The Story of the SCWC '26
The Story of Day 4
Things ramped even higher for Day 4, with the Qualifiers kicking off, and the young people enjoying more arts classes and a workshop from a certified goalkeeping coach.
As I reflect on Day 4 of the Street Child World Cup, I’m reminded how important it is to pause and take everything in. I’ve heard Team Leaders encouraging young people to reflect at the end of each day.
For many, this is their first time travelling abroad or even getting on a plane. The days are packed with emotion and new experiences, and everything moves so quickly. It can feel overwhelming in the best possible way, which is why taking a moment to reflect matters so much.
Creativity off the pitch
Today started with a double arts session, giving everyone a chance to slow down and get creative before heading back onto the pitch. Young people spent the morning making social media videos, from street-style interviews to dances and football celebrations; a fun way to relax and burn off some energy.
The zine-making workshop brought a much calmer vibe. It gave young people space to sit, reflect and express themselves through drawing, writing, and stencilling. They created self-portraits, wrote messages to their future selves, thanked people who had helped them get here, and shared messages with the world. Looking over shoulders, there were some really moving and inspiring reflections.
Speaking to the arts volunteers afterwards, so many mentioned a real openness amongst the young people to try new things and learn from each other. If the creativity and teamwork in the arts room are anything to go by, we’re in for some brilliant football this week too.
A goalkeeping masterclass
Next on the agenda was a goalkeeping masterclass for all the team’s goalies led by a true expert, Andy Foster from Everton in the Community. The session quickly got lively as the kids threw themselves into drills and worked on their reactions, readying themselves for some killer saves.
Chatting to Andy afterwards, he told me it had been “an honour to facilitate goalkeeping sessions for the young people”. Having coached goalkeepers for more than 40 years, he said this was an experience he would remember forever.
The Qualifiers kick off
By the afternoon, it was time for the first official games of the tournament. The Qualifiers decide who goes into the Cup competition and who heads into the Shield - raising the stakes from the very first whistle.
Fútbol Mas had done an amazing job dressing the stadium, with colourful banners promoting gender equality and protection against violence, creating an incredible atmosphere around the pitch.
Fútbol Más Mexico picked up the tournament’s first green card. These green cards award teams additional points, recognising and celebrating sportsmanship, teamwork and fair play.
Players walked out draped in their national flags, proudly representing their countries, and despite many playing in the heat for the first time, the standard was seriously impressive. There were some brilliant goals, and you could already see how much chemistry the teams had built together.
My favourite celebration of the day came from the USA girls’ team, who celebrated a goal by recreating a bowling strike. Meanwhile, the Kenya girls’ team delivered a standout performance both on and off the ball, securing three green cards to send them soaring to the top of the leaderboard.
With the qualifiers now underway and confidence growing across every team, the excitement around the tournament is only building.
