The 2010 Street Soccer USA Cup in Washington is part of a program that uses team sports to help the homeless and impoverished gain confidence and life skills. Maggie Hyde/MNS
WASHINGTON — Just months after Spain won the FIFA World Cup in South Africa, four-person soccer teams took to a small field in the middle of downtown. Their skill levels varied, and their strategy was sometimes haphazard. But they had something to prove, nonetheless.
The 2010 Street Soccer USA Cup hosted 18 teams made up of people who were homeless, recent immigrants, or recovering from addiction. They hailed from cities around the U.S., including Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Sacramento and Charlotte.
The tournament is a part of a program that aims for “social change through sport.” Team sports participation helps build confidence, relationships and hope, organizers say.
The program, organizers say, teaches more than penalty kicks. They say Street Soccer USA participants are more likely to get jobs, housing, and higher education.