top of page

Aussie trio having a ball at soccer’s Homeless World Cup in Norway

  • simoneworthing
  • 1 day ago
  • 2 min read

Aussie Salvos (from left) Envoy Bill Hunter, Major Trevor Nicol and Stephen Rule, of God’s Sports Arena church in Norway.
Aussie Salvos (from left) Envoy Bill Hunter, Major Trevor Nicol and Stephen Rule, of God’s Sports Arena church in Norway.
ree

Three Aussie Salvos have travelled to Norway to be part of chaplaincy and volunteer teams at the 2025 Homeless World Cup.


The trio – Envoy Bill Hunter, Major Trevor Nicol and Stephen Rule – have joined more than 500 soccer players from 48 nations in Norway’s capital, Oslo, for the annual tournament being run from 23-30 August. It is the 20th year the annual event has been held.


Bill, who runs the Salvos’ God’s Sports Arena church in Queensland, and Trevor, who is Officer Personnel Secretary and Team Leader NSW/ACT, are part of the chaplaincy team. Stephen, a supporter of God’s Sports Arena church in Brisbane, is part of the volunteer crew.


The Salvation Army is a Member Country partner of the tournament in Norway. It will be the second time the Norwegian capital has hosted the tournament, and as in 2017 games will be played at the iconic Rådhusplassen (City Hall Square).


All players taking part in the tournament have lived experiences of homelessness, addiction and social exclusion.



The tournament “with a purpose” is focused on using “football (soccer), to support and inspire people who are homeless to change their own lives; and to change perceptions and attitudes towards people who are experiencing homelessness.”

 

Bill and Trevor have joined 20 other Salvation Army chaplains from around the world to support and encourage players and teams, and are already building friendships with the Australian team.

 

“We ran a church service at the Army tent on Sunday morning, and I will be doing a presentation on Monday (local time) at a sports faith ministry seminar there, too,” said Bill.

 

“It’s been amazing so far. The march and opening ceremony presented an outstanding welcome by the people of Norway. The government of Norway and The Salvation Army are doing a great job as hosts and organisers.”

 

Bill also distributed soccer singlets and shirts to the Ghana team, donated by the Bonnells Bay Corps (NSW).

 

“Loved watching our mixed Aussie team in action on day one, having a real go against some very hot competition from Northern Ireland and Hungary,” Bill said. “I’m enjoying the dance moves from a variety of countries outside the food tent, and loved the good, old-fashioned hymns in other languages at our Salvo morning service.

 

“It’s a privilege to be a chaplain at the Homeless World Cup. ‘A ball can change the world!’”


 

Cities Ending Homelessness Forum

This forum, which is part of the Oslo 2025 Homeless World Cup, explores solutions to homelessness through seminars, panel discussions and debates.


The sessions will explore a broad range of topics, which have been curated by the local host, The Salvation Army Norway. These include hope, housing, women’s homelessness and gender-based violence, drug and alcohol addiction, loneliness, sport for social impact, building trusted relationships in social work and more.


Those with lived experience, social innovators, academics and policy makers will be part of the solutions-focused approach and discussions that will take place from 23-29 August.

 

For more information about the tournament, click here.

 


 

 

 

 

bottom of page