Homeless World Cup: Can a Ball Change Lives?

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There are one billion homeless people living in our world today.

The Homeless World Cup exists to end this, so we all have a home, a basic human need.

The Homeless World Cup is an annual, international football tournament, uniting teams of people who are homeless and excluded to take a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country and change their lives forever. It has triggered and supports grass roots football projects in over 60 nations working with over 25,000 homeless and excluded people throughout the year. 70 per cent of participants in the Homeless World Cup experience a significant life change having played in the competition, such as coming off drugs and alcohol; moving into homes, jobs, education and training; repairing relationships; or becoming coaches and players with semi-pro teams or social entrepreneurs.

On September 6, the Homeless World Cup kicks off in Milan. 480 homeless people from 48 different countries around the world will compete in the tournament. Eight players represent the U.S. Team and include:

Ebony Wright, the only woman on the team who represents the Urban Ministry Center in Charlotte, N.C.; Antoine Lagarde, from the Glide Foundation in San Francisco; Chris Lodgson and Dexter Burnett from HELP USA in New York; Alvin Soto from Youthlink in Minneapolis; Jorge Revolorio and Carlos Valdez, of the teen homeless services provider Jovenes in Los Angeles; and Wes Colter, from Volunteers of America in Sacramento.

All eight players have either secured housing, employment, or completed a substance abuse recovery program since joining Street Soccer USA programs. Chris, Jorge, Carlos, Antoine and Wes have all enrolled in college or completed college degrees - all showing the power of soccer and sports to help people salvage their lives.

Dubious? Curious? Do you wonder how a ball can change lives? Watch Kicking It, a film from the Homeless World Cup in Cape Town in 2006. One of my favorite movies that can open your mind and heart to homelessness. Kicking It is available for instant viewing on Netflix.