Northern Ireland will have men’s and women’s teams competing at this year’s Homeless World Cup in South Korea.
Street Soccer NI, a charity working with the homeless and disadvantaged groups across Northern Ireland, has put the teams together.
Team NI, supported this year by Simon Community NI, Choice Housing and others, will be joined by more than 60 countries from around the world during the week-long event, which is being staged at Seoul’s Hanyang University.
The Irish FA Foundation also provides support to the Northern Ireland teams, who will be playing 12 four-a-side matches across the group stages and placing matches (games last 14 minutes). The match schedule will be determined just before the tournament begins.
The action is due to get under way on Thursday (19 September), with the finals and placing matches due to be held on Sunday 29 September.
Justin McMinn, CEO and co-founder of Street Soccer NI, said: ‘’We’re so excited to be taking part in the Homeless World Cup again this year, especially the first one held in Asia since the event was established in 2003.
“We’ve witnessed over the years what a huge impact this event can have on people’s lives. Many come back full of motivation and confidence to make positive changes in their lives, including getting a house, entering employment, becoming a volunteer and more.”
Street Soccer NI works with more than 200 people every week across Northern Ireland offering free access to weekly football sessions for men and women.
Once players engage in football they get offered support with housing, employment, education, addictions and more. Weekly sessions are currently held in Belfast, Derry-Londonderry, Downpatrick and Coleraine.
Northern Ireland finished eighth overall out of 28 men’s teams at last year’s Homeless World Cup staged at California State University’s Hornet Football Stadium in Sacramento.
The women’s team did not compete in 2023, but in finishing eighth the men’s team registered Northern Ireland’s highest ever overall position at the annual Homeless World Cup. Their previous best was 12th in 2017.
Across two group stages and play-off matches in the USA they won seven and lost five, scoring plenty of goals along the way.
A send-off for the teams competing in Seoul was staged at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park. Sponsors and supporters were in attendance along with ambassador Gerry Armstrong.
The Team NI men’s squad for the Homeless World Cup features: Reza Khalji (GK), Eoghan Gillespie, Alaaeddine Dhouioui, Tristan McFarland, Colin Sharpe, William Martin, Timotei Fechete, Farzad Niazi.
The Team NI women’s squad features: Faith Lewis-Pelage (GK), Louise McGonnell, Sorcha McAleenan, Joanne Patterson, Megan Neill, Caitriona Allen, Yasmine Douglas, Maryam Najafi.
Team NI coaches: Terry Moore, Alan Nixon, Adrian Curry, Sarah Ferguson, Justin McMinn, Jack Hall.
