CHILE AND MEXICO TAKE THE TOP TROPHIES HOME BUT EVERYONE WINS AT THE SACRAMENTO 2023 HOMELESS WORLD CUP
Credit: Dan Higginson
Over the past eight days, California has been the canvas for a carnival of football, friendship and freedom for over 300 players who’ve experienced a difficult path before proudly representing 30 nations in the Sacramento sunshine.
And today, all eyes were on the finals as the 18th Homeless World Cup reached a crescendo.
Mexico has a proud Homeless World Cup history, El Tri taking the title back home for the last seven years in a row in the women’s competition. It was Chile, semi-finalists last time in Cardiff, who stood in the way of an unprecedented eight on the bounce.
The teams lined up for an emotional pair of anthems before the morning game with temperatures already topping 100 Farenheit. But that didn’t stop Homeless World Cup co-founder Mel Young taking his place between the teams in a smart suit. This was a World Cup final, after all.
The action on the pitch did little to cool down proceedings. The deadlock in a tense, tactical game was broken by Mexico’s Lizbeth J. Guadalupe Ortiz with a fierce strike from just inside the Chilean half. The Welsh referee, Sarah Frohwein- herself a former Homeless World Cup international in Oslo 2017 and part of an all-female official team in a final for the first time- then pointed to the penalty spot just before the break, Mexican number 10 Alicia Romero Morales dispatching the shot as if she were having a kickabout in a back yard, not the Homeless World Cup final.
The crowds packed out the Hornet Stadium bleachers, ‘Mexico’ and ‘Chile’ ringing out as the latter probed the Mexican defence to no avail. Their defence remained steadfast. The Mexicans better have left some room in their luggage: their eighth Homeless World Cup title in a row was going back with them.
Credit: Anita Milas
So it was over to Mexico’s men to match their compatriots. Would they need an extra seat on the plane back to Benito Juarez? As in the women’s competition, they’d need to beat Chile first to retain their title. But their Hispanic neighbours had other ideas. Chile took a quick lead, twice, but Rodolfo Valenzuala pulled Mexico back level both times. Just before half time, the Mexican number 9 had the opportunity to add another hattrick to his tournament collection, but the feet of the Chile goalkeeper decided not.
It was two each at the break, but Chile pulled away in the second half. Chilean schemer Martin Fuñiba curled one into the top corner, before an angled drive made it 4-2. The two number 11s exchanged goals before the end, but the gap remained the same. Chile by two. 5-3. The Homeless World Cup had been wrestled from Mexican hands. The trophy was going back to Chile.
Sitting underneath the main trophies are a number of consolation awards which also reached their climax in California on Saturday.
Ukraine’s men were selected from a range of defence forces including the police and military, playing back home as part of a football programme providing respite and rehabilitation from the experience of being at war. With no civilian aircraft leaving the country, their journey to Sacramento started with a bus ride to Poland and it was the white-reds they took on for the second level trophy. After the first half,
Poland looked to be walking away with the title, but Ukraine’s indomitable spirit was on show in spades as the game ended 5-5. It wasn’t to be for the Ukrainians though, as the Poles took the Nelsen Way Award with a penalty shoot out win.
It’s been a transformational week for the US women’s team. There’s a strong Sacramento connection with the squad: coach Lisa Wrightsman was a star for the Sac State Hornets team but after the whistle blew, struggled with addiction and homelessness. Getting back into the game thanks to Street Soccer USA, Wrightsman represented her nation at the Homeless World Cup in Rio in 2010 and co-founded the local chapter of the outreach organisation. Sharp-shooting striker Sienna Jackson grew up just a mishit shot from the Hornet Stadium and her hattrick helped her teammates lift the Nelsen Way Award in a dominant display against the Danes, 6-2. Sienna’s beloved dog April has become an unofficial team mascot and she bounced her way into emotional celebrations with the US’s human heroes.
In the other men’s finals, Indonesia take the third tier Lassen Peak Award back to Asia after beating Sweden 4-1, while at the next level, Pakistan bettered the Germans 4-2 to be crowned with the Shasta Award. In the women’s tournament, while the Palisades Award is Les Blues’ after France beat Norway 4-2.
So that’s it from the 20th anniversary Homeless World Cup. But for the players who played their hearts out in Sacramento, the journey to a better tomorrow has only just begun.
Credit: Anita Milas
Words: Dan Tyte