The boys and girls from Wales participating in the Soccer World Cup for street children.
Image: Supplied
The Street Child World Cup with 30 teams of street-connected young people travelling from across the world took place in Mexico this month.
Hosted by Street Child United,The Street Child World Cup came to an exciting end in Mexico City on May 14. Thirty teams of young people from all over the world, including countries like Palestine, Germany, Kenya, Brazil and South Africa, travelled to Mexico to take part in this special event. The tournament was a partnership with Fútbol Más Mexico and used the fun of football to help children who have lived on the streets finally have their voices heard by people in power.
Right now, there are about 150 million children around the world who do not officially exist because they do not have birth certificates or identity papers. This makes it very hard for them to go to school or see a doctor. By using the excitement of the FIFA World Cup, Street Child United helped these young people show the world that they matter. During the event, the players took part in safe sessions where they shared their stories and talked about the challenges they face.
John Wroe, the leader of Street Child United, said that it took years of hard work to make the event happen. He thanked partners like Lenovo and the Embassy of Canada for their support. He explained that the goal was to help these young people overcome barriers and tell the world, "I am somebody." Ignacio Gómez from Fútbol Más México added that Mexico was the perfect place for the competition because the country loves football so much.
Participants from Team Bolivia in the Street Children World Cup that was held in Mexico.
Image: Supplied
The event ended with a big meeting called a General Assembly. The young players worked together to write down exactly what they need from world leaders to make their lives better. Now that the matches are over, the group is starting a tour across North America. They will visit cities like Seattle, Miami, and Toronto, before finishing their journey at the United Nations in New York City to hand over their list of demands.
The Street Child World Cup – the charity’s flagship event – uses the power of football to give street-connected young people a platform to speak directly to those in power and turn visibility into commitments that drive lasting change.
Using the momentum of the world’s biggest sporting event, the FIFA World Cup, the Street Child World Cup transforms the way the world treats street-connected young people. The event serves as a vehicle for structured advocacy sessions, which are safe spaces for young people to share their experiences.
The event finishes with the General Assembly, during which the participants discuss and document their demands of those in power. They then take these demands back to their home countries in order to campaign for change.
Sponsors of the 2026 Street Child World Cup include the Government of Mexico – IMSS, Lenovo, and the Embassy of Canada.
John Wroe, CEO of Street Child United said: “Years of preparation and excitement have led us to this moment. SCU has been supported by multiple partners, sponsors and supporters. Pulling off a global event of this size is no mean feat, but I always say that the world conspires with us, and we have been overwhelmed with support every step of the way.
“My thanks go to our partners Fútbol Más, who have been instrumental in bringing the tournament to fruition, and to the British Embassy in Mexico City, whose team have been incredibly supportive throughout.
“Without an official identity, street-connected young people face barriers to vital services such as healthcare and education. We are committed to giving these young people a platform to have their voices heard and drive lasting change in their communities and globally. Together, they will declare to the world: ‘I am somebody.’”
Ignacio Gómez, Executive Director of Fútbol Más México, said: “We are honoured to be working with the Street Child United team to deliver the Street Child World Cup. As a great footballing nation, Mexico is the perfect host nation and, from our experience of working with SCU on previous tournaments, we know the excitement, power and lasting change the events can bring. We cannot wait to welcome everyone, and support SCU in delivering a tournament full of football, advocacy and connection.”