'Motivation is part of your life': Footballers leave it all on the pitch at Homeless World Cup

The ongoing 2024 Homeless World Cup is an “opportunity to push a new life,” England's Mikiale Tsegay told the Korea JoongAng Daily after stepping off the pitch at Hanyang University in eastern Seoul on Thursday.

England's Mikiale Tsegay, left, vies for the ball during a 2024 Homeless World Cup match against Mexico at Hanyang University in eastern Seoul on Thursday. [HOMELESS WORLD CUP]

The ongoing 2024 Homeless World Cup is an “opportunity to push a new life,” England's Mikiale Tsegay told the Korea JoongAng Daily after stepping off the pitch at Hanyang University in eastern Seoul on Thursday.

Tsegay is one of over 400 footballers representing their country at the annual tournament this week, competing both for the coveted title and to raise awareness about the issue of homelessness globally. All competitors have been homeless within the last year, and many are refugees, like Tsegay who is originally from Ethiopia, and asylum seekers, like Korea's Fossi Wandji.

But while those personal stories all feed in to the message behind the Homeless World Cup, none of that matters on the pitch. At Hanyang University this week the football does the talking.

“The Homeless World Cup is really an opportunity,” Tsegay said after England’s 7-1 loss to Mexico. “You engage with people and I really appreciate the people who organized this. It’s really special for the young people and all over the world. It’s really inspiring and that motivation is part of your life and keeps you on football and generally, and I am really grateful for the organization.

“Yeah for me, I’ve faced a lot of challenges in my life, so this kind of opportunity is very helpful to push a new life, to keep you in life, so this is great.”

This year will be Tsegay’s only shot at the tournament, as the rules stipulate that all players can only compete at one World Cup.

Tsegay's game was followed by a match between India and Sweden, with India winning 4-2.

“I found the Homeless World Cup through Slum Soccer,” India's Nanda Kumar Dorai Chandran said after the win. “And coming here is unbelievable. Great feeling. I can’t say anything."

India's Nanda Kumar Dorai Chandran poses for a photo after winning a 2024 Homeless World Cup match against Sweden at Hangyang University in eastern Seoul on Thursday. [PAIK JI-HWAN]

Slum Soccer is an Indian organization that uses football to bring changes to the lives of homeless people.

“Anybody is welcome [here]. You just have to enjoy. They don’t ask who are you or what are you doing or how much you got or what you got. No, you just play and enjoy the game. I really love that and I’m enjoying every single second.

"I’m a huge fan of Son [Heung-min], I always love him play. I’m a huge fan of Tottenham Hotspur, and after coming here I didn’t expect Korea to be this great.”

Team Australia was also in action and suffered a huge 13-3 loss to a fiery Scotland. But as much as the players take the results seriously, the Homeless World Cup puts less of a focus on winning.

Team Australia, in yellow, and Team Scotland come off the pitch after a head-to-head match at the 2024 Homeless World Cup at Hanyang Unversity in eastern Seoul on Thursday. [PAIK JI-HWAN]

“It means a lot of things,” Wilson said. “I don’t really think there is really any words to describe it. It’s all about the feelings and emotions. It’s been more emotional for me than excitement. I think it’s gonna be a big change in all these people’s lives that are attending.”

The Homeless World Cup will last through Saturday, when both the men’s and women’s finals take place.

Those who cannot watch the games in person can still catch all the action through FIFA’s streaming platform FIFA+ that broadcasts the tournament for the first time. FIFA have also provided material and equipment to support the tournament as part of a new agreement between the two organizations.

Korea is also competing this year, with the team having lost 6-0 to South Africa and 5-4 to France on Thursday. The host country has participated in the men’s competition since 2010. Korea has yet to win the title.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]