Street-connected young people from more than 20 countries competed in the fifth Street Child World Cup soccer tournament in Mexico City [1], [3].

The event serves as a global platform to amplify the voices of marginalized youth. By combining competitive sports with social advocacy, the tournament aims to highlight the challenges faced by street-connected children and push for systemic change in their lives [5].

Participants from across the globe traveled to Mexico to compete, with representation from 28 to 30 teams [1], [4]. The tournament drew high-profile support, including appearances by Bono and the band U2 [1].

Among the competitors was India’s Rurka Kalan Youth Football Club. The team from rural Punjab reached the tournament finals, where they faced Brazil. In a closely contested match, Brazil defeated India with a final score of four–two [3].

The competition provides more than just athletic opportunity. Organizers use the gathering to advocate for the rights of children who live or work on the streets, ensuring their needs are recognized by international bodies and local governments [5].

The event's scale reflects a growing movement to empower youth through sport. With more than 20 countries represented [2], the tournament underscores the universal nature of the struggles faced by street-connected children, regardless of their geography [1].

“The tournament aims to highlight the challenges faced by street-connected children.”

The Street Child World Cup leverages the global popularity of soccer to transform a sporting event into a human rights campaign. By bringing street-connected youth into the international spotlight—and attracting celebrity advocates like Bono—the initiative shifts the narrative from one of pity to one of agency and athletic achievement, forcing policymakers to acknowledge a demographic that is often invisible in urban centers.