UKRAINIAN SPIRIT ON SHOW AS SACRAMENTO 2023 HOMELESS WORLD CUP REACHES CRUNCH STAGE
The blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag have become a commonplace sight around the world these past few years; a show of solidarity hung from windows, stuck on bumpers, pinned on lapels. Today the flag flew at the 2023 edition of the Homeless World Cup, draped over the shoulders of its nations’ footballers on the pitch ahead of a crunch match against Poland. The first group stage in California was reaching the business end.
As with every player who walks on the turf at the tournament, the journey to the Sacramento sunshine has been long and winding, but the Ukrainians was made a little easier thanks to five Scottish Premier League clubs. Aberdeen, Celtic, Hearts, Hibernian and Rangers came together to contribute towards flights and visas. The football family in action.
When the whistle blew, it was the Poles who shaded a close tie 4-3. But the spirit the world has come to know Ukraine for was evident, as they later bounced back to beat Germany 9-3.
Credit: Dan Higginson
The Californian crowds brought a carnival of colour and cheer to the Sac State stands. A young girl in a wrestling mask for Mexico. An older Indonesian lady dressed to impress in the red and white of her national flag. Rows of rowdies chanting U-S-A.
Local girl Sienna Jackson left home with just $3 in her pocket, panhandling and sleeping rough before turning things around. She’s now starring for the hosts, striding through to score with the outside of her right boot in an 8-4 win v Norway (see that goal here) and scoring the winning penalty after a 2-2 tie with Sweden. Training to be a dental nurse, Sienna has a lot to smile about.
The US men’s team were sat in second place in Group A at the start of the day, but with the Italians looking to pick up points to progress, they inflicted a 4-0 defeat on the hosts. The Azzurri’s number 3, shorts rolled as high as Monte Bianco, looked and played the part while the Italian keeper pulled off saves Buffon and Zoff would have been proud of.
The American hosts turned it around in a later match v South Korea, running out 6-3 winners. Their opponents edged a close game against Indonesia earlier in the night, headbanded no 8 H.Sangil pulling the strings in a game of patient passing and neat finishes from both sides.
A Battle of Britain between Wales and Scotland’s men saw the 2019 hosts beat the Scots 9-1, before edging a nailbiter v Sweden 4-2. And the saves and scores entertained the crowds in the stands and on the online stream as all 30 nations took to the pitches under the Hornet Stadium floodlights.
But the Homeless World Cup is about much more than results. It’s about positivity. Opportunity. A springboard for a brighter tomorrow. Pakistan picked up a FIFPro award for getting just that. When an Indonesian player fell off the pitch in a game yesterday, two Pakistani opponents rushed to his aid. One team. Together stronger. Life works better when we help each other out. That’s the true meaning of the Homeless World Cup.
