Mel Young, Co-founder and President, The Homeless World Cup, announced Denmark’s win today acknowledging that with four excellent bids presented the decision was a difficult one to reach:

“Denmark put forward a first class bid. The organisation; support and financial backing from the Danish Government and Copenhagen City; and mechanisms proposed to ensure smooth running of the Visa process for the players promises outstanding results. We congratulate Denmark for winning the bid. The Homeless World Cup gets better every year and Copenhagen has the opportunity to demonstrate yet again that football has tremendous power to make a major impact on people’s lives.  Football changes the world.”

Sport promoting social inclusion is becoming a big issue in Denmark and Eva Kjer Hansen, Ministry of Social Affairs, is looking forward to the event in Copenhagen immensely:

“I am convinced that sports can improve the self-esteem and life quality of homeless and other socially marginalised people. Sport is an efficient way of creating and developing social communities. This is why sport must be accessible to all. The Homeless World Cup in Copenhagen will demonstrate to the world that socially marginalised groups are able and want to take their responsibility for lives and do something themselves. This is why I am looking forward to welcoming the players to Denmark in 2007.”

A street soccer stadium will be erected in the city square in front of City Hall welcomed by Mikkel Warming, Mayor of Copenhagen: “I’m extremely pleased that Copenhagen will host The Homeless World Cup.  The tournament focuses our attention on homelessness and gives Copenhageners an opportunity to meet homeless people in a new setting. To see them as real people who have goals and resources, just like everybody else. I hope that we can help to break down prejudices, while also giving both players in the field and the audience some fun.”

Ombold Football League, which works to give homeless and socially disadvantaged the opportunity to play football, and the Street Paper "Hus Forbi" created the bid to beat off strong competition from Italy, Germany and Poland.

Following huge success in Austria 2003, Sweden 2004, Edinburgh 2005 the Homeless World Cup is becoming recognised as an annual event on the global sporting calendar and will set Cape Town alight from 24-30 September 2006.

Supported by Nike and UEFA since it’s inception several world-class football teams support homeless World Cup teams.  England is supported and coached by Manchester United and Spain has links with Real Madrid, Portugal with SL Benfica. Worldwide recognition for sport making a major positive impact on social exclusion has come from UEFA with the Monaco Cheque (previous winners include the Special Olympics and Football against Racism).  

The Homeless World Cup is significantly transforming lives and communities around the world. The feeling of belonging, the challenge of working in a team, the process of regaining a health- oriented attitude towards life, self esteem and last but not least the experience of fun has seen significant change in players. Over 77% of players change their lives forever. They move forwards to find regular employment, come off drugs and alcohol, pursue education, improve their housing, and even play for semi-professional and professional football clubs. It also changes the attitudes of the public towards homeless people who are treated as heroes during the tournament and acknowledged for their courage and determination whilst encouraged and supported in transforming their lives.  

The Homeless World Cup was co-founded by world leading Social entrepreneur Mel Young and Harald Schmied created the concept in 2001 at the Annual International Network of Street Papers Conference (INSP) in Cape Town.