This past July, Sacramento, California, hosted the 2023 Homeless World Cup. Countries from all over the globe presented teams to compete in the street-style soccer tournament. This event focuses on enabling marginalized groups to participate in the empowering atmosphere of team play and presents the opportunity to uplift female unhoused players. As our favorite women’s soccer teams and players compete in the Women’s World Cup, it is important to recognize the athletes who love to play soccer no matter how big their stage is.
Team Morale
Many players participating in this tournament expressed finding family in their street soccer teams. Two players for the Wales team explained their relationship and love of soccer by pinpointing it as the place where they met and became good friends in Wales at a very young age.
A manager from Indonesia explained that the love and support she feels from her team is even stronger than family.
Often, soccer was an escape from a rough time in childhood, so focusing on the feelings that came with playing soccer help them persevere and live happily. A player from the Austrian team said that soccer and friends were something that kept her positive during rough times in her life. She sends a message of empowerment to girls who play…
