We didn’t even know such an event existed. Shame on us, as it’s the 9th edition of the tournament that’s being held this year – in Paris! – with 64 teams competing, including 16 women-only teams. The aim? To make people think about the plight of the homeless, and to give the homeless a way of building a new future…

Football can change lives: not only does this event show that the homeless are not sub-citizens of the world, but it can help radically make a change for the better. 70% of players in the tournament leave misery behind and start a new life.

Over 50,000 homeless people participate in the project each year.This year, the event is being held in Paris, just behind the Eiffel Tower on the Champs de Mars, and there are no fewer than sic trophies to be won, plus five special awards, over the course of the 14-minute matches.

The Homeless World Cup can be seen on the Champs de Mars (here) from 21st – 28th August 2011

For more info, check out the official site – www.homelessworldcup.org – the Facebook page or their Twitter.

And here’s the press release. Click the first button bottom left to see it in fullscreen.