SACRAMENTO 2023 HOMELESS WORLD CUP: FIFPRO Fair Play Awards (DAY 5)
Credit: Dan Higginson
On a balmy Wednesday evening on pitch 1, the Mexico women’s team were the well-deserved recipients of the fourth FIFPRO Fair Play Award, with each member of the winning team also being gifted a keepsake football to take home as a symbol of their integrity.
Sacramento Republic FC midfielder, Nick Ross – who originally hails from Inverness, Scotland – presented the award to the team, commenting afterwards, “I think it’s important to have these awards, especially at an event as big as this. Fair play is key.”
Olympic and USWNT World Cup Champion, Hope Solo – who had taken part in the Homeless World Cup Global Symposium earlier in the day – was also present to shake hands and congratulate the team prior to their match with their USA counterparts.
Credit: Dan Higginson
Throughout the first four days of the 2023 Homeless World Cup tournament, the Mexico women’s team has demonstrated the fair play values of the Homeless World Cup by respecting their opponents’ skill and abilities. The team has displayed, on multiple occasions, the utmost sportsmanship to encourage a fair competition with other teams.
The Fédération Internationale des Associations de Footballeurs Professionnels (International Federation of Footballers), widely known as FIFPRO, is the world’s footballer’s union, representing around 65,000 professional footballers worldwide and the organisation has been a key supporter of the Homeless World Cup Foundation since 2015. FIFPRO sponsor a daily Fair Play Award at the Homeless World Cup each year.
The Homeless World Cup is, of course, a football competition; however, the values and ethos go beyond winning trophies. At its heart the tournament’s goal is to create a global community of players who feel included in society. The daily FIFPRO Fair Play Awards build on these ideals of the tournament. The awards are presented to teams and individuals who have demonstrated the values of fair play, respect and sportsmanship.
Credit: Dan Higginson
Word by: Alix Gunn & Haley Lucero