'I used to binge drink - then I found football'

Morris Curtis said the aim is to win the tournament

Morris Curtis was on the streets and struggling with alcohol when he first stepped onto the pitch with Street Soccer NI.

Fast forward a decade and he is sober and about to represent Northern Ireland at the Homeless World Cup.

Northern Ireland is sending a men's and a women's team to the tournament in Oslo, which starts on Saturday and runs until 31 August.

"You meet amazing people. And once you step on that pitch, all your problems just disappear," Mr Curtis said.

"I used to be a binge drinker, and now I don't drink at all and life is going amazing."

Mr Curtis credits Street Soccer NI, as well as the friends he made within the organisation, for helping him quit alcohol.

He said he could not wait for kick-off in Norway.

"Words can't even explain how excited I am. I reckon we have a really good squad, we have good management, hopefully we can do the business," he said.

"The aim is to win it."

Northern Ireland is sending a women's team and a men's team to the tournament

More than 60 countries will be represented at the event, which will see each team play 10-12 matches in total.

Four players from each side are on the pitch at any given time, with games lasting 14 minutes.

The competition is organised by the Homeless World Cup Foundation charity.

Northern Ireland's women's team will play their first game against Mexico, last year's tournament winners, while the men will begin against Italy.

Louise McGonnell captained Northern Ireland in 2024

Louise McGonnell, the women's team manager, began working with Street Soccer NI after she became homeless in 2018.

"There was a flyer for Street Soccer. I went to training that night, and I never looked back," she said.

"It was the first time I had kicked a ball."

In 2024, Ms McGonnell captained the Northern Ireland side in Seoul, South Korea.

They finised seventh - Northern Ireland's best ever result in the women's tournament.

"It was brilliant. It was one of the best experiences of my life," she said.

Ms McGonnell said Street Soccer NI was "like a big family" and was great for both physical and mental health.

"My mental health wasn't the best whenever I first joined. Today, I'm the best I've ever been," she said.

Chris Smiley said the tournament is "a once in a lifetime opportunity"

Chris Smiley, the goalkeeper for the men's team, said he was excited to play in the tournament.

"I'm expecting it to be a once in a lifetime opportunity," he said.

Should it get to a penalty shootout, Mr Smiley is confident, both in goal and in front of goal.

"I'll take a penalty no problem. I'll do both," he said.

Winta Kuwaja said she is "excited and nervous" for the tournament

Winta Kuwaja, who is originally from Eritrea, said she was a mixture of "excited and nervous".

"I have been playing football since I was a kid. When I came to Northern Ireland, I was struggling to find any teams," she said.

Although she was reluctant to admit it, her coaches emphasised her goal-scoring talents.

Justin McMinn said the Homeless World Cup brings people together

Justin McMinn, CEO and co-founder of Street Soccer NI, said the charity was "unique" in its use of sport "to tackles homelessness across Northern Ireland" and "transform people's lives".

"We work with some of the most excluded groups in societies," said Mr McMinn.

For more than a decade, Street Soccer NI has sent teams representing Northern Ireland to the Homeless World Cup.

Mr McMinn said the event is a "beautiful festival of football and bringing people together".

"It's an incredible event. It's a life-changing event."

Spectators in Seoul watch the men's football final of the 2024 Homeless World Cup

Mr McMinn said one of the many benefits of the tournament was that people got to visit places they might otherwise have never been to.

"It has a huge impact on peoples' lives. Many people come back and they find employment, they access housing, they make positive changes in their lives," he said.