Chile Prepares for Homeless World Cup

The clock is counting down with just a few days remaining until Santiago hosts the 12th edition of the Homeless World Cup.

The action will begin on October 19, running through until October 26, with all matches taking place in Plaza de la Constitución outside La Moneda. The tournament has attracted 63 teams from 49 countries, with an impressive array of participating nations.

Aside from being hosts, Chile will be looking to win the tournament, with the men’s team able to lift the trophy in Mexico in 2012 and the women falling at the final hurdle last year in Poland.

Having grown phenomenally since the first edition in 2003, the Homeless World Cup is a major annual event on the sporting circuit, giving opportunities to many who have become caught up in difficult situations.

Once again the side will be under the control of Juan Erazo, who has been part of the Futbol Calle program from the very beginning, going from a volunteer giving out coffee to becoming a World Cup winning coach.

Sport/Life was involved in helping the creation of the short film The Homeless Goal, made by Kyle Waller, who followed the Chilean team’s preparations in Chile as well as their involvement in the tournament in Poland. You can see the trials and tribulations of two of the players involved in the Chilean efforts in Poznan below.