Australia’s star socceroo on life after the homeless world cup
Street Socceroo Michael at one of The Big Issue Community Street Soccer training sessions before the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup.
Image: Lightbulb Studio.
By Rebecca Corbett
We caught up with Australian player Michael, Australian National Coach and Co-Founder of The Big Issue Community Street Soccer Program George Halkias five months after the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup, to find out about life after the tournament.
On a Wednesday night in Adelaide, you might see a tall man with dark hair playing football in the park in an Argentinian football shirt. The next week he might be wearing a South African shirt. The following perhaps, a shirt from the Czech Republic.
You might not immediately notice him, but his collection of international football shirts tells a great story.
The man playing is Michael, a Street Socceroo who was the sole player from Adelaide and South Australia to represent his country at the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup.
His new football jersey collection which he wears with pride at each week’s Street Soccer training sessions is from the other international players who shared his hotel in the Korean capital, and who despite the language barriers became his friends and made him laugh.
It’s a long way from when Michael first found The Big Issue Australia’s Community Street Soccer Program when he was homeless and sleeping in a tent in the very same park.
Being one of only eight players selected from The Big Issue Australia’s nationwide program to represent Australia makes Michael a member of a unique group of players, both past and present, who are known as the Street Socceroos.
Competition rules state that players can only represent their country once at the Homeless World Cup, making it a truly once in lifetime experience.
While the tournament might last just over a week, Michael will have the title of being a Street Socceroo for the rest of his life. A life-long title to reflect an unforgettable experience.
“It feels good to be called a Street Socceroo. That’s awesome. That really is a big title I think, all the dedication I put in every week of going to Street Soccer training and sessions. I feel like a bit of a star! I like telling younger kids and showing them pictures. It’s something to hold forever you know.”
|Michael in action against Italy at the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup. Image: Travis Torres
Michael will never forget the moment he became an official Street Socceroo – a month before the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup at Parliament House in Canberra, Michael and his teammates were presented with their Australian jerseys by former Wallaby and captain of the Men’s Australian Rugby Union team turned politician David Pocock.
“It makes me emotional every time I talk about it. That’s a once in a lifetime opportunity and that top means so much to me. It really does. I think I’m going to get it framed. I don’t want to wear it anymore. I don’t want to wash it anymore. I don’t want it to start to peel.”
This is just one of the key moments that Michael will never forget. Australian National Coach and Co-Founder of The Big Issue Community Street Soccer Program George Halkias, who reflects with Michael on his time in the Korean capital, remembers a pivotal plate of fried chicken wings and pizza to get a break from the “rat race” and recalibrate after an overwhelming start at the tournament in Seoul.
With hundreds of players and more than 50 teams from all over the world and the pressure of representing your country, the Homeless World Cup can be a lightning bolt shock to the system and a lot to take in. Sometimes stepping away from it all, George explains, (with some bonus fried chicken and a pizza) is just what’s needed to reset.
This was a turning point for Michael and gave him the time and space to be the leader in the team George knew he could be. Addressing Michael on our call, George said:
“After that you were amazing and such a great leader for the team, and it was just a good turning point to reflect on the great opportunity that you had but not put too much pressure on yourself and just enjoy it for what it was and appreciate it!”
With his experience in Seoul, National Coach George is calling on Michael to inspire and reassure the next squad of players who will be travelling to represent Australia at the Oslo 2025 Homeless World Cup in August.
Thinking about what he’ll say when he meets the newly selected squad in a few weeks, Michael says: “You’ll be meeting a lot of people and a lot of countries and that’s exciting and tiring,” Michael explains, “the games are very, very fast, so you have to keep your eyes open and on the ball!
“I would just say give it all you’ve got – you’re representing your country!”
Returning to his first practice after the tournament, Michael was met like a local celebrity, who had been elevated even more by being given the “60 Minute treatment” when he was interviewed and featured on Australia's leading current affairs programme ‘60 Minutes’.
However, returning to life after the Homeless World Cup can be a challenge and Michael can also help prepare the players for the ‘drop’ that can come after the tournament.
“It was emotional coming back home and trying to adjust. George said you’re going to wake up back home expecting this, but we’re back home in our own countries. That was hard.”
|The Australian team were awarded the FIFPRO Fair Play Award on the first day of the Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup for their inclusive behaviour following their opening victory against Cambodia. Image: Anita Milas
Australian National Coach, George explains: “It’s a big drop. All the hype, all the build-up, and the excitement and then you come back and there’s a natural drop isn’t there?”
Michael agrees, but says: “Yes, but I’ll hold that in my heart for the rest of my life.”
“I was talking to my sister the whole time, that helped heaps. She was over the moon. She’s just had two little twins and I got to meet them finally not too long ago.
“Last year was really something important for me. I really needed that. It’s something to hold with you for the rest of your life and feel proud of.”
This pride is powering him to complete more training certificates and continue his search for work, while still doing the occasional shift alongside the people who have become his friends and some of his greatest supporters – the community of The Big Issue Vendors who watched all his games in Seoul from Australia.
His hope for the future is to find work outdoors, but after being inspired by a Czech player turned coach in Seoul - he’s also got another idea – to get a job at The Big Issue so he can make it back to another Homeless World Cup, this time as a coach.
Whether he’s in the parks and green areas working in Adelaide or on the touchline at a future Homeless World Cup, one thing is for certain, this Street Socceroo is going to be inspiring future players wherever he is.
Words: Rebecca Corbett
Images: Homeless World Cup Foundation and Lightbulb Studio
Australia is represented by Big Issue Australia at the Homeless World Cup and National Coach and Co-Founder of The Big Issue Community Street Soccer Program George Halkias has brought teams to the tournament since the 2005 Edinburgh Homeless World Cup.
Australia will be at the Homeless World Cup in Oslo in August 2025, giving another eight players the unique opportunity to become Street Socceroos.