It is our pleasure to introduce the Homeless World Cup to you.

The Homeless World Cup is an annual international tournament to promote public awareness on the plight of the homeless and poor, and to generate change in the lives of those trapped in extreme circumstances. It has become a premier sporting event and powerful social voice.

To participate in this football event, the players must be 16 years of age and homeless, or a refugee, or in a drug rehab program, or a vendor of a “street paper”, such as the Jeepney Magazine.

Building on the success of the Philippines Homeless World Cup Team in 2008 and 2009, Urban Opportunities for Change is organizing the 2010 HWC football team/project, who will represent the Philippines, September in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The 2008 Philippine team finished 37th out of 48 nations in Melbourne, Australia. This was an incredible finish for a very young team. To get there they played thirteen games, and beat teams such as Rwanda, India, Namibia and Sweden. But this tournament is not just about winning, it is about promoting those who have lost, or never been given, an opportunity. For this reason our players and this team was celebrated by everyone involved, including the media.

In 2009, eight different players, all of them homeless, represented the Philippines in Milan, Italy. Combining football, music and art, the Philippine squad played to a respectable 29th place finish and captured the hearts of the organizers and the spectators.

The Homeless World Cup project in the Philippines works with 16 year olds and up. It is an inspiring and effective way to change lives of an age group considered unreachable. Homeless men and woman get a once in a lifetime opportunity to represent their country.

Our responsibility in the Philippines is to build a grassroots organization that uses sport to help alleviate homelessness. We are also responsible for the training and travel of the Philippine National Team.

Please join us in this unique and powerful opportunity to bring change in the communities and lives of people. The Homeless World Cup brings the healing power of sport to the poor.