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Street Child World Cup - 26th October 2022

The Street Child World Cup is happening in Doha in Qatar. The charity event helps disadvantaged children. For the first time, teenagers from Syria and Palestine took part. 28 women's and men's teams from 24 countries competed.

The competition, which lasts for 8 days, is about more than football. It’s designed to provide these children with new chances in life.

Hazem Attar escaped war in Syria when he was 10. He remembers the dangerous boat trip from Syria to Turkey.

Hazem Attar: "We moved from Syria to Turkey by sea in 2016. I thought that the boat that took us would be modern and everyone would have their own room. But there ended up being more than 500 refugees on board, and we only just made it. Thank God we arrived OK."

Street Child United organises the competition. Its goal is to provide these children with identity documents, safe spaces and opportunities to learn. It also tries to get governments to hear the children’s ideas.

The World Cup's just one way to make a positive change. Julia Pimenta says the game helps these children meet. It also gets governments' attention.

Julia Pimenta: "Football is the language that we all speak here. So even though we don't speak the same languages, we understand each other. We understand playing football. So football is also the way for these young people to bond so they can deliver their message to the governments to talk serious when we need to. But is only possible because of football."

Hanin and Hazem would like the situation in their countries to change and for families to meet again.

Hanin Saleh: "This is the first time that Palestine is participating in a youth World Cup. We came here to talk about our country and the rights of our country and our rights, and we are so happy to be here in Doha. The right to play, the right to education, the right to express ourselves."

Hazem Attar: "We want a safe country. The second thing we are asking for is for families to be reunited. Currently, Syrians are separated, whether they are in Europe or elsewhere."