Wales make history at the Homeless World Cup

The Homeless World Cup is an annual street football tournament and is open to anyone who has suffered from homelessness, mental health issues or social exclusion. It is a 10-day football event like no other. It’s one big party, like Eurovision with a football! This year’s tournament was held in Oslo, Norway, and saw 500 players from 48 nations compete. 

Street football is a small-sided game of 4 a side. It is a fast paced and high intensity game that lasts only 14 minutes (two 7 minute halves). Possession is key to all games as one player has to stay in the opposing half at all times - ensuring all attacks are 3 v 2. 

Wales women have been training since February and sent a team of 8 players to compete (Sam Lewtas, Tor Planner, Claire Mantripp, Marie Tilley, Bryony Davies, Chloe Evans, Alicia Duke and Georgia Roberts-Powell). 

Wales started well, winning 4 out of 5 of their first games to finish joint top of the first group stage. An impressive 6-4 win v highly ranked India was the highlight of this group stage. Wales were then put into a second group stage (made up of the top two teams in all groups). Impressive wins v Greece and Austria ensured Wales finished 4th out of 6th. 

After the group stages, the competition is divided into 3 sections with teams competing for 3 trophies. For the first time in history, Wales competed in the top section, ensuring they were playing the best teams in the world! 

Wales came up against some very experienced teams in this form of football and put in some great performances, but struggled to get results. However, the last game of the whole tournament was the 7th and 8th place play-off v India once more. 

The game was much tighter than the first encounter. It was 2-2 after 13 minutes (note: the game's last 14 minutes!), until Georgia calmly slotted two past the keeper in quick succession. Wales ended 4-2 winners and finished 7th overall. 7th in the whole world! 

We would like to thank all our supporters who followed the games, both at home and out in Oslo. It was so nice to see people engaging in the social media posts and asking us about our games. 

It was an incredible experience, and one which we are all so proud to have been a part of. You can only go to one Homeless World Cup, so focus now goes to the next team who will compete in Mexico in 2026!

Sam