The Homeless World Cup is an international street football tournament where people who have experienced housing insecurity or social exclusion compete as national team players. First held in Graz, Austria in 2003, the 2024 edition comes to Seoul, the first time the event has been hosted anywhere in Asia. Big Issue Korea is now recruiting players for the men’s and women’s national teams and reserve teams that will represent Korea at the Seoul tournament. Refugees and migrants are welcome to apply, so if you’re interested, please read on.

Tournament Overview

  • Tournament name: Seoul 2024 Homeless World Cup
  • Dates: Saturday 21 September, Saturday 28 September 2024
  • Venue: Hanyang University Seoul Campus Main Stadium
  • Scale: Around 500 players from approximately 50 countries; 44 men’s teams and 20 women’s teams competing over 8 days
  • Format: 4-a-side street soccer
  • Admission: Free for spectators

Eligibility

Applicants must be 16 or older. The recruitment is open to people from a wide range of backgrounds who face, or have faced, housing instability and economic hardship as a result of discrimination and inequality. This includes: care-experienced young adults, young people in crisis, people living in shelters or residential facilities, refugees, migrant workers, and people in unstable housing such as goshiwon (very small rented rooms, common in Korea as low-cost accommodation).

Number of Players to Be Selected

  • 18 men’s players and 18 women’s players
  • After final selection, players will be assigned to either the national team or the reserve team (the exact number of stand-by players may be adjusted depending on circumstances)

How to Apply

  1. Fill in the application form.
  1. Send your completed form by email.
  • Email address: hwc@bigissue.kr
  • Applying for yourself: submit the application form only
  • Recommending someone else: submit both a recommendation letter and the application form

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