Club Brugge’s Homeless Team on tournament in Lier

The Belgian Homeless Cup is a social-sportive football competition that engages the power of football for the reintegration process of homeless people.

This process can have a social character (social assistance, a meaningful use of spare time, building self-confidence and constructing a positive self-image) or a professional character (education, employment). There is also an improvement on the physical level as the football players get in shape and work on their health.

The foundation of the Belgian Homeless Cup are the local teams. There are 21 teams active in the national competition and 15 teams in the Brussels metropolitan competition.

Why are Homeless teams so important?

“By engaging homeless people in the positive dynamics reached by playing football, they regain faith in themselves. We want to involve them and give them opportunities to work on a goal together and to take responsibilities. This is a first step towards social assistance, education or work. Our players and supporters learn skills and attitudes that can be used in their direct surroundings, but in a working environment as well.”

Building on self-confidence and a better self-image, starting from own strengths and possibilities, a more structured life, experiencing the power of a group and the feeling of belonging somewhere: that’s what they want to offer to the players. Taking the first step to a new beginning. This way they can find better accommodation, education etc.