of the final.

Mexico 5-2 Romania - Match report

Not to be outdone, Mexico’s Men’s team also took the honours in a frantic clash with England in the Men’s Homeless World Cup Final. Mexico defeated England 6-5 with a goal in the dying seconds to win the Men’s Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup in a frantic final that will livelong in the memory. 

As the game looked like it may be heading to penalties, Mexico player Alan Eduardo Posada Salas earned his side the victory, fainting a shot to skip by an England player on the edge of the box before drilling home the winner past the England goalkeeper. England were more than a match for their rivals, the first time they have reached a Men’s Homeless World Cup Final, in an encounter that really did have everything. Fantastic goals, impressive saves, brilliant attacking play and two blue cards.

Mexico 6-2 England - Match report

A fitting way to finish a spectacular tournament in Korea’s capital.

| Double delight in Seoul for Mexico Women's and Men's Homeless World Cup teams |

Image: Anita Milas

Women’s Homeless World Cup:

1. Mexico

2. Romania

3. poland

4. egypt

5. kenya

6. india

7. northern ireland

8. france
   

Men’s Homeless World Cup:

1. Mexico

2. England

3. Lithuania

4. indonesia

5. portugal

6. usa

7. northern ireland

8. ireland

| All female line up of referees for the Seoul 2024 Women's Homeless World Cup Final |

It was the second time a female refereeing team had overseen the Women’s Homeless World Cup final. Head referee was former Welsh player Sarah Frohwein, said: “It was an honour to follow in (fellow Welsh woman) Natalie Handley’s steps and bring an all-female team to the final.”

|L-R Chen Jun FIFA Development Manager, Elkhan Mammadov FIFA Director, Member Associations Europe & Mel Young at the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup Finals |

In the Women’s (Tier 2) competition, watched by delegates from FIFA alongside Homeless World Cup Foundation President and co-founder, Mel Young an impressive Ireland performance saw them defeat USA in the Big Issue Korea Cup. The match was a physical affair with some excellent tackling and defending from both sides in front of a boisterous crowd cheering on their teams.

Brazil defeated South Africa on penalties in the Korea Citizenship Award Partnership Cup (Men’s Tier 2) final after a tightly-contested affair that delivered plenty of moments of drama and action.

Earlier in the day, Germany saw off a spirited Japan side to win the Hero Generation Seoul Cup (Men’s Tier 5) in the first final of the last day of competition at the 2024 Seoul Homeless World Cup. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe beat Denmark in dramatic fashion via a penalty shoot-out to run out winners in the final of the D’Live Cup (Men’s Tier 4). In the Hanyang University Cup (Men’s Tier 3), India secured a deserved 6-4 victory over Bulgaria in a breathless final which served up a proper footballing treat for fans. 

Footballing feast as five finals decided in Seoul on Finals Day - Match reports

Women’s Homeless World Cup Tier 2:

1. Ireland

2. USA

3. switzerland

4. norway

5. denmark

6. finland

7. austria

8. sweden

Men’s Homeless World Cup Tier 2:

1. Brazil

2. South Africa

3. POLAND

4. SCOTLAND

5. egypt

6. Kyrgyzstan

7. Austria

8. norway

Men’s Homeless World Cup Tier 3:

1. India

2. Bulgaria

3. Argentina

4. hungary

5. uganda

6. france

7. Czech Republic

8. Finland

Men’s Homeless World Cup Tier 4:

1. Zimbabwe

2. Denmark

3. South Korea

4. Switzerland

5. italy

6. australia

7. hong kong

8. sweden

Men’s Homeless World Cup Tier 5:

1. Germany

2. Japan

3. cambodia

4. greece

5. Nambia

6. Bangladesh

|Mexico Men won this year's Homeless World Cup. The Nation's Women's Team also won the Women's tournament for the ninth year in a row |

---

Mel Young, Homeless World Cup co-founder and President said after the last day of football from Seoul:

“Everyone is a winner at the Homeless World Cup. Congratulations to our Mexico teams who were victorious on the day, they were two fantastic, end to end and sometimes frantic finals. We were delighted to see two new finalists in the finals and commiserations to the Romanian Women’s team and England Men’s team who pushed Mexico all the way.

“It was great to see some new winners in our five other finals but most importantly, every single one of the 450 players taking part this week finished with smiles on their faces and memories that will last them a lifetime.

“The Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup was a huge success, providing those in attendance at Hanyang University across the 8-days and the millions watching on FIFA+ across the globe with some memorable moments on and off the pitch. We are grateful to all the hard work and support of the many organisations, staff and volunteers that supported us in Seoul and look forward to taking the tournament back to Oslo, Norway in 2025.

“A world without homelessness. That’s the goal.”