Scoring a goal in the fight to end homelessness

This year’s Homeless World Cup will welcome 64 men’s, mixed or women’s teams fielding four players per game to the ‘street football/soccer’ tournament in the Welsh Capital, Cardiff. Enjoying the Ambassadorship of Welsh Hollywood star, Michael Sheen, the 2019 Tournament intends to create a long-lasting legacy by maximising exposure for the event, and in doing so change people’s perceptions and understanding of homelessness, while extending employment- and life opportunities for the participants.

Michael Wachsler-Markowitsch, Chief Financial Officer, ams, said: “An estimated 100 million people are homeless worldwide – over 15,000 in Austria alone. So, winning the tournament is not the only aim – the ‘winning goal’ is to empower people to succeed at life! 

“That’s why ams has pledged to do what we can to support homeless people in our local community via our sponsorship of the Caritas Austria Homeless World Cup project, and the 22 team members (including 16 players) on the men’s and women’s Austrian national squads. 

“We’ll again create opportunities for ams employees to support this great cause, especially in Europe and the United States where national teams are participating – to donate, or to share support on social media or on the sidelines.”

The men’s team will again be managed and trained by Gilbert Prilasnig, a former Austria national football team player who in 2017 received a ‘Human Rights Award’ from the Mayor of Graz, together with Harald Schmied, for his engagement with the homeless. 

The brand-new women’s team will be managed and trained by Emily Cancienne, a professional footballer originally from the USA who has lived in Austria since 2015 and last year was nominated by the Austrian Sporthilfe organisation in the social award category.

Changing lives through team sport
The Homeless World Cup was co-founded by Mel Young and Harald Schmied, who came up with the idea following a conference about homelessness in 2001. They wanted to change the lives of homeless people all over the world, and they believed soccer could help them do it. The first Homeless World Cup tournament took place in Graz in 2003, and the event and network has been growing steadily ever since, occupying a pioneering role in the field of sport & development.

What happens to players after the tournament?
National partners, such as Caritas Austria, integrate football with other approaches locally. When they return, a large percentage of players improve their lives through education, employment in social enterprises and other businesses, substance abuse rehabilitation, and supported housing. 

An amazing 94% of players consistently say that the Homeless World Cup has had a positive impact on their lives. The feeling of belonging, challenge of working in a team, regaining a health-oriented attitude towards life, self-esteem, experience of representing their country, and last the experience of fun is a powerful combination to change a person’s life.