Street Soccer USA

Street Soccer USA to Attend the 2024 Seoul Homeless World Cup

Dear Street Soccer USA Community!

As Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min announced, the Homeless World Cup is headed to Seoul, South Korea, from September 21-29 2024! We're excited to share that Street Soccer USA will be there.

As our men’s and women’s teams prepare for the tournament, we wanted to tell you the story of Street Soccer USA and the Homeless World Cup.

The Homeless World Cup, founded in 2003, is an annual global tournament that uses soccer to drive positive change for individuals experiencing homelessness. This year, 64 teams from 49 nations will come together to compete. The weekly training and the event itself offer participants a unique platform to rebuild their confidence, promote teamwork, and instill a sense of pride and purpose.

Street Soccer USA is proud to be one of the original pioneering grassroots organizations that joined the Homeless World Cup movement. What began with just nine nations has flourished into an annual Cup, with over 40 national teams competing in the 2023 Homeless World Cup, hosted by us in Sacramento, CA.

Since our story began, at the Urban Ministry Center Soup Kitchen in Charlotte, NC, more than 75% of our participants have achieved remarkable success, moving into independent living, reconnecting with their families, completing treatment programs, or pursuing further education. Many of these individuals have gone on to become coaches and even staff members, continuing the cycle of empowerment. One of our proudest stories is that of Lisa Wrigthsman, who played in the 2010 Homeless World Cup for Street Soccer USA and is now the managing director of Street Soccer Sacramento.

Our players come from all walks of life, each with their own unique challenges. Many begin their journey with us as shelter residents, asylum-seeking refugees, or individuals in recovery programs. Some are battling mental health issues, while others are minors facing difficult family situations. By the time they aspire to represent the USA on our men’s and women’s teams, they have transitioned onto stable and healthy paths, ready to showcase their resilience and determination on the global stage.

Our story has captured the attention of audiences around the world. We were one of four programs featured in the ESPN Sundance documentary "Kicking It" in 2009, and our impact was highlighted again in the Netflix feature film “The Beautiful Game”.

From our early days as a single team with big dreams, we’ve expanded to 16 cities, continually setting goals and supporting each other to achieve new ones. A notable example is Margaret Lindsay from our first team, who set a goal for us to be featured in a national magazine. Let's just say she overachieved on that one.

Follow us on this adventure to see our men’s and women’s teams not only compete as athletes but also serve as ambassadors for our mission.

Stay tuned as we share more about their journey...

Editor's Note: A great group I have been following, taking photos helping in hosting a clinic, giving players soccer balls and shin guards with Queensboro FC gifting backpacks and water bottles, announcing their tourney in Times Square these last few years.

and more.