Kicking It (2008) - full transcript
The lives of homeless people are changed forever through an international soccer competition. This film follows six players as they set off for Cape Town, South Africa to play in the Homeless World Cup.
(bright music)
(soft, bright music)
(boxes rustling)
- A ball can change your life.
You may not have any of those things
that most people take for granted,
You may not have a home.
You may not have a job.
A ball can give you something
you never thought possible.
A ball can teach you teamwork.
(hands clapping)
A ball can teach you discipline.
(ball thudding)
We are trying to make our lives better,
and every person here has a chance to make
their lives better, all because of a ball.
You have a chance to come all the way
to Cape Town because of a ball.
(players chanting)
(clapping and chanting)
- In 2001, a Scot and an
Austrian had a mad idea,
to give homeless men and
women a chance to change
through an international
street soccer tournament.
They'd been looking for
a way to bring together
homeless people from all around the world,
and football was the way.
Or soccer, as it's called in America.
They realized that football's a sport
that's played in nearly
every neighborhood,
on every continent around the globe.
From war-torn Afghanistan,
to the slums of Africa,
to the streets and fields of
Dublin, where even as a child,
I spent of me years
kicking a football around.
So, they put the word on the street.
And five years later, over
20,000 homeless people
were getting together
regularly to train hard.
They were kicking drugs and alcohol,
they were finding a
new sense of community.
They were also hoping to
represent their country
in the Fourth Annual Homeless World Cup
in Cape Town in South Africa.
500 players, eight from each
country, were chosen to play.
And win or lose,
promised to be the journey of a lifetime.
(accordion music)
(bottles clinking)
(whistle blaring)
(players shouting)
- I wouldn't allow him
to come to the house.
He ended up on the streets.
(lock clicking)
- A bit worried, yeah.
A bit worried.
- [Margaret] He wasn't the same.
- How's it goin', Tina?
- He wasn't my child, I
didn't feel he was my child.
He was somebody else.
It was frightening.
I stopped watching television,
I stopped listening to radio,
because every time you heard
that a person in Dublin
was found dead, you fear it's your child.
And I didn't see him for about two years.
And then, he came back, wanting help.
And he got help.
- I know my Damien's going to do it.
When I get a feeling, do
you ever get a feeling?
Well, when I get a feeling,
it usually happens,
and I just have a feeling
for him, that he'll do it.
(players shouting)
- Easy.
Push out on that, Dave, push out on that.
- Point for you, and a point for you.
(player cheering)
- [Mick] Here, come here, and listen.
(soft accordion music)
(percussive music)
Football means a lot
here in our community.
Football can transform a lot of lives.
You never know, one day they
can become the next Ronaldinho.
(players shouting)
(whistle blaring)
I could not find anything to eat.
(soft music)
My lift just started when
I started playing football.
It encouraged me a lot to
continue practicing hard,
'cause if this football
can remove all the hardship
that we are going through, I
could be really, very happy.
(brush scraping)
- I have to work, 'cause it's my job.
But the smell,
(sighing)
Football, football, football.
Football makes me eat, drink, sleep.
My future lies on South Africa now.
My future lies in South Africa.
(whistle blaring)
(animals bleating)
So, we'll have to do it by ourself.
(whistle blaring)
(upbeat music)
(singing in a foreign language)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(tools thudding)
(metal clanging)
(animals bleating)
(cheering and applauding)
(whistle blaring)
- [Man] Alex Mwambi.
(applauding)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(applauding)
that I still have a chance to
play professional football.
I think this will be my
last time playing football.
It will be very disappointing if I come
from Cape Town as a failure.
(soft music)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(whistle blaring)
(hands clapping)
(whistle blaring)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(shoes squeaking)
- Jesus is 62 years old guy.
In some ways, he's like the spirit,
or the soul, of our team.
(hands clapping)
This is not an angel,
is not a wonderful guy.
He was a very bad guy a long time ago.
(speaking in a foreign language)
(jewelry clinking)
(speaking in a foreign language)
- The Spanish team is a mix of everything.
Not the best players,
but those that we believe
that they can take
advantage of this project.
(players shouting)
Jesus is like the Superman.
He could have been a professional.
(applauding and cheering)
For two years, or something like that.
(speaking in a foreign language)
Each one of the guys, they can
forget about their problems,
and for at least one week, or 10 days,
they could be someone,
especially in South Africa.
(speaking in a foreign language)
(applauding)
(soft music)
(players shouting)
- Are you from Philly, too?
- Nope, Atlanta.
- Atlanta, oh.
- Yep, Atlanta.
- You came north, huh?
- Yeah.
- Yeah, okay.
- When I was staying at my father's
I didn't feel comfortable in his house.
Not at all.
I was the main one gettin' the whoopin's,
I was the main one gettin' the punishment.
It started when I was
a child, and I grew up,
and it kept goin', and
goin', and goin', and goin',
until I got of age, you
feel what I'm sayin'?
(whistle blaring)
(players shouting)
(whistle blaring)
When I would go to sleep,
I kept one eye open,
because I just didn't feel
comfortable around him.
That's how bad it was.
Nobody didn't think I was gonna do right.
Everybody prays and hopes that I
go to jail, or I die,
you know what I'm sayin'?
They kept mentionin' it,
basically, they was praisin' it.
"You gonna be locked up.
"Well, you'll be off my shoulder."
Well, my dad told me I had to leave.
They don't know family tradition.
They really don't.
You know what?
From here on out, fuck them,
and fuck the rest of them.
Feel what I'm saying?
Now, how I feel about them?
Shit, they could die
today, and I wouldn't care.
What are you talkin' about?
- [Man With Buns] You're too greedy, man.
- That's how bad it is.
That's how bad they scarred the heart.
Can I get a bun?
Been a while, man.
Been a while.
Where I could go sit somewhere
and feel comfortable.
- Craig's anger issues stem
from his childhood ability.
When he got out of the group home
at 18, he exploded all the time.
So, at 18, he's on the street.
And he's tried to stay at a shelter,
but his temper got him banned there.
- You see how many police cars roll by?
For nothin'.
That's stupid.
The police harass the homeless.
If a homeless person don't
have nowhere to sleep,
where they gonna sleep at?
If the shelter's filled
up, they can't get in,
where they gonna sleep at?
You feel what I'm sayin'?
So it's like,
they do,
it's like, you have prejudice
and stereotype combination,
you fee what I'm sayin'?
- It's a hell of a spot to be in,
to be homeless in the United States.
People look at you like, "How
could you be homeless here?
"What's wrong with you?"
But I know their struggles,
and I can see deeper than that.
- So, it seems that the best
players, we agreed last night,
are Craig, who's a young
kid, he's new to you, right?
And he just picked up,
- He's been workin'
with us for a long time.
Like, I ended up getting
in a discussion with him,
because he's a discipline
problem around the center.
And he's like, "Well, do you
have anything for me to do?"
You know, this Brooklyn accent,
"Got anything for me to do?"
And I was like "Yeah, you
can play on our soccer team,"
and he started playing,
and it was really key.
- [Man In Blue Shirt] Impulsive
feel to it, like any minute,
- He might snap, but that's
what he's been working on.
- [Man In Blue] Having anger,
but just uncontrollably,
might do anything at all.
- Well, he came with a lot of frustration.
He went from group home to group home.
He lived in 13 different
cities in 10 years.
It's a big risk, but you know,
he needs a chance, he's really trying.
(players shouting)
- Feel like a stray dog, you know?
I am somebody, and I am worth something,
but at the same time, I'm nobody.
But then, as long as you sit
around and not do nothin',
negativity strikes the mind.
(soft music)
(hushing)
- Okay, guys, just give
us a minute for a second.
Charlie's gonna name the squad
that's going to travel to South Africa.
Okay?
- Is that now, sir?
- He's doin' it now, yeah.
Alright.
- [Player] Good luck, everybody.
- With hand on heart, I know I've picked
who I think is the best people,
the best squad, the best
players, to represent us.
- And this is in no particular order,
so I'll just go straight ahead.
Simon Canning.
(applauding)
David Phillips
(applauding)
Garret Clifford.
(applauding)
Damien Farrell.
(soft music)
- In my mind, Damien
was a million miles away
from participating in this
one to where he was last year.
I'm just over the moon, you know.
Over the moon, I can't believe it.
- [Announcer] On our own pitch,
the Homeless World Cup
team, representing Ireland
at the Homeless World Cup
in Cape Town, South Africa,
on the 21st of September, 2006.
(applauding)
The team members: Simon
Canning, Damien Farrell.
- Winning, to me, would mean
that this time next year,
that every one of these guys
have moved onto a better life.
- [Announcer] Cape Town
to represent Ireland.
I know they're going to do us all proud.
Ladies and gentlemen,
the Irish homeless team.
Let's give them a final,
resounding send-off,
as they head off next month to Cape Town.
(cheering and applauding)
(wind blowing)
(bright music)
(propellors whirring)
(speaking in a foreign language)
- [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,
President Thabo Mbeki and his entourage.
Please stand.
(cheering and applauding)
(bright band music)
(applauding and chanting
in a foreign language)
- USA, USA, USA.
(chanting in a foreign language)
(chanting in a foreign language)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(whistle blaring)
(shoes scraping)
(whistle blaring)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(somber music)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(whistle blaring)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(acoustic guitar music)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(chanting in a foreign language)
- Welcome, welcome, welcome
to sunny, sunny South Africa.
Welcome, welcome, all
of you wonderful people
from different parts of the world.
(applauding and cheering)
And we want to say,
we want to ensure, that
everybody has a home.
(applauding and cheering)
- It is my honor to declare
the Fourth Homeless World Cup open.
(applauding and cheering)
Live on, football.
You get a lot people saying,
"This is just a crazy idea."
I don't really care what people think,
'cause my main objective here is
the impact to change people's lives.
That's why we do it.
(players cheering)
Homeless people, generally,
are low self-confidence,
low self-esteem, they're
isolated, feeling lonely.
When you put them into a team,
- Kenya.
- Kenya.
- you start to build on it.
And then, when they eventually get through
to the Homeless World
Cup, they can stand proud.
And I think that what we're
showing here is that sport,
and football, in particular,
can be used to tackle
some of the most difficult
problems in society.
- [Announcer] Welcome to our first day
here at the Homeless World Cup.
Over the next seven days,
- In American, homelessness is a crime.
So, they gonna arrest
you for bein' homeless.
A homeless person's really stereotyped.
When they walk in a
store, they get watched.
They get watched 24/7.
Then, they can't even go, like,
you all can sleep outside.
We can't even sleep outside.
We gotta walk around like
we're zombies or somethin'.
You feel what I'm sayin'?
That's how it is.
If you want to sleep in a park bench,
they'll wake you up
and tell you to get up.
And if you make a fuss,
they send you to jail.
And that's my word.
That's my word, they do that.
That's what they do, you
feel what I'm sayin'?
- Man, chill, man.
(laughing)
- What, you can't stand up, too?
- [Analyst] Next, on pitch
two, USA vs. Burundi.
- They are not more skilled than you,
but they are a very physical team.
So, we have to be prepared to
be pushed and to be kicked.
And what we do, we don't
retaliate and we don't argue.
We just get on with playing soccer.
("The Star-Spangled Banner")
- [Analyst] This match: US, Burundi.
(applauding and cheering)
The US wasn't able to win any games
in last year's competition.
These games are two seven minute halves.
The US strikes first, shot just wide.
- Up, up, up, up and wide, up and wide.
- [Analyst] Here are
the Homeless Home Cup,
matches are played on smaller,
street soccer-type pitches.
Each team is a four-a-side,
meaning a goalkeeper, three field players.
That's the American Craig
Holley with a hard foul.
- Yo boy, Craig.
- [Analyst] Knocking a player down,
and being cautioned by the referee.
Gotta be a little bit less aggressive.
- Gotta get back, check back.
Check back.
- [Analyst] Well-battled, there.
Ball went off the boards.
- Nice shot, nice shot.
- [Analyst] Burundi shoots, scores.
(cheering and applauding)
Burundi has now built a
five-nothing advantage.
(whistle blaring)
American player, in frustration,
angrily smacks the ball of the boards,
and that'll get him a blue card.
He's gotta sit out two minutes.
- That's messed up, look he hit me.
- [Analyst] The Americans
have to keep their composure
if they're going to
succeed in this tournament.
Nice ball-work on the
sideline by the American.
(applauding)
Oh, he loses the ball in traffic.
(groaning)
(whistle blaring)
Now the referee throws a red card.
It's a ejection for the American player.
So, they'll now be a man down.
- They give me a red card?
- You're yellin' at us.
- I'm pressing.
- [Analyst] Off of the goal kick here.
(ball thudding)
Brilliant interception
by Burundi, and a shot
and it's immediately back
in the American goal.
That's gotta hurt the morale of the team,
right there before the end.
(whistle blaring)
Burundi, six-zero victors
over the Americans.
- [Analyst] Congratulations, Burundi.
Let's hear it for both teams.
It's now up to you guys.
Do you wanna fight and
argue with each other,
with us, with other teams,
then we won't win a trophy.
And we came here to play some good soccer,
and try and be as successful as we can.
- These guys, the word they use
for it is surviving back home.
Like, "We're adapted to
survive," and they are.
You're sleeping alone on the street,
you have to be very upfront, in-your-face,
claim-your-own-space persona, and that
is a fighting edge that
shows up on the court.
Now, that's a good
thing, 'cause ultimately,
by protecting themselves,
they isolate themselves.
- Being homeless, you do what you know.
That's all I can say, do what you know.
I know many things, but I'm not
at liberty to discuss that with everybody.
- [Analyst] This matchup:
Kenya and Nigeria.
Two first-time teams in
the Homeless World Cup.
(chanting in a foreign language)
- [Analyst] This match marks the return
of the Kenyan coach, Sigi, who in 2003
coached the winning
Austrian team to the title.
One of the key players for the Kenyans,
their captain, Alex Mwambi.
Kenya, Nigeria.
Chance by Nigeria, saved
by the Kenyan keeper.
(applauding)
Goalkeepers very critical
here on the small courts
here at the Homeless World Cup.
Battling for the ball on the corner,
(fan shouting)
Referee has awarded a penalty kick.
Alex Mwambi steps up to take it.
- [Analyst] Mwambi, ready.
Takes a shot, and a save.
- I don't understand it.
- [Analyst] Mwambi couldn't put it away.
(whistle blaring)
- [Announcer] It's halftime.
- [Analyst] 50 million
television sets are gonna
be watching this Homeless
World Cup live here in Africa.
Mwambi, right back in the
middle of the action, there,
trying to dig out a steal.
The Nigerian team coming
out, shot, and a goal.
That's a quick lead for Nigeria, one-zero.
Kenyan team, playing out of
the back, ball quickly forward,
now it's Mwambi, shoots,
scores, the equalizer.
It's now level, one-one, Kenya, Nigeria.
(chanting in a foreign language)
Closing minutes here, game winding down.
Good tackle, chance, saved by the keeper.
The ball cleared away into the stands.
(whistle blaring)
And we finish two-two at
the end of regulation,
as we head to penalty kicks.
Every match at the Homeless
World Cup has a winner.
And at the end of regulation, we go
to the penalty kick tiebreakers,
which are best of three.
So, here we are.
It's one to one, one penalty
kick left for each team.
Alex Mwambi, chance to redeem himself.
He shoots, puts it away.
(applauding and cheering)
Kenya now with the lead.
Their goalkeeper needs to make
a save here to keep them alive.
(hands clapping)
Tiebreaker, last chance.
(cheering)
Goalkeeper, big save, and the
Kenyan team wins on penalties.
(applauding and cheering)
Big win over Nigeria.
(chanting in a foreign language)
(bright music)
(laughing)
(speaking in a foreign language)
So, we are very grateful for them,
because we lack certain things,
like toothpaste.
We have lots of toothpaste.
We don't have to complain about anything.
Everything is perfect.
The accommodation is great.
We don't have any problem
with the accommodation, 'cause
even when we sleep in this
open space, like in this hall,
we don't have even mosquitoes here.
So, we are very fine
sleeping in this place.
The food is delicious.
We are not used to such food
when we are in our country.
So, we are treated like
professional players.
(soft music)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(upbeat dance music)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(speaking in a foreign language)
- Thank you.
So, we'll see you tomorrow?
- Tomorrow, yeah.
- [Announcer] Next game on will be
Ireland versus Afghanistan.
- Take the pressure off ya
about winning, or whatever.
- The best motivation is that you guys
have worked your socks off for how long?
Really, to actually get where you are.
What I don't want see happen
is that you get yourself
caught up in all the
hoo-haa, and whatever.
And we forget about it,
and we've gotta go out
and play our normal game, and relax.
(bright music)
- [Analyst] It's Ireland
versus Afghanistan.
These teams feature two of the better
goalkeepers in the tournament.
(bell ringing)
It's time to take the pitch.
(player shouting in a foreign language)
(soft music)
(whistle blaring)
(coach shouting)
(whistle blaring)
(soft music)
I've been here about 1:00 or 2:00.
Even sometimes earlier.
Just get fed up walkin' around,
you just come in here and get
away from all the madness.
You don't think you're worth anything,
you have no respect for yourself.
You can't hold your head up high anymore.
'Cause there you are, 6:00 in the morning,
coming out of a bush after
sleeping there the night before.
That'll shatter any man.
- [Analyst] Now, it's almost game time.
At this tournament, top
eight teams after three days
of competition will qualify to play
for the main trophy,
the Homeless World Cup.
The teams with the second best records
will play for the second
division Premier Cup.
And the teams with the third best records
will play for the Edinburgh Cup.
Both Ireland and Afghanistan
need a win here tonight
to stay alive in the competition
for the Homeless World Cup.
And we're off.
(applauding)
An attack by Afghanistan,
great save by the Irish keeper.
- Damien, Damien!
Brilliant, superb!
- [Analyst] There's the
challenge going out.
Simon Canning, tripped
by the Afghan goalkeeper.
(players shouting)
Irish team, they're on
the counter, drop, save.
Rebound, finished.
(cheering and applauding)
And the Irish forge ahead, two-zero.
- That's you, Simon.
- [Analyst] A nifty little turn.
Fire.
(whistle blaring)
Goal, Afghanistan.
(cheering and applauding)
(shouting)
Switch of the field, there.
The Afghans steal in the middle.
Back tap, Afghanistan, fake, shot, save.
It's an end-to-end battle,
Ireland up four-one.
You can see, a physical challenge there.
Both these teams are motivated.
Referee gives a warning to both teams.
That was a hard-fought first half,
and Irish lead, four to two.
There's a quick transition, shot, goal.
(whistle blaring)
The Afghans are fighting
their way back into this.
An attack by Afghanistan.
- Hey, ref, come on.
David, David.
(applauding)
(intense music)
- [Analyst] Ball out.
Oh, that's a terrible
error by Damien Farrell.
Gives it right to the Afghan
player in front of him.
And that cuts the Irish
lead to four to three.
Simon Canning, pass in the corner.
A foot shot, goal.
Two goal advantage here, final minutes.
Five-three, Ireland, can they hold on?
(intense music)
Steal in the middle.
Counter, Afghans.
Ball across, save.
Rebound, goal, Afghanistan.
(applauding and cheering)
(whistle blaring)
And there's the referee's whistle.
And it's over, the Irish
team survives, five-four.
(applauding and cheering)
- [Announcer] What a fantastic
game, ladies and gentlemen.
Let's hear it for Ireland and Afghanistan.
(applauding and cheering)
(bright music)
- [Reporter] Any nerves coming up?
- [Group] Ireland, Ireland, Ireland,
Ireland, Ireland, Ireland.
(waves crashing)
(acoustic guitar music)
- We are having more fun than any others.
I'm sure that we are having more fun
than the winner of the tournament.
Maybe, they will have one hour of glory.
And I'm very happy for them, very happy.
But we are having 100 hours of glory,
of happiness.
(laughing and clapping)
(speaking in a foreign language)
Of course, I would love to see one day,
Spain win the Homeless World Cup.
But at this time, the
project that we have,
the people we work with,
and those that we choose
are not thinking on winning.
We wanna win in their lives.
And, of course, we wanna
try to win the next game.
But if we don't, anyway, tomorrow,
we are gonna spend some time at the beach.
(acoustic guitar music)
- [Announcer] The Spanish National Anthem.
Spanish team, trying to
keep up with Holland.
Goal, Holland.
(applauding and cheering)
(speaking in a different language)
We don't have team for winning.
Sometimes, when the players,
they are not doing so well,
or they are losing, I see their faces,
and they are not having so much fun.
(speaking in a foreign language)
So, that's the reason that I'm suffering,
not because of the score.
I don't care about the result.
I care about them.
(cheering and applauding)
If they are not playing well,
then they won't feel so well.
Their lives are very bad, so I don't
want anything else bad for them.
That day when he fell
down, people were laughing,
and it's like, "Oh, look at the old guy."
So, I felt so bad about him.
- [Announcer] Let's hear
it for Spain and Paraguay.
(applauding)
(speaking in a foreign language)
He upset because he thinks that the rest
of the players didn't make a big effort.
But the truth is that they
are completely nervous,
completely out of the game.
So, we are not doing the
things that we were training.
Some people can do it, some people cannot.
So, what can we do about that?
Just wait for the next match.
(accordion music)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(train car rattling)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(whistle blaring)
(speaking in a foreign language)
- So, like many, many young
guys from far regions of Russia,
he thought about changing his life.
(speaking in a foreign language)
(soft, somber music)
(speaking in a foreign language)
I have 11 years experience
of homelessness.
I am illegal inhabitant of St. Petersburg.
I have no registration at all.
There are more than 50,000
homeless people in St. Petersburg.
So now, they are illegal
inhabitants of St. Petersburg.
(door creaking)
(speaking in a foreign language)
Finally, after a year, they have,
of being homeless, not
only illegal inhabitant,
he had no roof under his head.
So, he closed his eyes
and his love to football
that he would change his life.
- [Announcer] It's Russia
in the blue shirts,
and England in the red.
Two very tough teams.
(players shouting)
(cheering and applauding)
and he has no right to be winner.
He must be loser.
A part of your life.
- [Announcer] Let's
hear it for both teams.
- You must win.
(soft music)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(laughing)
(horns honking)
- As a player, if you
are mad at the referee,
it'll hurt you if he
calls fouls against you.
Leave that to us, you
take care of your job.
You job is to keep your head and hustle.
- [Analyst] It's USA, Australia.
Can the US redeem itself?
They have yet to win a game
here in the tournament.
A shot to the far post, it's in the net.
(applauding and cheering)
Craig Holley there, knocking the
Australian player off the ball.
And he gets a lecture from the referee.
Again, they've discipline problems
here for the United States.
Off of the goal kick here,
interception right there.
Picked off.
Spotted, scored.
US now leads three-one.
The Aussies attack.
Save, but a penalty is called.
The US goalkeeper went outside
the restraining circle.
(players shouting)
The American, Holley, is protesting.
He's gonna get a blue card.
Further dissent earns him a red card,
and he's gonna be ejected.
And the US are now a man down.
- [Lawrence] The guy gave him a blue card.
Grabbed the blue card out
of the referee's hand,
so he got a red card.
Completely unacceptable lack
of respect for authority.
Referee's like the weather,
you just have to accept it.
- [Craig] Yeah, I kinda
said, "Fuck the blue card."
- You're gonna sit on the bench.
- [Craig] 'Cause I was so angry,
and didn't care about it no more.
(sad music)
I care about everybody.
And when you cross that
line where I can't deal
with you, then I can't deal with you.
- [Analyst] Play resumes.
There's a rim shot to the far post.
(whistle blaring)
And that's it.
Big win for the United States.
- [Announcer] That's the
first win for the US.
- Congratulations, coach.
First World Cup win.
Wow, our guys have come
here and really struggled,
like, all their issues have come up.
You know, I wish they hadn't.
- Hit the game runnin'.
We cannot afford to wait.
We need to dictate the pace, not them.
Whatever you do is the right thing.
No one will ever say anything to ya.
Right?
Okay, so we need you to relax, cool down.
Now what we gotta do is,
we've got a group now,
get it, Liberia, we've
got to now beat Liberia.
- Eddie, Eddie.
Go with him, go with him, go with him.
- You're okay.
You know, you said it.
- [Analyst] It's Ireland versus Liberia.
The Irish need this one to stay alive,
and they're playing without their
star goalkeeper, Damien Farrell.
We're not sure why he's
not available today,
but he's not in the nets.
The Liberians are quick.
Shot, score.
(cheering and applauding)
(whistle blaring)
Referee with a drop-ball restart,
the Liberians pounce, goal.
- Hey, no way, no way!
Michael!
(intense music)
(cheering and applauding)
Tough, tough loss for the Irish.
They went in here down one
of their critical players,
and they just weren't
able to put it together.
- [Announcer] Final score:
Liberia six, Ireland nil.
- Fuck off with that camera, ya prick.
- Hey, hey, keep it off.
(speaking in a foreign language)
- [Najib] Oh, she looks nice.
- I cannot fail in South Africa.
When we go home, people will be
expecting that we've come with something.
So, if we don't get scouted,
if we don't win the cup,
it will be very disappointed in our lives.
- [Analyst] Alright,
it's Kenya and Namibia,
and there's Alex Mwambi,
captain of the Kenyan team.
Kenya needs to win to remain eligible
for the first prize, World Cup.
Shot by Kenya, and the
Namibians dodge a bullet.
Kenya on the attack.
(applauding and cheering)
(whistle blaring)
There's a penalty kick awarded to Kenya.
Goalies can't come out
past that goalie circle.
- [Analyst] This is Alex
Mwambi, taking the approach.
Misses the penalty.
(whistle blaring)
That's halftime.
- The coach is very angry with me, but
I can show him that I'm
able to score penalties.
This is a must-win game now.
- [Analyst] Alex Mwambi,
the little shake and bake.
Ball on the way, shot just wide.
(applauding)
Quick action, end-to-end, up and down.
Shot just missed.
Oh, the goalkeeper tumbles
outside of his circle.
That's a penalty kick for Kenya again.
- [Alex] I just knew that when
I take the second penalty,
I'll correct the mistake
from the first penalty,
and this time, I'll be able to score it.
- [Analyst] It's Alex Mwambi again.
(ball thudding)
Misses.
(whistle blaring)
Tough time for Mwambi.
You know he wants to win so badly.
He's gotta be hurting after that.
His coach is pulling him off.
Kenya, back on the attack.
There's the refs whistle,
zero-zero at the end
of regulation, and we're
going to penalty kicks.
Here we are, after two
penalty kicks apiece,
and it's all level.
Alex Mwambi watching from the sidelines.
Here's Kenya's last kick.
They need this to have a chance.
(net clinking)
(cheering and applauding)
Kenya, up by one.
Namibia needs to score this
penalty kick to stay in.
The Irish boys are cheering
on their Kenyan friends.
(applauding)
Namibia at the spot.
Everyone's ready.
Shot, save.
(applauding and cheering)
(bright music)
- Are you proud?
- I am very proud.
- I just want to apologize to my coach.
Yeah, I lost two penalties, and he say
that I'll not play again.
(sad music)
(engines humming)
- This isn't how Africa
is supposed to be, man.
You're supposed to see everybody happy,
in peace, loving, kind.
I see love and kindness, but
there's some people here
that just not happy.
Some people here are homeless.
Some people here are
just plain out depressed
because of the way
society has treated them.
Made me thing, "Never
take nothin' for granted."
(hammer clanking)
Alright, I'm about to find me some gloves.
I'm about to go do this.
Any extra gloves?
(hammer clanking)
- Over, yeah.
That side, that side.
(bright music)
(laughing)
- Aw man.
(laughing)
I had it, I had it.
See that, Lawrence?
That's my brother, that's my brother,
and this is my brother.
I just want a family, that's it.
I just want a real, true family.
You feel what I'm sayin'?
What's the point of them being my family
from the beginning if
they just didn't care?
That's my brother.
I have nobody on my side.
That's what I'm sayin',
nobody wasn't on my side.
- Yeah, hey, my brother, how are you?
- Doin' okay.
- Cool.
- What was that little voice
in the back of my head?
It said, "What about me, Craig?"
(laughing)
- [Analyst] Afternoon,
ladies and gentlemen.
We're down to the final
days of the tournament.
Next match: Spain versus Austria.
Spain, winless so far,
hoping to change that.
(speaking in a foreign language)
Yeah, we are having a lot of fun,
but we have never won there.
So, I really want them to feel that.
(speaking in a foreign language)
- [Analyst] Here go, Spain versus Austria.
A ricochet off the boards, goal for Spain.
(cheering and applauding)
Missed chance for Austria.
But they get the rebound, put it away.
Good level.
Austria back in the game.
Shot, Austria two-one.
(speaking in a foreign language)
Spain passes.
Shot from distance, goal Spain.
(shouting)
Two all.
(cheering and applauding)
Austria, back on the attack.
Great save.
(speaking in a foreign language)
There's the end of regulation.
We're going to a penalty shootout.
(applauding)
Here we are, still tied
one-one in penalty shots,
and this is Spain's last kick.
Shoots, goal.
(cheering and applauding)
Spain needing only a stop here
to register their first win.
Austria at the spot.
(ball thudding)
Great save by the Spanish goalkeeper.
Spain with a tremendous win.
- [Announcer] There it
is, Spain's first win
in this year's Homeless World Cup.
- The first one is always the best one.
The first one is like,
adrenaline, it's like,
we did it, we did it.
(speaking in a foreign language)
(chanting in a foreign language)
(clapping)
We are so happy.
I'm very happy for them.
I'm very, very happy for them.
I'm very proud of them.
'Cause every night, we talk, we laugh,
but at the same time, I think sometimes,
we need to win, so they
feel like they are winners.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
(sad music)
(chanting in a foreign language)
(clapping)
- One minute, Coach, one minute for me.
- [Sigi] No.
(mellow acoustic music)
(shouting)
(clapping)
(bright acoustic music)
- [Announcer] Goal, Kenya.
(shouting)
(cheering)
(laughing)
- Team chemistry and health,
what these guys get out
of the experience, is more
important than any single game.
So, we had a talk with them.
It was a great talk.
We talked about what we
need to do as a team.
It was a great moment.
And we all left that
meeting saying, "Yeah,
"we need to play more as a team to win."
- Mmm, this is tender.
And I said, "Fuck the blue card."
But that's my mistake, and I
would never say that again.
- [Announcer] Good afternoon,
it's the USA versus Norway.
- [Analyst] Here we go for USA-Norway.
The Americans have won
just once in eight games,
and are stuck near the
bottom of the 48 teams.
US team, going for their
second win of the tournament.
America on the attack.
Shot, and scored.
(whistles blaring)
US off to a solid start.
(applauding)
- That's good, that's good, that's good.
- [Analyst] Early goal for the Americans.
So far, the Americans have shown
unrelenting pressure on the Norwegians.
Craig Holley, taking off
for the American team.
It's off the boards.
Holley shoots.
Oh, what a save by the goalie's foot.
It's Craig Holley, a physical battle.
He's pulled down.
- When he fell, I helped him up.
Because when I fell, he helped me.
And I returned the favor.
That's the first time somebody helped me
and didn't say I had to owe them.
- [Analyst] America on the attack.
- Wide, that kid go wide.
- [Analyst] The America
fakes the goalkeeper, goal.
(cheering and applauding)
US now out front, four-one.
(bright rock music)
Craig Holley on the ball.
Quick turn, shielding the ball.
Good skills from Holley.
Oh, but he's tackled down from behind.
- [Coach] Excellent, well done.
- [Analyst] Holley's going out.
He's played a great game.
- Fantastic, fantastic.
- [Craig] Everybody wants
some type of limelight.
And the limelight is not
always the best light.
- [Analyst] And that's full time.
Americans win, six-two.
- [Craig] The only way
you can shine is when you
improve yourself, and when your
light inside of you shines.
- [Lawrence] Every time we go out there,
we have a chance to prove ourselves.
We didn't do it the first games.
We felt bad, we bickered with ourselves.
In the face with all the
bad behavior and the anger,
I'm intensely proud of Craig
and each and every one of our players.
He's got some anger
issues, and Craig Holley,
that's been his big issue,
and was able to overcome that.
- Let's rub Dave's hair.
- To me, as a coach looking on,
that's great, that's progress.
- [Team] One, two, three, USA.
(clapping)
(horns blowing)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(sad music)
(speaking in a foreign language)
- [Man] He said, "If I
were with you in Paraguay,
"you would never get bored."
(laughing)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(laughing)
- Hey lads, shake 'em, shake 'em.
- Believe in yourself, in your team,
and believe in the jersey.
That's all we need, okay?
Anyone got a problem,
anyone got anything to say?
- No.
- Then let's beat 'em.
Let's go, come on lads.
One, two, three,
- [Group] Ireland.
("Where the Streets Have No Name" by U2)
♫ I wanna run
♫ I want to hide
- So, just had to go out
and congratulate my team.
♫ I want to reach out
♫ And touch the flame
♫ Where the streets have no name
♫ Oh, oh
♫ Where the streets have no name
♫ Where the streets have no name
♫ We're still building,
then burning down love
♫ Burning down love
♫ And when I go there,
♫ I go there with you
♫ It's all I can do.
- [Analyst] Here we are, in a
sudden death penalty shootout.
This game has ended in a tie
between Ireland and Uganda.
Even though they weren't able
to bring home the World Cup,
the Irish are still very much
alive for the Edinburgh Cup.
Damien Farrell's gonna be
a key here for the Irish.
Good goalkeeper counts for a lot
in a shootout, especially sudden death.
(whistle blaring)
Ireland to shoot first.
They score.
Ireland works it's kick.
- [Announcer] One-nil, Ireland.
- [Analyst] Little bounce from Damien.
Uganda steps to the spot.
Uganda has to convert this
kick to stay in contention.
Damien Farrell.
Big save.
Great win for the Irish.
(whistle blaring)
(uplifting music)
'Cause now he knows that he can get
the inner strength to make things happen.
(cheering)
- [Player] It's ABC.
- Never beat the Irish.
This is the only way to exist.
To win everything.
Everything and everybody.
And to become winners, we must realize
the idea of working together as a team.
The slogan of our team
was "Shut up and play."
Everybody from our team has problem
in his life, has problems to solve.
And sometimes, it is a very easy way
for self-estimation, to shout.
The slogan "Shut up and play" shows
you another way to play football.
To work together as a team.
- [Announcer] Goal, Russia.
- The best player of our
team, the whole team.
(dramatic music)
(whistle blaring)
(hands clapping)
One, two, three,
(group chanting)
- [Analyst] Final
minutes, still zero-zero.
Kenya lays that one up off the boards.
(cheering)
And that's the end of regulation.
It looks like we're headed, once again,
for the penalty shootout.
- [Announcer] Kenya will shoot first.
- [Analyst] Well, a tough-played
final comes down to this.
Alex Mwambi, as he steps up here.
Stutter step, high.
- No, no, no.
(groaning)
(whistle blaring)
- [Analyst] Ukrainians come back.
And they're answered with a save.
(cheering and applauding)
(whistle blaring)
We continue.
Kenya.
Goal.
(cheering and applauding)
Ukraine, goal.
(cheering and applauding)
One-one, we are level.
I'll tell ya, the world
slows down at these moments.
(player chanting)
Finds his mark on the near
post and kicks it away.
Kenya, back in the lead.
Two-one, Kenya.
Ukraine, needs this one to equalize.
It's a moment in time.
The approach, gets the
goalie off his feet.
It's just wide.
(uplifting music)
Celebration for the Kenyans.
- [Announcer] Kenya's first time here,
and they win the second
division, Premier Cup.
Well done, Kenya, Well done, Ukraine.
Let's hear it for both teams.
- [Alex] We are very excited,
and we are very happy.
Because we are heroes from
Kenya and from Africa.
Even if I am not scouted, I'm
going to be playing football
and coaching my boys in my streets.
(hands clapping)
I'll continue having hope that one day,
my life will change through football.
(players chanting in a foreign language)
I take it as a miracle, happened to me.
(applauding)
- [Announcer] Next up, the
final of the Homeless World Cup.
That's right, final of
the Homeless World Cup.
Russia versus Kazakhstan.
Also, will the paramedics please come
to the sidelines of pitch number one.
That's the paramedics to pitch one.
- Good.
- Getting excited.
- [Paramedic] Is your blood
pressure usually high or low?
- In extra situations, it is high.
- It's very high.
Okay.
You're gonna be alright?
- I hope.
- [Paramedic] Okay.
Do you speak a bit of English?
- Sometimes, I think so.
- [Paramedic] Okay.
- [Announcer] Days of constant competition
comes down to this.
So, get ready to have some fun.
That's the final of
the Homeless World Cup.
- The final is the result.
I'm interested in success.
You fight after them.
This is the main thing in
football, to fight after them.
Not to imagine it all.
- [Analyst] Russia, Kazakhstan,
it's all on the line here now.
This is a finals matchup.
- [Announcer] Please
show your appreciation
for the two teams, Russia and Kazakhstan.
(applauding and cheering)
Ladies and gentlemen, the
Russian National Anthem.
(National Anthem of Russia)
(cheering and applauding)
- [Analyst] So far in this competition,
Russia is unbeaten.
The Kazaks, their only
loss, to the Russians.
We should see a real high level
of play here in the final.
(soft, intense music)
(coach shouting)
Russia with the ball.
Gets around a defender.
Shoots, saved by the Kazak goalie.
Kazaks on the attack, far post, just wide.
(cheering and applauding)
Russia comes back.
Oh, and it's a great save
by the Kazak goalkeeper.
(applauding)
(whistle blaring)
There's halftime.
Russians look a little frustrated.
They can't seem to finish.
Now, the Kazaks on the attack.
Shot, saved by the keeper.
(speaking in a foreign language)
Russia plays the ball out.
Great shot, save again.
It's like a broken record,
the Kazak goalkeeper denying the Russians.
Very skillful match.
Still scoreless.
Russians playing out of the back.
Fake the middle, play
the ball to the corner.
Goal, Russia.
(cheering and applauding)
- [Announcer] Goal, Russia.
- [Analyst] One-zero, Russia.
Closing minutes here, game winding down.
Oh, just missed.
Broken up by the Russians.
(speaking in a foreign language)
And that's it, it's all over.
The Russians win.
- [Announcer] Let's hear it for the new
Homeless World Cup champions, Russia.
Homeless World Cup founder, Mel Young,
now presenting The Cup to
the Russian Team Captain.
- [Arkady] Football is the
best model of real life.
There is not a last game in football,
and there is no last game in real life.
You'll always have another chance to win.
(applauding and cheering)
- Send a message to Brazil, to the people
on the streets of Brazil.
(uplifting music)
- Football is very important
to the story of human beings.
Nobody can take the football from you.
(applauding)
(soft piano music)
(birds squawking)
- Okay, it' coming up to my knees.
I feel like a retired NBA player.
It's been good.
Hope there's no stingrays.
I mean, I' happy that I came,
you feel what I'm sayin'?
They tryin' to come out,
look at 'em trying to eat.
I guess I changed.
Yo, right there.
I changed my way of thinking.
I'm about to go climb up on these rocks.
(growling)
I just got tired of gettin' mad.
Just like I'm tired of cryin', for what?
Hey, hey, don't come to my penguins.
I'm King of Penguins,
so don't mes with them.
I wanna be somebody.
I wanna do good.
I am king of the penguins.
- Damien is now back
livin' with his mother.
(cheering and applauding)
He continues to play in
a street soccer league
and plans to enter a treatment
program to get off methadone.
Although Alex wasn't
scouted, he and his teammates
were welcomed home as heroes.
Alex continues to clean toilets,
but he also works as a
coach, trying to improve
the lives of the young boys
and girls at Mathare's slum.
Jesus entered an alcohol
treatment program,
and continues to live in the city shelter,
sharing his Cape Town stories
with staff and other residents.
Najib hasn't been able
to talk to Ilsa again.
He's learning English, and
got an email address to stay
in touch with friends he
made from all over the world.
He worries about the
violence in Afghanistan,
which he says is getting worse.
Craig was reunited with
his mother and sister,
whom he had not seen in six years.
He's now working two jobs, and living
in an apartment with a teammate.
He continues to play on the soccer team.
Simon relapsed and died of a drug overdose
four months are returning from Cape Town.
He had been drug free for 18 months.
His death was a terrible
blow to his teammates,
who know how vulnerable life is
for those living on the edge of society.
(soft, bright music)
Slava works in a factory,
has an apartment,
and is engaged to be married.
The Russian victory was big news.
For the first time, homeless people
in Russia were shown in a positive light.
There is now a homeless
street soccer league
in Russia, with eight teams, and growing.
One year after Cape Town,
nearly all the players
had a new motivation for life.
And most, over two-thirds of them,
had changed their lives for the better.
More than one-third of the
players found regular jobs,
93 players have successfully
kicked drugs or alcohol,
and nearly half had improved
their housing situation.
Most were continuing to play football,
knowing from personal
experience that something
as simple as ball can change your life.
("Where the Streets Have No Name" by U2)
♫ The city's a flood
♫ And our love turns to rust
♫ We're beaten and blown by the wind,
♫ Trampled in dust
♫ I'll show you a place
♫ High on a desert plane
♫ Where the streets have no name
♫ Uh-Huh
♫ Where the streets have no name
♫ Where the streets have no name
♫ We're still building
then burning down love
♫ Burning down love
♫ And when I go there,
♫ I go there with you
♫ It's all I can do
♫ Our love turns to rust
♫ We're beaten, then blown by the wind
♫ Blown by the wind
♫ Oh, when I go there,
♫ I go there with you
♫ It's all I can do
(bright music)
(soft, bright music)
(boxes rustling)
- A ball can change your life.
You may not have any of those things
that most people take for granted,
You may not have a home.
You may not have a job.
A ball can give you something
you never thought possible.
A ball can teach you teamwork.
(hands clapping)
A ball can teach you discipline.
(ball thudding)
We are trying to make our lives better,
and every person here has a chance to make
their lives better, all because of a ball.
You have a chance to come all the way
to Cape Town because of a ball.
(players chanting)
(clapping and chanting)
- In 2001, a Scot and an
Austrian had a mad idea,
to give homeless men and
women a chance to change
through an international
street soccer tournament.
They'd been looking for
a way to bring together
homeless people from all around the world,
and football was the way.
Or soccer, as it's called in America.
They realized that football's a sport
that's played in nearly
every neighborhood,
on every continent around the globe.
From war-torn Afghanistan,
to the slums of Africa,
to the streets and fields of
Dublin, where even as a child,
I spent of me years
kicking a football around.
So, they put the word on the street.
And five years later, over
20,000 homeless people
were getting together
regularly to train hard.
They were kicking drugs and alcohol,
they were finding a
new sense of community.
They were also hoping to
represent their country
in the Fourth Annual Homeless World Cup
in Cape Town in South Africa.
500 players, eight from each
country, were chosen to play.
And win or lose,
promised to be the journey of a lifetime.
(accordion music)
(bottles clinking)
(whistle blaring)
(players shouting)
- I wouldn't allow him
to come to the house.
He ended up on the streets.
(lock clicking)
- A bit worried, yeah.
A bit worried.
- [Margaret] He wasn't the same.
- How's it goin', Tina?
- He wasn't my child, I
didn't feel he was my child.
He was somebody else.
It was frightening.
I stopped watching television,
I stopped listening to radio,
because every time you heard
that a person in Dublin
was found dead, you fear it's your child.
And I didn't see him for about two years.
And then, he came back, wanting help.
And he got help.
- I know my Damien's going to do it.
When I get a feeling, do
you ever get a feeling?
Well, when I get a feeling,
it usually happens,
and I just have a feeling
for him, that he'll do it.
(players shouting)
- Easy.
Push out on that, Dave, push out on that.
- Point for you, and a point for you.
(player cheering)
- [Mick] Here, come here, and listen.
(soft accordion music)
(percussive music)
Football means a lot
here in our community.
Football can transform a lot of lives.
You never know, one day they
can become the next Ronaldinho.
(players shouting)
(whistle blaring)
I could not find anything to eat.
(soft music)
My lift just started when
I started playing football.
It encouraged me a lot to
continue practicing hard,
'cause if this football
can remove all the hardship
that we are going through, I
could be really, very happy.
(brush scraping)
- I have to work, 'cause it's my job.
But the smell,
(sighing)
Football, football, football.
Football makes me eat, drink, sleep.
My future lies on South Africa now.
My future lies in South Africa.
(whistle blaring)
(animals bleating)
So, we'll have to do it by ourself.
(whistle blaring)
(upbeat music)
(singing in a foreign language)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(tools thudding)
(metal clanging)
(animals bleating)
(cheering and applauding)
(whistle blaring)
- [Man] Alex Mwambi.
(applauding)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(applauding)
that I still have a chance to
play professional football.
I think this will be my
last time playing football.
It will be very disappointing if I come
from Cape Town as a failure.
(soft music)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(whistle blaring)
(hands clapping)
(whistle blaring)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(shoes squeaking)
- Jesus is 62 years old guy.
In some ways, he's like the spirit,
or the soul, of our team.
(hands clapping)
This is not an angel,
is not a wonderful guy.
He was a very bad guy a long time ago.
(speaking in a foreign language)
(jewelry clinking)
(speaking in a foreign language)
- The Spanish team is a mix of everything.
Not the best players,
but those that we believe
that they can take
advantage of this project.
(players shouting)
Jesus is like the Superman.
He could have been a professional.
(applauding and cheering)
For two years, or something like that.
(speaking in a foreign language)
Each one of the guys, they can
forget about their problems,
and for at least one week, or 10 days,
they could be someone,
especially in South Africa.
(speaking in a foreign language)
(applauding)
(soft music)
(players shouting)
- Are you from Philly, too?
- Nope, Atlanta.
- Atlanta, oh.
- Yep, Atlanta.
- You came north, huh?
- Yeah.
- Yeah, okay.
- When I was staying at my father's
I didn't feel comfortable in his house.
Not at all.
I was the main one gettin' the whoopin's,
I was the main one gettin' the punishment.
It started when I was
a child, and I grew up,
and it kept goin', and
goin', and goin', and goin',
until I got of age, you
feel what I'm sayin'?
(whistle blaring)
(players shouting)
(whistle blaring)
When I would go to sleep,
I kept one eye open,
because I just didn't feel
comfortable around him.
That's how bad it was.
Nobody didn't think I was gonna do right.
Everybody prays and hopes that I
go to jail, or I die,
you know what I'm sayin'?
They kept mentionin' it,
basically, they was praisin' it.
"You gonna be locked up.
"Well, you'll be off my shoulder."
Well, my dad told me I had to leave.
They don't know family tradition.
They really don't.
You know what?
From here on out, fuck them,
and fuck the rest of them.
Feel what I'm saying?
Now, how I feel about them?
Shit, they could die
today, and I wouldn't care.
What are you talkin' about?
- [Man With Buns] You're too greedy, man.
- That's how bad it is.
That's how bad they scarred the heart.
Can I get a bun?
Been a while, man.
Been a while.
Where I could go sit somewhere
and feel comfortable.
- Craig's anger issues stem
from his childhood ability.
When he got out of the group home
at 18, he exploded all the time.
So, at 18, he's on the street.
And he's tried to stay at a shelter,
but his temper got him banned there.
- You see how many police cars roll by?
For nothin'.
That's stupid.
The police harass the homeless.
If a homeless person don't
have nowhere to sleep,
where they gonna sleep at?
If the shelter's filled
up, they can't get in,
where they gonna sleep at?
You feel what I'm sayin'?
So it's like,
they do,
it's like, you have prejudice
and stereotype combination,
you fee what I'm sayin'?
- It's a hell of a spot to be in,
to be homeless in the United States.
People look at you like, "How
could you be homeless here?
"What's wrong with you?"
But I know their struggles,
and I can see deeper than that.
- So, it seems that the best
players, we agreed last night,
are Craig, who's a young
kid, he's new to you, right?
And he just picked up,
- He's been workin'
with us for a long time.
Like, I ended up getting
in a discussion with him,
because he's a discipline
problem around the center.
And he's like, "Well, do you
have anything for me to do?"
You know, this Brooklyn accent,
"Got anything for me to do?"
And I was like "Yeah, you
can play on our soccer team,"
and he started playing,
and it was really key.
- [Man In Blue Shirt] Impulsive
feel to it, like any minute,
- He might snap, but that's
what he's been working on.
- [Man In Blue] Having anger,
but just uncontrollably,
might do anything at all.
- Well, he came with a lot of frustration.
He went from group home to group home.
He lived in 13 different
cities in 10 years.
It's a big risk, but you know,
he needs a chance, he's really trying.
(players shouting)
- Feel like a stray dog, you know?
I am somebody, and I am worth something,
but at the same time, I'm nobody.
But then, as long as you sit
around and not do nothin',
negativity strikes the mind.
(soft music)
(hushing)
- Okay, guys, just give
us a minute for a second.
Charlie's gonna name the squad
that's going to travel to South Africa.
Okay?
- Is that now, sir?
- He's doin' it now, yeah.
Alright.
- [Player] Good luck, everybody.
- With hand on heart, I know I've picked
who I think is the best people,
the best squad, the best
players, to represent us.
- And this is in no particular order,
so I'll just go straight ahead.
Simon Canning.
(applauding)
David Phillips
(applauding)
Garret Clifford.
(applauding)
Damien Farrell.
(soft music)
- In my mind, Damien
was a million miles away
from participating in this
one to where he was last year.
I'm just over the moon, you know.
Over the moon, I can't believe it.
- [Announcer] On our own pitch,
the Homeless World Cup
team, representing Ireland
at the Homeless World Cup
in Cape Town, South Africa,
on the 21st of September, 2006.
(applauding)
The team members: Simon
Canning, Damien Farrell.
- Winning, to me, would mean
that this time next year,
that every one of these guys
have moved onto a better life.
- [Announcer] Cape Town
to represent Ireland.
I know they're going to do us all proud.
Ladies and gentlemen,
the Irish homeless team.
Let's give them a final,
resounding send-off,
as they head off next month to Cape Town.
(cheering and applauding)
(wind blowing)
(bright music)
(propellors whirring)
(speaking in a foreign language)
- [Announcer] Ladies and gentlemen,
President Thabo Mbeki and his entourage.
Please stand.
(cheering and applauding)
(bright band music)
(applauding and chanting
in a foreign language)
- USA, USA, USA.
(chanting in a foreign language)
(chanting in a foreign language)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(whistle blaring)
(shoes scraping)
(whistle blaring)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(somber music)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(whistle blaring)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(acoustic guitar music)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(chanting in a foreign language)
- Welcome, welcome, welcome
to sunny, sunny South Africa.
Welcome, welcome, all
of you wonderful people
from different parts of the world.
(applauding and cheering)
And we want to say,
we want to ensure, that
everybody has a home.
(applauding and cheering)
- It is my honor to declare
the Fourth Homeless World Cup open.
(applauding and cheering)
Live on, football.
You get a lot people saying,
"This is just a crazy idea."
I don't really care what people think,
'cause my main objective here is
the impact to change people's lives.
That's why we do it.
(players cheering)
Homeless people, generally,
are low self-confidence,
low self-esteem, they're
isolated, feeling lonely.
When you put them into a team,
- Kenya.
- Kenya.
- you start to build on it.
And then, when they eventually get through
to the Homeless World
Cup, they can stand proud.
And I think that what we're
showing here is that sport,
and football, in particular,
can be used to tackle
some of the most difficult
problems in society.
- [Announcer] Welcome to our first day
here at the Homeless World Cup.
Over the next seven days,
- In American, homelessness is a crime.
So, they gonna arrest
you for bein' homeless.
A homeless person's really stereotyped.
When they walk in a
store, they get watched.
They get watched 24/7.
Then, they can't even go, like,
you all can sleep outside.
We can't even sleep outside.
We gotta walk around like
we're zombies or somethin'.
You feel what I'm sayin'?
That's how it is.
If you want to sleep in a park bench,
they'll wake you up
and tell you to get up.
And if you make a fuss,
they send you to jail.
And that's my word.
That's my word, they do that.
That's what they do, you
feel what I'm sayin'?
- Man, chill, man.
(laughing)
- What, you can't stand up, too?
- [Analyst] Next, on pitch
two, USA vs. Burundi.
- They are not more skilled than you,
but they are a very physical team.
So, we have to be prepared to
be pushed and to be kicked.
And what we do, we don't
retaliate and we don't argue.
We just get on with playing soccer.
("The Star-Spangled Banner")
- [Analyst] This match: US, Burundi.
(applauding and cheering)
The US wasn't able to win any games
in last year's competition.
These games are two seven minute halves.
The US strikes first, shot just wide.
- Up, up, up, up and wide, up and wide.
- [Analyst] Here are
the Homeless Home Cup,
matches are played on smaller,
street soccer-type pitches.
Each team is a four-a-side,
meaning a goalkeeper, three field players.
That's the American Craig
Holley with a hard foul.
- Yo boy, Craig.
- [Analyst] Knocking a player down,
and being cautioned by the referee.
Gotta be a little bit less aggressive.
- Gotta get back, check back.
Check back.
- [Analyst] Well-battled, there.
Ball went off the boards.
- Nice shot, nice shot.
- [Analyst] Burundi shoots, scores.
(cheering and applauding)
Burundi has now built a
five-nothing advantage.
(whistle blaring)
American player, in frustration,
angrily smacks the ball of the boards,
and that'll get him a blue card.
He's gotta sit out two minutes.
- That's messed up, look he hit me.
- [Analyst] The Americans
have to keep their composure
if they're going to
succeed in this tournament.
Nice ball-work on the
sideline by the American.
(applauding)
Oh, he loses the ball in traffic.
(groaning)
(whistle blaring)
Now the referee throws a red card.
It's a ejection for the American player.
So, they'll now be a man down.
- They give me a red card?
- You're yellin' at us.
- I'm pressing.
- [Analyst] Off of the goal kick here.
(ball thudding)
Brilliant interception
by Burundi, and a shot
and it's immediately back
in the American goal.
That's gotta hurt the morale of the team,
right there before the end.
(whistle blaring)
Burundi, six-zero victors
over the Americans.
- [Analyst] Congratulations, Burundi.
Let's hear it for both teams.
It's now up to you guys.
Do you wanna fight and
argue with each other,
with us, with other teams,
then we won't win a trophy.
And we came here to play some good soccer,
and try and be as successful as we can.
- These guys, the word they use
for it is surviving back home.
Like, "We're adapted to
survive," and they are.
You're sleeping alone on the street,
you have to be very upfront, in-your-face,
claim-your-own-space persona, and that
is a fighting edge that
shows up on the court.
Now, that's a good
thing, 'cause ultimately,
by protecting themselves,
they isolate themselves.
- Being homeless, you do what you know.
That's all I can say, do what you know.
I know many things, but I'm not
at liberty to discuss that with everybody.
- [Analyst] This matchup:
Kenya and Nigeria.
Two first-time teams in
the Homeless World Cup.
(chanting in a foreign language)
- [Analyst] This match marks the return
of the Kenyan coach, Sigi, who in 2003
coached the winning
Austrian team to the title.
One of the key players for the Kenyans,
their captain, Alex Mwambi.
Kenya, Nigeria.
Chance by Nigeria, saved
by the Kenyan keeper.
(applauding)
Goalkeepers very critical
here on the small courts
here at the Homeless World Cup.
Battling for the ball on the corner,
(fan shouting)
Referee has awarded a penalty kick.
Alex Mwambi steps up to take it.
- [Analyst] Mwambi, ready.
Takes a shot, and a save.
- I don't understand it.
- [Analyst] Mwambi couldn't put it away.
(whistle blaring)
- [Announcer] It's halftime.
- [Analyst] 50 million
television sets are gonna
be watching this Homeless
World Cup live here in Africa.
Mwambi, right back in the
middle of the action, there,
trying to dig out a steal.
The Nigerian team coming
out, shot, and a goal.
That's a quick lead for Nigeria, one-zero.
Kenyan team, playing out of
the back, ball quickly forward,
now it's Mwambi, shoots,
scores, the equalizer.
It's now level, one-one, Kenya, Nigeria.
(chanting in a foreign language)
Closing minutes here, game winding down.
Good tackle, chance, saved by the keeper.
The ball cleared away into the stands.
(whistle blaring)
And we finish two-two at
the end of regulation,
as we head to penalty kicks.
Every match at the Homeless
World Cup has a winner.
And at the end of regulation, we go
to the penalty kick tiebreakers,
which are best of three.
So, here we are.
It's one to one, one penalty
kick left for each team.
Alex Mwambi, chance to redeem himself.
He shoots, puts it away.
(applauding and cheering)
Kenya now with the lead.
Their goalkeeper needs to make
a save here to keep them alive.
(hands clapping)
Tiebreaker, last chance.
(cheering)
Goalkeeper, big save, and the
Kenyan team wins on penalties.
(applauding and cheering)
Big win over Nigeria.
(chanting in a foreign language)
(bright music)
(laughing)
(speaking in a foreign language)
So, we are very grateful for them,
because we lack certain things,
like toothpaste.
We have lots of toothpaste.
We don't have to complain about anything.
Everything is perfect.
The accommodation is great.
We don't have any problem
with the accommodation, 'cause
even when we sleep in this
open space, like in this hall,
we don't have even mosquitoes here.
So, we are very fine
sleeping in this place.
The food is delicious.
We are not used to such food
when we are in our country.
So, we are treated like
professional players.
(soft music)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(upbeat dance music)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(speaking in a foreign language)
- Thank you.
So, we'll see you tomorrow?
- Tomorrow, yeah.
- [Announcer] Next game on will be
Ireland versus Afghanistan.
- Take the pressure off ya
about winning, or whatever.
- The best motivation is that you guys
have worked your socks off for how long?
Really, to actually get where you are.
What I don't want see happen
is that you get yourself
caught up in all the
hoo-haa, and whatever.
And we forget about it,
and we've gotta go out
and play our normal game, and relax.
(bright music)
- [Analyst] It's Ireland
versus Afghanistan.
These teams feature two of the better
goalkeepers in the tournament.
(bell ringing)
It's time to take the pitch.
(player shouting in a foreign language)
(soft music)
(whistle blaring)
(coach shouting)
(whistle blaring)
(soft music)
I've been here about 1:00 or 2:00.
Even sometimes earlier.
Just get fed up walkin' around,
you just come in here and get
away from all the madness.
You don't think you're worth anything,
you have no respect for yourself.
You can't hold your head up high anymore.
'Cause there you are, 6:00 in the morning,
coming out of a bush after
sleeping there the night before.
That'll shatter any man.
- [Analyst] Now, it's almost game time.
At this tournament, top
eight teams after three days
of competition will qualify to play
for the main trophy,
the Homeless World Cup.
The teams with the second best records
will play for the second
division Premier Cup.
And the teams with the third best records
will play for the Edinburgh Cup.
Both Ireland and Afghanistan
need a win here tonight
to stay alive in the competition
for the Homeless World Cup.
And we're off.
(applauding)
An attack by Afghanistan,
great save by the Irish keeper.
- Damien, Damien!
Brilliant, superb!
- [Analyst] There's the
challenge going out.
Simon Canning, tripped
by the Afghan goalkeeper.
(players shouting)
Irish team, they're on
the counter, drop, save.
Rebound, finished.
(cheering and applauding)
And the Irish forge ahead, two-zero.
- That's you, Simon.
- [Analyst] A nifty little turn.
Fire.
(whistle blaring)
Goal, Afghanistan.
(cheering and applauding)
(shouting)
Switch of the field, there.
The Afghans steal in the middle.
Back tap, Afghanistan, fake, shot, save.
It's an end-to-end battle,
Ireland up four-one.
You can see, a physical challenge there.
Both these teams are motivated.
Referee gives a warning to both teams.
That was a hard-fought first half,
and Irish lead, four to two.
There's a quick transition, shot, goal.
(whistle blaring)
The Afghans are fighting
their way back into this.
An attack by Afghanistan.
- Hey, ref, come on.
David, David.
(applauding)
(intense music)
- [Analyst] Ball out.
Oh, that's a terrible
error by Damien Farrell.
Gives it right to the Afghan
player in front of him.
And that cuts the Irish
lead to four to three.
Simon Canning, pass in the corner.
A foot shot, goal.
Two goal advantage here, final minutes.
Five-three, Ireland, can they hold on?
(intense music)
Steal in the middle.
Counter, Afghans.
Ball across, save.
Rebound, goal, Afghanistan.
(applauding and cheering)
(whistle blaring)
And there's the referee's whistle.
And it's over, the Irish
team survives, five-four.
(applauding and cheering)
- [Announcer] What a fantastic
game, ladies and gentlemen.
Let's hear it for Ireland and Afghanistan.
(applauding and cheering)
(bright music)
- [Reporter] Any nerves coming up?
- [Group] Ireland, Ireland, Ireland,
Ireland, Ireland, Ireland.
(waves crashing)
(acoustic guitar music)
- We are having more fun than any others.
I'm sure that we are having more fun
than the winner of the tournament.
Maybe, they will have one hour of glory.
And I'm very happy for them, very happy.
But we are having 100 hours of glory,
of happiness.
(laughing and clapping)
(speaking in a foreign language)
Of course, I would love to see one day,
Spain win the Homeless World Cup.
But at this time, the
project that we have,
the people we work with,
and those that we choose
are not thinking on winning.
We wanna win in their lives.
And, of course, we wanna
try to win the next game.
But if we don't, anyway, tomorrow,
we are gonna spend some time at the beach.
(acoustic guitar music)
- [Announcer] The Spanish National Anthem.
Spanish team, trying to
keep up with Holland.
Goal, Holland.
(applauding and cheering)
(speaking in a different language)
We don't have team for winning.
Sometimes, when the players,
they are not doing so well,
or they are losing, I see their faces,
and they are not having so much fun.
(speaking in a foreign language)
So, that's the reason that I'm suffering,
not because of the score.
I don't care about the result.
I care about them.
(cheering and applauding)
If they are not playing well,
then they won't feel so well.
Their lives are very bad, so I don't
want anything else bad for them.
That day when he fell
down, people were laughing,
and it's like, "Oh, look at the old guy."
So, I felt so bad about him.
- [Announcer] Let's hear
it for Spain and Paraguay.
(applauding)
(speaking in a foreign language)
He upset because he thinks that the rest
of the players didn't make a big effort.
But the truth is that they
are completely nervous,
completely out of the game.
So, we are not doing the
things that we were training.
Some people can do it, some people cannot.
So, what can we do about that?
Just wait for the next match.
(accordion music)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(train car rattling)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(whistle blaring)
(speaking in a foreign language)
- So, like many, many young
guys from far regions of Russia,
he thought about changing his life.
(speaking in a foreign language)
(soft, somber music)
(speaking in a foreign language)
I have 11 years experience
of homelessness.
I am illegal inhabitant of St. Petersburg.
I have no registration at all.
There are more than 50,000
homeless people in St. Petersburg.
So now, they are illegal
inhabitants of St. Petersburg.
(door creaking)
(speaking in a foreign language)
Finally, after a year, they have,
of being homeless, not
only illegal inhabitant,
he had no roof under his head.
So, he closed his eyes
and his love to football
that he would change his life.
- [Announcer] It's Russia
in the blue shirts,
and England in the red.
Two very tough teams.
(players shouting)
(cheering and applauding)
and he has no right to be winner.
He must be loser.
A part of your life.
- [Announcer] Let's
hear it for both teams.
- You must win.
(soft music)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(laughing)
(horns honking)
- As a player, if you
are mad at the referee,
it'll hurt you if he
calls fouls against you.
Leave that to us, you
take care of your job.
You job is to keep your head and hustle.
- [Analyst] It's USA, Australia.
Can the US redeem itself?
They have yet to win a game
here in the tournament.
A shot to the far post, it's in the net.
(applauding and cheering)
Craig Holley there, knocking the
Australian player off the ball.
And he gets a lecture from the referee.
Again, they've discipline problems
here for the United States.
Off of the goal kick here,
interception right there.
Picked off.
Spotted, scored.
US now leads three-one.
The Aussies attack.
Save, but a penalty is called.
The US goalkeeper went outside
the restraining circle.
(players shouting)
The American, Holley, is protesting.
He's gonna get a blue card.
Further dissent earns him a red card,
and he's gonna be ejected.
And the US are now a man down.
- [Lawrence] The guy gave him a blue card.
Grabbed the blue card out
of the referee's hand,
so he got a red card.
Completely unacceptable lack
of respect for authority.
Referee's like the weather,
you just have to accept it.
- [Craig] Yeah, I kinda
said, "Fuck the blue card."
- You're gonna sit on the bench.
- [Craig] 'Cause I was so angry,
and didn't care about it no more.
(sad music)
I care about everybody.
And when you cross that
line where I can't deal
with you, then I can't deal with you.
- [Analyst] Play resumes.
There's a rim shot to the far post.
(whistle blaring)
And that's it.
Big win for the United States.
- [Announcer] That's the
first win for the US.
- Congratulations, coach.
First World Cup win.
Wow, our guys have come
here and really struggled,
like, all their issues have come up.
You know, I wish they hadn't.
- Hit the game runnin'.
We cannot afford to wait.
We need to dictate the pace, not them.
Whatever you do is the right thing.
No one will ever say anything to ya.
Right?
Okay, so we need you to relax, cool down.
Now what we gotta do is,
we've got a group now,
get it, Liberia, we've
got to now beat Liberia.
- Eddie, Eddie.
Go with him, go with him, go with him.
- You're okay.
You know, you said it.
- [Analyst] It's Ireland versus Liberia.
The Irish need this one to stay alive,
and they're playing without their
star goalkeeper, Damien Farrell.
We're not sure why he's
not available today,
but he's not in the nets.
The Liberians are quick.
Shot, score.
(cheering and applauding)
(whistle blaring)
Referee with a drop-ball restart,
the Liberians pounce, goal.
- Hey, no way, no way!
Michael!
(intense music)
(cheering and applauding)
Tough, tough loss for the Irish.
They went in here down one
of their critical players,
and they just weren't
able to put it together.
- [Announcer] Final score:
Liberia six, Ireland nil.
- Fuck off with that camera, ya prick.
- Hey, hey, keep it off.
(speaking in a foreign language)
- [Najib] Oh, she looks nice.
- I cannot fail in South Africa.
When we go home, people will be
expecting that we've come with something.
So, if we don't get scouted,
if we don't win the cup,
it will be very disappointed in our lives.
- [Analyst] Alright,
it's Kenya and Namibia,
and there's Alex Mwambi,
captain of the Kenyan team.
Kenya needs to win to remain eligible
for the first prize, World Cup.
Shot by Kenya, and the
Namibians dodge a bullet.
Kenya on the attack.
(applauding and cheering)
(whistle blaring)
There's a penalty kick awarded to Kenya.
Goalies can't come out
past that goalie circle.
- [Analyst] This is Alex
Mwambi, taking the approach.
Misses the penalty.
(whistle blaring)
That's halftime.
- The coach is very angry with me, but
I can show him that I'm
able to score penalties.
This is a must-win game now.
- [Analyst] Alex Mwambi,
the little shake and bake.
Ball on the way, shot just wide.
(applauding)
Quick action, end-to-end, up and down.
Shot just missed.
Oh, the goalkeeper tumbles
outside of his circle.
That's a penalty kick for Kenya again.
- [Alex] I just knew that when
I take the second penalty,
I'll correct the mistake
from the first penalty,
and this time, I'll be able to score it.
- [Analyst] It's Alex Mwambi again.
(ball thudding)
Misses.
(whistle blaring)
Tough time for Mwambi.
You know he wants to win so badly.
He's gotta be hurting after that.
His coach is pulling him off.
Kenya, back on the attack.
There's the refs whistle,
zero-zero at the end
of regulation, and we're
going to penalty kicks.
Here we are, after two
penalty kicks apiece,
and it's all level.
Alex Mwambi watching from the sidelines.
Here's Kenya's last kick.
They need this to have a chance.
(net clinking)
(cheering and applauding)
Kenya, up by one.
Namibia needs to score this
penalty kick to stay in.
The Irish boys are cheering
on their Kenyan friends.
(applauding)
Namibia at the spot.
Everyone's ready.
Shot, save.
(applauding and cheering)
(bright music)
- Are you proud?
- I am very proud.
- I just want to apologize to my coach.
Yeah, I lost two penalties, and he say
that I'll not play again.
(sad music)
(engines humming)
- This isn't how Africa
is supposed to be, man.
You're supposed to see everybody happy,
in peace, loving, kind.
I see love and kindness, but
there's some people here
that just not happy.
Some people here are homeless.
Some people here are
just plain out depressed
because of the way
society has treated them.
Made me thing, "Never
take nothin' for granted."
(hammer clanking)
Alright, I'm about to find me some gloves.
I'm about to go do this.
Any extra gloves?
(hammer clanking)
- Over, yeah.
That side, that side.
(bright music)
(laughing)
- Aw man.
(laughing)
I had it, I had it.
See that, Lawrence?
That's my brother, that's my brother,
and this is my brother.
I just want a family, that's it.
I just want a real, true family.
You feel what I'm sayin'?
What's the point of them being my family
from the beginning if
they just didn't care?
That's my brother.
I have nobody on my side.
That's what I'm sayin',
nobody wasn't on my side.
- Yeah, hey, my brother, how are you?
- Doin' okay.
- Cool.
- What was that little voice
in the back of my head?
It said, "What about me, Craig?"
(laughing)
- [Analyst] Afternoon,
ladies and gentlemen.
We're down to the final
days of the tournament.
Next match: Spain versus Austria.
Spain, winless so far,
hoping to change that.
(speaking in a foreign language)
Yeah, we are having a lot of fun,
but we have never won there.
So, I really want them to feel that.
(speaking in a foreign language)
- [Analyst] Here go, Spain versus Austria.
A ricochet off the boards, goal for Spain.
(cheering and applauding)
Missed chance for Austria.
But they get the rebound, put it away.
Good level.
Austria back in the game.
Shot, Austria two-one.
(speaking in a foreign language)
Spain passes.
Shot from distance, goal Spain.
(shouting)
Two all.
(cheering and applauding)
Austria, back on the attack.
Great save.
(speaking in a foreign language)
There's the end of regulation.
We're going to a penalty shootout.
(applauding)
Here we are, still tied
one-one in penalty shots,
and this is Spain's last kick.
Shoots, goal.
(cheering and applauding)
Spain needing only a stop here
to register their first win.
Austria at the spot.
(ball thudding)
Great save by the Spanish goalkeeper.
Spain with a tremendous win.
- [Announcer] There it
is, Spain's first win
in this year's Homeless World Cup.
- The first one is always the best one.
The first one is like,
adrenaline, it's like,
we did it, we did it.
(speaking in a foreign language)
(chanting in a foreign language)
(clapping)
We are so happy.
I'm very happy for them.
I'm very, very happy for them.
I'm very proud of them.
'Cause every night, we talk, we laugh,
but at the same time, I think sometimes,
we need to win, so they
feel like they are winners.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
(sad music)
(chanting in a foreign language)
(clapping)
- One minute, Coach, one minute for me.
- [Sigi] No.
(mellow acoustic music)
(shouting)
(clapping)
(bright acoustic music)
- [Announcer] Goal, Kenya.
(shouting)
(cheering)
(laughing)
- Team chemistry and health,
what these guys get out
of the experience, is more
important than any single game.
So, we had a talk with them.
It was a great talk.
We talked about what we
need to do as a team.
It was a great moment.
And we all left that
meeting saying, "Yeah,
"we need to play more as a team to win."
- Mmm, this is tender.
And I said, "Fuck the blue card."
But that's my mistake, and I
would never say that again.
- [Announcer] Good afternoon,
it's the USA versus Norway.
- [Analyst] Here we go for USA-Norway.
The Americans have won
just once in eight games,
and are stuck near the
bottom of the 48 teams.
US team, going for their
second win of the tournament.
America on the attack.
Shot, and scored.
(whistles blaring)
US off to a solid start.
(applauding)
- That's good, that's good, that's good.
- [Analyst] Early goal for the Americans.
So far, the Americans have shown
unrelenting pressure on the Norwegians.
Craig Holley, taking off
for the American team.
It's off the boards.
Holley shoots.
Oh, what a save by the goalie's foot.
It's Craig Holley, a physical battle.
He's pulled down.
- When he fell, I helped him up.
Because when I fell, he helped me.
And I returned the favor.
That's the first time somebody helped me
and didn't say I had to owe them.
- [Analyst] America on the attack.
- Wide, that kid go wide.
- [Analyst] The America
fakes the goalkeeper, goal.
(cheering and applauding)
US now out front, four-one.
(bright rock music)
Craig Holley on the ball.
Quick turn, shielding the ball.
Good skills from Holley.
Oh, but he's tackled down from behind.
- [Coach] Excellent, well done.
- [Analyst] Holley's going out.
He's played a great game.
- Fantastic, fantastic.
- [Craig] Everybody wants
some type of limelight.
And the limelight is not
always the best light.
- [Analyst] And that's full time.
Americans win, six-two.
- [Craig] The only way
you can shine is when you
improve yourself, and when your
light inside of you shines.
- [Lawrence] Every time we go out there,
we have a chance to prove ourselves.
We didn't do it the first games.
We felt bad, we bickered with ourselves.
In the face with all the
bad behavior and the anger,
I'm intensely proud of Craig
and each and every one of our players.
He's got some anger
issues, and Craig Holley,
that's been his big issue,
and was able to overcome that.
- Let's rub Dave's hair.
- To me, as a coach looking on,
that's great, that's progress.
- [Team] One, two, three, USA.
(clapping)
(horns blowing)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(sad music)
(speaking in a foreign language)
- [Man] He said, "If I
were with you in Paraguay,
"you would never get bored."
(laughing)
(speaking in a foreign language)
(laughing)
- Hey lads, shake 'em, shake 'em.
- Believe in yourself, in your team,
and believe in the jersey.
That's all we need, okay?
Anyone got a problem,
anyone got anything to say?
- No.
- Then let's beat 'em.
Let's go, come on lads.
One, two, three,
- [Group] Ireland.
("Where the Streets Have No Name" by U2)
♫ I wanna run
♫ I want to hide
- So, just had to go out
and congratulate my team.
♫ I want to reach out
♫ And touch the flame
♫ Where the streets have no name
♫ Oh, oh
♫ Where the streets have no name
♫ Where the streets have no name
♫ We're still building,
then burning down love
♫ Burning down love
♫ And when I go there,
♫ I go there with you
♫ It's all I can do.
- [Analyst] Here we are, in a
sudden death penalty shootout.
This game has ended in a tie
between Ireland and Uganda.
Even though they weren't able
to bring home the World Cup,
the Irish are still very much
alive for the Edinburgh Cup.
Damien Farrell's gonna be
a key here for the Irish.
Good goalkeeper counts for a lot
in a shootout, especially sudden death.
(whistle blaring)
Ireland to shoot first.
They score.
Ireland works it's kick.
- [Announcer] One-nil, Ireland.
- [Analyst] Little bounce from Damien.
Uganda steps to the spot.
Uganda has to convert this
kick to stay in contention.
Damien Farrell.
Big save.
Great win for the Irish.
(whistle blaring)
(uplifting music)
'Cause now he knows that he can get
the inner strength to make things happen.
(cheering)
- [Player] It's ABC.
- Never beat the Irish.
This is the only way to exist.
To win everything.
Everything and everybody.
And to become winners, we must realize
the idea of working together as a team.
The slogan of our team
was "Shut up and play."
Everybody from our team has problem
in his life, has problems to solve.
And sometimes, it is a very easy way
for self-estimation, to shout.
The slogan "Shut up and play" shows
you another way to play football.
To work together as a team.
- [Announcer] Goal, Russia.
- The best player of our
team, the whole team.
(dramatic music)
(whistle blaring)
(hands clapping)
One, two, three,
(group chanting)
- [Analyst] Final
minutes, still zero-zero.
Kenya lays that one up off the boards.
(cheering)
And that's the end of regulation.
It looks like we're headed, once again,
for the penalty shootout.
- [Announcer] Kenya will shoot first.
- [Analyst] Well, a tough-played
final comes down to this.
Alex Mwambi, as he steps up here.
Stutter step, high.
- No, no, no.
(groaning)
(whistle blaring)
- [Analyst] Ukrainians come back.
And they're answered with a save.
(cheering and applauding)
(whistle blaring)
We continue.
Kenya.
Goal.
(cheering and applauding)
Ukraine, goal.
(cheering and applauding)
One-one, we are level.
I'll tell ya, the world
slows down at these moments.
(player chanting)
Finds his mark on the near
post and kicks it away.
Kenya, back in the lead.
Two-one, Kenya.
Ukraine, needs this one to equalize.
It's a moment in time.
The approach, gets the
goalie off his feet.
It's just wide.
(uplifting music)
Celebration for the Kenyans.
- [Announcer] Kenya's first time here,
and they win the second
division, Premier Cup.
Well done, Kenya, Well done, Ukraine.
Let's hear it for both teams.
- [Alex] We are very excited,
and we are very happy.
Because we are heroes from
Kenya and from Africa.
Even if I am not scouted, I'm
going to be playing football
and coaching my boys in my streets.
(hands clapping)
I'll continue having hope that one day,
my life will change through football.
(players chanting in a foreign language)
I take it as a miracle, happened to me.
(applauding)
- [Announcer] Next up, the
final of the Homeless World Cup.
That's right, final of
the Homeless World Cup.
Russia versus Kazakhstan.
Also, will the paramedics please come
to the sidelines of pitch number one.
That's the paramedics to pitch one.
- Good.
- Getting excited.
- [Paramedic] Is your blood
pressure usually high or low?
- In extra situations, it is high.
- It's very high.
Okay.
You're gonna be alright?
- I hope.
- [Paramedic] Okay.
Do you speak a bit of English?
- Sometimes, I think so.
- [Paramedic] Okay.
- [Announcer] Days of constant competition
comes down to this.
So, get ready to have some fun.
That's the final of
the Homeless World Cup.
- The final is the result.
I'm interested in success.
You fight after them.
This is the main thing in
football, to fight after them.
Not to imagine it all.
- [Analyst] Russia, Kazakhstan,
it's all on the line here now.
This is a finals matchup.
- [Announcer] Please
show your appreciation
for the two teams, Russia and Kazakhstan.
(applauding and cheering)
Ladies and gentlemen, the
Russian National Anthem.
(National Anthem of Russia)
(cheering and applauding)
- [Analyst] So far in this competition,
Russia is unbeaten.
The Kazaks, their only
loss, to the Russians.
We should see a real high level
of play here in the final.
(soft, intense music)
(coach shouting)
Russia with the ball.
Gets around a defender.
Shoots, saved by the Kazak goalie.
Kazaks on the attack, far post, just wide.
(cheering and applauding)
Russia comes back.
Oh, and it's a great save
by the Kazak goalkeeper.
(applauding)
(whistle blaring)
There's halftime.
Russians look a little frustrated.
They can't seem to finish.
Now, the Kazaks on the attack.
Shot, saved by the keeper.
(speaking in a foreign language)
Russia plays the ball out.
Great shot, save again.
It's like a broken record,
the Kazak goalkeeper denying the Russians.
Very skillful match.
Still scoreless.
Russians playing out of the back.
Fake the middle, play
the ball to the corner.
Goal, Russia.
(cheering and applauding)
- [Announcer] Goal, Russia.
- [Analyst] One-zero, Russia.
Closing minutes here, game winding down.
Oh, just missed.
Broken up by the Russians.
(speaking in a foreign language)
And that's it, it's all over.
The Russians win.
- [Announcer] Let's hear it for the new
Homeless World Cup champions, Russia.
Homeless World Cup founder, Mel Young,
now presenting The Cup to
the Russian Team Captain.
- [Arkady] Football is the
best model of real life.
There is not a last game in football,
and there is no last game in real life.
You'll always have another chance to win.
(applauding and cheering)
- Send a message to Brazil, to the people
on the streets of Brazil.
(uplifting music)
- Football is very important
to the story of human beings.
Nobody can take the football from you.
(applauding)
(soft piano music)
(birds squawking)
- Okay, it' coming up to my knees.
I feel like a retired NBA player.
It's been good.
Hope there's no stingrays.
I mean, I' happy that I came,
you feel what I'm sayin'?
They tryin' to come out,
look at 'em trying to eat.
I guess I changed.
Yo, right there.
I changed my way of thinking.
I'm about to go climb up on these rocks.
(growling)
I just got tired of gettin' mad.
Just like I'm tired of cryin', for what?
Hey, hey, don't come to my penguins.
I'm King of Penguins,
so don't mes with them.
I wanna be somebody.
I wanna do good.
I am king of the penguins.
- Damien is now back
livin' with his mother.
(cheering and applauding)
He continues to play in
a street soccer league
and plans to enter a treatment
program to get off methadone.
Although Alex wasn't
scouted, he and his teammates
were welcomed home as heroes.
Alex continues to clean toilets,
but he also works as a
coach, trying to improve
the lives of the young boys
and girls at Mathare's slum.
Jesus entered an alcohol
treatment program,
and continues to live in the city shelter,
sharing his Cape Town stories
with staff and other residents.
Najib hasn't been able
to talk to Ilsa again.
He's learning English, and
got an email address to stay
in touch with friends he
made from all over the world.
He worries about the
violence in Afghanistan,
which he says is getting worse.
Craig was reunited with
his mother and sister,
whom he had not seen in six years.
He's now working two jobs, and living
in an apartment with a teammate.
He continues to play on the soccer team.
Simon relapsed and died of a drug overdose
four months are returning from Cape Town.
He had been drug free for 18 months.
His death was a terrible
blow to his teammates,
who know how vulnerable life is
for those living on the edge of society.
(soft, bright music)
Slava works in a factory,
has an apartment,
and is engaged to be married.
The Russian victory was big news.
For the first time, homeless people
in Russia were shown in a positive light.
There is now a homeless
street soccer league
in Russia, with eight teams, and growing.
One year after Cape Town,
nearly all the players
had a new motivation for life.
And most, over two-thirds of them,
had changed their lives for the better.
More than one-third of the
players found regular jobs,
93 players have successfully
kicked drugs or alcohol,
and nearly half had improved
their housing situation.
Most were continuing to play football,
knowing from personal
experience that something
as simple as ball can change your life.
("Where the Streets Have No Name" by U2)
♫ The city's a flood
♫ And our love turns to rust
♫ We're beaten and blown by the wind,
♫ Trampled in dust
♫ I'll show you a place
♫ High on a desert plane
♫ Where the streets have no name
♫ Uh-Huh
♫ Where the streets have no name
♫ Where the streets have no name
♫ We're still building
then burning down love
♫ Burning down love
♫ And when I go there,
♫ I go there with you
♫ It's all I can do
♫ Our love turns to rust
♫ We're beaten, then blown by the wind
♫ Blown by the wind
♫ Oh, when I go there,
♫ I go there with you
♫ It's all I can do
(bright music)