A team huddle at the Street Children World Cup in Brazil.
Mexico’s girls team and Brazil’s boys team have been crowned champions of the Street Child World Cup 2026, following a powerful week in which street-connected young people from 21 countries came together in Mexico City for football, advocacy and cultural exchange.
Hosted by Street Child United in partnership with Fútbol Más Mexico, the Street Child World Cup brings together street-connected young people from around the world, using the power of sport to create dialogue, challenge perceptions and drive lasting change. This year’s tournament finals took place at the Parque Ecológico Lago de Texcoco, where Mexico and Kenya came together in the girls’ cup final, while Brazil and India took part in the boys’ cup final, competing in front of young people from 21 nations, as well as guests from across Mexican sport, politics, diplomacy and civil society.
The finals delivered an unforgettable cultural moment, blending sport, music and global attention. Bono was in attendance alongside U2 bandmates, with drummer Larry Mullen Jr. performing the ceremonial coin toss to kick-start the final match. US artist Paul Russell then took to the stage with a live performance of his viral hit Lil Boo Thang, bringing a celebratory close to the tournament.
