Qatar to host Street Child World Cup 2022 | OneFootball

Twenty-six teams will represent 22 countries, including Qatar, at the next Street Child World Cup tournament to champion the rights of underserved children worldwide.

The unique 10-day event, taking place from 3-14 October 2022, will welcome 13 girls teams and 13 boys teams to unite on an international stage and share their voices to raise awareness about social issues they care about.

Hosted at Qatar Foundation’s Education City, there will be a strong focus on ‘access to education’, a shared priority for participating teams and SCWC partner Qatar Foundation.

Speaking about the upcoming tournament, Street Child United (SCU) Co-Founder and CEO John Wroe commented: “We are extremely excited for this highly anticipated fourth Street Child World Cup 2022, our first SCWC in the Middle East. With everything the world has been through these past few years, we need positive, meaningful, heroic stories, and every SCWC delivers them in abundance. We are so grateful to Qatar Foundation for supporting us in hosting this event and putting a spotlight on these inspiring young people so they can tell the world ‘I AM SOMEBODY’.”

Machaille Hassan Al-Naimi, President of Community Development, QF, praised the SCWC, saying: “With the World Cup coming to Qatar in just a year’s time, hosting the SCWC is the perfect way for QF to get in the spirit of welcoming the world by offering a meaningful educational and cultural experience to local and international young people, using the power of football.

“Through the SCWC, SCU are providing the support and safety that is crucial for children who are not often given an opportunity like this to come together, enjoy the fun and freedom, and form meaningful friendships that are embodied in sports events.”

Sadock John, a young leader from Tanzania, said: “I played at the first Street Child World Cup in 2010 and that was the moment my life changed for good – I met my SCU family.

“By representing my country and taking part in the SCWC, I returned to my community a hero. I am now a leader in my community, helping to inspire the next generation through a local football academy. I will forever be grateful for the opportunities Street Child United have given me and their continued support via the Street Child United Young Leader programme, where I have found confidence and belief that I am somebody.”

Amongst the 26 teams, 10 will be participating at a SCWC for the first time, including three refugee teams – Darfur, Hungary and Zaatari – plus a girls team from Palestine. Other teams new to the SCU family include: Uganda, Nepal, England, Mexico, Peru and Zimbabwe. They will be joined by teams that have previously participated in at least one SCWC and include teams from: Brazil, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Philippines, USA, Burundi, Tanzania, Pakistan, and Mauritius.

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