The Big Issue

The Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup Kicks-off!

It’s the day many of us have been waiting for ever since The Big Issue put in the bid back in 2006 to host the 2008 Homeless World Cup in Melbourne: The 1st day of action at the Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup!

The team draw was announced last night at the welcome function at Melbourne University, the location of the players’ village. It’s an exciting moment for the teams as they not only get to mix and mingle with teams from all over the world for the first time, but they find out who they’re up against in the first stage of the tournament.

The Opening parade today saw all the teams make their way through city streets ending in Federation Square where they were met by a cheering crowd and a sizable media contingent for the Opening Ceremony.

School students, Indigenous dancers, and the award-winning Choir of Hard Knocks performed for the crowd before Premier Brumby declared the event officially open, saying Melbourne, the only Australian city to have hosted both the Commonwealth and Olympic Games, was the perfect host city for the event. Read all the articles of the action down at the tournament precinct here.

In front of a 2,500 strong crowd Australia kicked off play at Fed Square Stadium in a match against Austria. Read the details of the match here.

Read all the match reports, and follow the teams as they compete for glory in one of the six trophies of the Homeless world Cup tournament.

Follow the Event Calendar, find out about the Cultural Festival happening along with spectacular matches at the Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup.

View photo galleries and watch videos here.

But best of all - get down to Federation Square and Birarrung Marr and be part of the action!