Kicking towards hope – how ‘street soccer’ is changing lives
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BY REBECCA PARISH
As the world turns its attention to football and the excitement surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, another global tournament is quietly transforming lives far beyond the spotlight.
It is the 2026 Homeless World Cup, also taking place in Mexico.
Although centred around the ‘beautiful game’, The Homeless World Cup is a very different event. Australia has a national team in the tournament. The Salvation Army in Norway has sent a team. You can read more on the Homeless World Cup Facebook site.
Power of football (soccer)
Hosted in Oslo, Norway, the 2025 Homeless World Cup brought together players from around the world; people who have experienced homelessness, addiction, mental ill-health, displacement and isolation.
Through football, they discovered something many thought they had lost: belonging, purpose and hope. For The Salvation Army in Norway, the tournament is about far more than competition. It is part of a year-round ministry using ‘street soccer’ to support people rebuilding their lives.
“A ball can change the world,” says Jostein, head coach of the Norway men’s national street soccer team. Himself once in treatment for drug addiction, he was introduced to street soccer in 2007 and has witnessed its impact ever since. “It’s not always about winning,” he explains. “The players who are in the tournament, they already won a lot of struggles back home.”
More than just a game
Street soccer is a fast-paced version of football played four-a-side on a small pitch. But behind the intensity of the game lies a deeper purpose: community, recovery and dignity.
Many players taking part in Norway’s program have experienced homelessness, imprisonment, refugee displacement, addiction or mental-health challenges. Through The Salvation Army’s aftercare-focused approach, participants are encouraged not only to stay sober but also to develop life skills, confidence and healthy relationships.
“We give them meaning, we give them mastery and life skills so they can manage to take part in society,” explains Signe Haukvik-Haugen, manager of the women’s street soccer program in Norway. The program helps participants learn how to process emotions, navigate relationships and rebuild self-esteem. “One of the most important things is to see resources in the human being,” she says, “because they don’t see it themselves.”
Personal impacts
That sense of transformation is visible in the stories of players like Hanna, who has struggled with anxiety, addiction and emotional trauma. “I have found peace in street soccer,” she says. “It’s a place where you can come to just be yourself.”
For Andreas, the requirement for sobriety during activities creates a safe and stable environment. “You always feel included. You always feel like you are part of the team,” he says. “It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor or small or tall. You’re always welcome.”
The Homeless World Cup offers participants a rare opportunity to represent their countries on an international stage, but organisers stress that the tournament is only one part of a much bigger journey.
“What’s important for us is that it’s not a one-time thing for the players,” explains Benjamin Brekke Narstad, part of the organising committee for Oslo 2025. “It’s a relationship that we’re building over time, so they’ll always have a place they can come back to when life is hard.”
Alongside the sports, there are opportunities for bringing together policymakers, universities, churches and community organisations to discuss practical solutions to homelessness.
The Salvation Army’s work around the tournament also extends beyond the football pitch. Alongside the event, leaders hosted the Cities Ending Homelessness forum, bringing together policymakers, universities, churches and community organisations to discuss practical solutions to homelessness.
Far-reaching benefits
For organisers, the tournament demonstrates how faith-based organisations can work visibly and practically within communities. “We’re not just in our own church venue,” Benjamin says. “We’re out on the streets. We’re visible. We’re really working hands-on.”
The measurable impact can be seen not only in increased confidence and self-worth, but also in reduced drug and alcohol use, stronger support networks and long-term community connection.
By the end of the tournament, medals and match results seemed secondary to the victories taking place away from the scoreboard.
The event is marked by much celebration and joy.
“The games they play in the Homeless World Cup are not the biggest games they have in life,” says Jostein. “Everybody made it. It’s been fantastic to meet them, get to know them, and see that they can fight back in life.”
As global audiences celebrate football’s biggest tournament this year, the Homeless World Cup stands as a reminder that the beautiful game can do more than entertain. It can restore confidence, rebuild lives and offer people a second chance; one match, one friendship and one moment of hope at a time.
To view the video Homeless World Cup – Norway's Story, click on the arrow in the image below.
This story first appeared on All the World.
Rebecca Parish In-House Content Writer and Editor at The Salvation Army’s International Headquarters in London
