Foundation which inspired Netflix number one film asks viewers to run to raise awareness of homelessness
Viewers around the world who’ve sent the film The Beautiful Game to the top of the Netflix charts are being urged to sign up to run a free race to raise awareness of homelessness by the charity who inspired the hit movie.
The film tells the story of Mal (Bill Nighy, Living, About Time), the manager of England’s homeless football team, taking his players to Italy’s capital, Rome, with the hope of being crowned champions of the Homeless World Cup, a global street soccer tournament.
With the film having been streamed into living rooms all over the world, the Homeless World Cup Foundation is now asking viewers to act on the inspirational story by signing up for the first ever World United 5k, a race designed to bring football fans together with the shared goal of ending homelessness.
Since the first tournament in Graz, Austria in 2003, the Homeless World Cup has been held in major cities across the world, under the lights of the Eiffel Tower to the beaches of Rio, with the 19th edition of the tournament taking place in Seoul, South Korea, this September.
The tournament uses the power of sport and football to support and inspire people who have experienced homelessness to change their own lives and over the past 20 years, more than 1.2m people have been supported and become part of the Homeless World Cup community.
Homeless World Cup Founder and President, Mel Young, said: “People all over world who’ve watched The Beautiful Game have seen just how powerful football can be when it is applied to a social problem, and hopefully this inspires them to do more themselves. We encourage our supporters to help by signing up to our World United 5K virtual run, our fundraising event designed to unite fans worldwide through their shared love of football. "The virtual run is FREE and all funds raised will help support the work we do at the Homeless World Cup. Much like the characters in the film, this is an opportunity for our supporters to give someone that second chance"
Over 100,000 runners from around the world and 120 corporations have already signed up to the race, chosen their favourite team and committed to run 1k, 3k or 5k on the 27 and 28 of April 2024. A runners league places the football teams with the most runners signed up in a World Top 100 league with teams including Manchester United, Inter Miami, Boca Juniors and Glasgow Rangers currently riding high.
100% of race income goes to supporting The Homeless World Cup Foundation. The run is virtual so you can participate from any location in the world.
To find out more about the World United 5k Run and sign up to race, visit: https://worldunited.com/
Watch the trailer of The Beautiful Game here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXWgl7pOpMM