TEXCOCO, Mexico – The fifth Street Child World Cup concluded Thursday with championship victories, celebrity appearances, and a powerful message about youth empowerment as teams from around the globe gathered in Mexico for the international tournament.
Young athletes from 28 teams representing more than 20 nations competed in the event, which kicked off May 6 and held its championship rounds in Texcoco, located outside Mexico City.
The famous Irish rock group U2 brought celebrity attention to the finals, with drummer Larry Mullen Jr. conducting the ceremonial coin toss for the boys’ Shield championship match. Band members Bono, the Edge and Adam Clayton watched the action from the sidelines, with Bono at one point encouraging spectators to redirect their attention to the young athletes competing on the field.
According to Street Child United CEO and co-founder John Wroe, the tournament serves a mission beyond sports competition.
“This is the fifth Street Child World Cup. It’s about creating a global platform for young people’s voices to be heard. On their demands on identity, access to education, protection from violence and gender equality,” Wroe explained to Reuters.
“And we invite them to play a world cup where the World Cup is. And it’s all about getting the eyes of the world’s media on them so they can amplify their voices and bring about lasting change on behalf of street-connected children all over the world.”
In championship action, Brazil’s boys squad defeated India to claim the Cup title, leading to exuberant victory celebrations. Mexico’s girls team captured their Cup division championship with a win over Kenya. Indonesia’s boys and Brazil’s girls emerged victorious in their respective Shield divisions.
Brazilian boys team captain Joao JV, an 18-year-old from Rio de Janeiro, described the championship as the culmination of extensive preparation.
“I want to thank God, first of all. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be here in Mexico, especially to be with my teammates. We’ve been training for a long time, two years. And so, it is so gratifying for us to be here because we’ve all dreamt of this.
“To represent Brazil outside the country is indescribable. And so, we’re all really happy. And I thank God for us getting the title.”
Participants emphasized that the tournament offered valuable experiences extending far beyond athletic competition, including cultural exchange opportunities and educational workshops addressing challenges facing street-connected youth worldwide.
“The thing I like the most about being at the World Cup is the opportunity to mingle with players from other countries. I also really liked the light show,” commented India girls captain Pavithra Vellaiyangiri, 17, from Chennai.
The tournament concluded with a festival-style celebration featuring a performance by American rapper and singer Paul Russell, who performed while players celebrated their experiences.
“Yeah, it’s wild to hear that for some of them, it’s their first time on a plane; for some of them, it’s their first time meeting someone from another country. So, it’s cool you can see the way it’s just broadening their own understanding of the world and of their place in it. Yeah, it’s super cool to see,” Russell observed.
