sacramento
2023
2023
hornet stadium
sacramento
1st time in the usa
400 plAyers
40 Countries
232 games
2276 goals
The 18th edition of the Homeless World Cup took place at Sacramento State University’s Hornet Stadium, the first time the tournament has been held in the US, from July 8 – July 15, 2023.
400 players representing 40 countries travelled to Sacramento, the state capital of California to attend the week-long football tournament, the first time the Homeless World Cup had been played since the pandemic.
California was the canvas for a carnival of football, friendship and freedom for players who’ve experienced a difficult path before proudly representing their country in the Sacramento sunshine.
There were a total of seven trophies at the tournament: four for the Men’s competition and three for the Women’s. The Men’s Homeless World Cup and Women’s Homeless World Cup trophies are the top prizes, respectively.
Mexico Women has a proud Homeless World Cup history, taking the title back home for the last seven years in a row in the Women’s competition. It was Chile they faced in this year’s final, semi-finalists last time in Cardiff, who despite putting in a brilliant performance, couldn’t stop the Mexicans winning their eighth Homeless World Cup title.
The Men’s final saw a repeat of the Women’s final with Mexico taking on Chile again. The final was a classic, an 8-goal thriller, with Chile winning by two. 5-3. The Homeless World Cup had been wrestled from Mexican hands. The trophy was going back to Chile.
Celebrating it’s 20th anniversary, this Homeless World Cup was a joy for all involved and for the Homeless World Cup family it was great to have the tournament back.
For the players who played their hearts out in Sacramento, the journey to a better tomorrow had only just begun out in the US.
WOMEN’S
HOMELESS WORLD CUP
Results
Mexico
Chile
Romania
ireland
This year’s Women’s Homeless World Cup went to Mexico, who have now won this trophy a record eight times.
nelson way award
(Women’s Tier 2)
Results
usa
denmark
sweden
wales
Team USA won the 2023 Nelson Peak Award, named after Sacramento State President Robert Nelsen, an influential part of the tournament’s success.
palisade award
(WOMEN’s tier 3)
Results
France
austria
norway
finland
France won the Women’s Palisade Award, pictured here with Norway who finished 3rd.
men’s
HOMELESS WORLD CUP
Results
Chile
MEXICo
brazil
portugal
costa rica
bulgaria
lithuania
northern ireland
The Homeless World Cup is the top prize in the Men’s competition. The final in 2023 saw a repeat of the Women’s final with Mexico taking on Chile again. The final was a classic with Chile eventually winning the coveted Homeless World Cup.
nelson way award
(MEn’s Tier 2)
Results
Poland
ukraine
usa
italy
hungary
Finland
wales
austria
The Men’s second tier competition saw Poland and Ukraine vying for the top honours in this tier. After an epic battle in the final, it was Poland who were victorious, pictured here with Sac State former President, Robert Nelsen.
lassen peak award
(men’s Tier 3)
Results
Indonesia
sweden
south korea
switzerland
denmark
scotland
australia
norway
The final for the third-tier in the Men’s competition was the Lassen Peak Award, which was won by Indonesia, who beat Sweden 4-1 in the final.
shasta award
(men’s Tier 4)
Results
pakistan
germany
union gospel mission
greece
Germany and Pakistan faced each other for the Men’s fourth-tier trophy; the Shasta Award. Pakistan the eventual winners on a hot morning in Sacramento for Finals Day.