Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Social Justice

Watch: Children tell the unseen story of the Street Child World Cup

The other World Cup that took place in Russia this year might not have VAR but it has a whole lot of heart

The greatest sports event on the planet is in full swing in Russia – but it still hasn’t overshadowed the Street Child World Cup.

We brought you the heart-breaking, life-affirming stories of street children from all over the world descending on Eastern Europe for the liberating experience of playing football in May.

Their emotional tale has been turned into a short film titled Наша история (“Our Story”) featuring video diaries shot by the players themselves, revealing their highs and lows in their own words.

The nine-minute film follows Wendy from England, Pakistan’s Mohammed Abdullah as well as Bayu from Indonesia, host country Russia’s Sonia and Ana Carolina, who tasted success with girl’s winners Brazil all speak from the heart about the tournament.

They, as well as kids from across the 20 nations, can be seen dancing, singing and smiling – far from the realities of their lives back home for many – throughout the video while they also participated in a summit once the last ball had been kicked to share the problems they face every day.

The football festival may not have changed the world overnight, but for many of the kids involved the experience was life-changing.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Image: Street Child World Cup

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Do you know how Big Issue 'really' works?

Watch this simple explanation.

Recommended for you

View all
'A child's life can be made easier by money arriving when it should'
a child at a food shop
Baroness Maeve Sherlock

'A child's life can be made easier by money arriving when it should'

'I waited nine months for PIP decision. It was horrendous and my mental health suffered'
PIP claimant Jake
Gabrielle Pickard Whitehead

'I waited nine months for PIP decision. It was horrendous and my mental health suffered'

Mass dependence on emergency food parcels is a 'moral scar' on Britain. How do we end it?
Lisburn Foodbank in Northern Ireland. Image: Trussell/ Robert Stothard
Sabine Goodwin

Mass dependence on emergency food parcels is a 'moral scar' on Britain. How do we end it?

This is how Andy Burnham’s government could end the need for food banks 
andy burnham at the passage
Heather Buckingham

This is how Andy Burnham’s government could end the need for food banks