https://www.sportanddev.org/latest/news/street-child-world-cup-2026-mome...
By John Wroe, Street Child United
The road to Mexico 2026 is accelerating quickly. Fresh from stops in Mexico City, LA, Seattle, and New York, I’m energised by partners and supporters rallying behind it. We’re also scanning ahead to Street Child Olympics 2028 and Women’s World Cup 2027 activity. It makes sense to prioritise a US Street Child United entity, which Scott Lewis has been leading brilliantly, with pro bono technical support from Foley & Lardner. I am grateful for their work. Scott joined me for pivotal meetings, including a New York Stock Exchange Opening Bell interview reaching 50 million viewers. We also worked on closing key funding gaps for SCWC 2026.
Congress remains the heartbeat of what we do. Here, young people advocate for change, covering issues like:
- Access to identity
- Education
- Protection against violence
- Gender equality
Lerato is working closely with arts volunteers to ensure these messages are creatively represented at the General Assembly on May 14. We’re hoping to livestream the event globally, potentially even to the UN, as we’ve done before.
While in New York, I joined one of our Young Leaders, Ailyn, at the UN Sport for Development Day, co-hosted by Football for the Goals. This event highlighted a development goal close to our hearts - legal identity for all by 2030 (SDG 16.9). This is still a major barrier for street-connected young people, but we’ve seen progress in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Bolivia, where the Street Child World Cup platform has helped simplify birth registration processes. This leaves me hopeful for growing change.
I’m often struck by the small things that lead to profound changes. Like Fútbol Más, our host partner in Mexico City, and their green card innovation, rewarding fair play, sportsmanship, and positive behaviour on the pitch. A green card gives young people that moment of being seen and valued for who they are. Thank you Fútbol Más. We’re excited to incorporate the green card into Street Child World Cup matches moving forward.
Another encouraging moment was when our Cape Town partners sent a video of the South African team preparing for Mexico 2026, singing Shosholoza. It’s an Ndebele song about “moving forward”, carrying a message of hope, solidarity, and unstoppable progress. It reminded me of where it all began in Durban 2010. A chain of unity was evident as, one-by-one, teams welcomed each other singing Shosholoza.
As momentum builds, some challenges persist, especially around visas. Pakistan, DR Congo, and Palestine teams are navigating complex and changing routes due to geopolitical constraints. It’s not easy, but global goodwill prevails.
My whirlwind trip across North America spanned a remarkable moment in the calendar. I left at the end of Ramadan during Eid, was in New York for Passover, and returned to Cambridge for Good Friday and Easter. Different traditions, different faiths, all rooted in hope. That felt significant.
What stays with me most from this journey is the sheer scale of worldwide support. People of kind hearts and determined minds, working together across continents, all pulling in the same direction so that these young people can:
- Come to Mexico
- Wear their national jersey
- Represent their country
