Participants in the Seoul Homeless World Cup parade around the campus of Hanyang University, Saturday. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

From Sept. 21 to 28, Seoul is hosting the Homeless World Cup at Hanyang University, bringing together 500 men and women from 64 teams representing 49 nations.

On the opening day, the host nation, the South Korean men's team beat Germany 4-0.

In addition, with the tournament intended to change the way people look at homelessness, the organizers hosted a vegan festival and football market right next to the three fields at the stadium. There was also an international conference titled "House of All: International Conference to End Homelessness," held Wednesday in the HIT conference room at Hanyang University‘s Seoul Campus.

The Homeless World Cup Foundation is a social organization registered as a charity in Scotland, with a vision of a world without homelessness. Its mission is to use football to support and inspire unhoused people to change their own lives and to change perceptions and attitudes toward people who are experiencing homelessness.

Mel Young, president and co-founder of the Homeless World Cup, is a social entrepreneur and chairman of sportscotland, a national agency for sport in Scotland. He told The Korea Times how it was started.

Mel Young, president and co-founder of the Homeless World Cup, poses at Hanyang University in Seoul, Saturday. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

"I have been working with homeless people in Scotland since 1993, and then we started talking to other countries about how we work with homeless people. And then one evening in a bar, I was talking with a colleague — he was from Austria — about how you can involve homeless people, and we both love football," he said. "So, we said that football is a very powerful tool to unite people. Then we said, why don't we create a homeless team? So, I said, look, I'm from Scotland, so I can create a team from Scotland. And he said, I'm from Austria, I could create a team. We shook hands and said, OK, we're going to create a game between Scotland and Austria. We invented the Homeless World Cup over this kind of very creative discussion."

The first tournament was held in Graz, Austria, in 2003, with 16 teams participating.

"It was quite small, but it was hugely successful," he said. "Then we were very motivated. The crowds came and started cheering. The media came and presented homeless people positively."

He explained the reason behind that first tournament.

"So, first of all, the motivation was that people shouldn't be homeless," he said. "The second (reason) is the power of football and seeing it being successful."

Now on the 19th tournament, the Homeless World Cup has arrived in Asia for the first time.

"It's the power of football," Young said. "You can see the people together. It's happening. People from all over the world are meeting here."

One of the goals of the annual event is to help the participants get their lives back on track.

"The important thing is, you know, the impact," he said. "We know that people change their lives completely. So, they come off drugs and get into college. They get houses. They get jobs afterward. And that's what it's about. And then we also want to change the attitude of people who are watching. We say, oh, these are not bad people at all. These are good people. They can be something. They are winners. Every time, you know, I say to them, you can put this on your resume. And it's true forever. You represented your country in football. And it's true. They did. And they sing the national anthem with total pride. All of them."

Faith-Louise Pelage, originally from Trinidad and Tobago, plays goalkeeper for the Northern Ireland women's team. She moved to Northern Ireland two years ago to seek refuge and found difficulties in settling in terms of finding housing and financial support. But getting involved with street football helped her socially and emotionally. Eventually, her engagement with others through football helped her find housing and financial as well as mental health support.

Faith-Louise Pelage, goalkeeper for Northern Ireland's team for the Homeless World Cup, poses at Hanyang University in Seoul, Saturday. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

When asked what her expectation is for this the Homeless World Cup, she said "hopefully I can win Best Goalkeeper."

She added, "But if I don't get it, I still know that I put my best foot."

Paris-born Djahida Taleb, a former French national team player turned coach, has been making waves in the football world as she took charge of the women's team in her fourth Homeless World Cup. Starting with the men's team and then moving to the women's, Taleb has a wealth of experience and has remained focused on pushing her team to success.

Djahida Taleb, coach of the French team at the Homeless World Cup, poses at Hanyang University in Seoul, Saturday. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

However, this year's World Cup comes with its challenges. "I've been coaching the women's team for six years now, but we've had some difficulties this time due to visa issues," she explained.

Out of the eight players she had planned to bring, only six were able to make it due to complications in obtaining visas for this tournament. Visa complications, especially for international teams, are not uncommon.

"With the French administration, we have to request a visa from the prefecture, and the process can take weeks or even months, depending on delays," she said.

Despite these obstacles, she remained optimistic about her team's performance. In the opening day match, her team beat Austria 10-0.

Ethiopian-born referee Adil Leite has lived in Norway for over 20 years. Since 2013 he has been part of the Homeless World Cup, first as a player and later a referee. As a referee, he was assigned the first match between the Swiss and Bulgarian men's teams. He said that all referees take their responsibilities very seriously because people are from different backgrounds and lifestyles. During the matches, timely decisions require focus and attention.

Referee Adil Leite poses at the Homeless World Cup held at Hanyang University in Seoul, Saturday. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

Steven Persson, CEO of Big Issue Australia, came to Korea for the first time to cheer for the players representing Australia.

Big Issue Australia started operation in 1996, and of its nearly 20 years, it has been involved with the Homeless World Cup for 20. It hosted the 2008 Homeless World Cup in Melbourne, and Persson said they are thinking about hosting it again soon.

Steven Persson, CEO of Big Issue Australia, poses at the Homeless World Cup held at Hanyang University in Seoul, Saturday. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

"Homelessness everywhere in the world is a problem, and in Australia, it's a big problem," he said. "Football in Australia and worldwide takes people out of homelessness. It gives them a sense of purpose, it gives them something that they love doing, and it gets them to that place. In Australia, 40 percent of people who play football stop smoking, and 50 percent of people who play football go to work or training. It has a great outcome. Not only is it fun, but it makes life change."

The Homeless World Cup brings together member countries from around the world, each representing their respective nation with passion and pride. The annual tournament is a celebration of the work being done by grassroots organizations in member countries worldwide. It is also an aspirational goal for individuals seeking a better future and a powerful way to challenge how people think about homelessness. FIFA and ACTGLOBAL are official sponsors for this tournament.

The Seoul Homeless World Cup continues to Saturday. Due to its competition structure, every team still has a game to play on the final day, to ensure all athletes' participation until the end.

Visit homelessworldcup.org for more information.

Participants from Mexico arrive for the Homeless World Cup at the Seoul campus of Hanyang University, Sept. 21. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

Participants from Kyrgyzstan arrive for the Homeless World Cup at the Seoul campus of Hanyang University, Sept. 21. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

Participants from Scotland arrive for the Homeless World Cup at the Seoul campus of Hanyang University, Sept. 21. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

Participants from Kenya arrive for the Homeless World Cup at the Seoul campus of Hanyang University, Sept. 21. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

A traditional Korean music group leads a parade on the first day of the Homeless World Cup at the Seoul campus of Hanyang University, Sept. 21. Courtesy of Bereket Alemayehu

Bereket Alemayehu is an Ethiopian photo artist, social activist and writer based in Seoul. He's also the co-founder of Hanokers, a refugee-led social initiative and a freelance contributor for Pressenza Press Agency.