Four girls from the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC)-supported Karunalaya shelter for homeless children represented India at the Street Child Football World Cup 2026 in Mexico this May.The squad included V. Pavithra, C. Poongothai, R. Vaideeswari, and C. Sharmila. Another child, V. Srimathi, was also selected for the tournament but she could not participate due to visa constraints. The delegation was led by Karunalaya secretary N. Paul Sunder Singh.Delivering an exceptional performance, the team defeated Wales and Palestine and drew with Germany and Mexico. They advanced to the semi-finals before bowing out to Brazil, ultimately securing two awards and bringing international recognition to their communities, according to a corporation press release. Published - June 20, 2026 02:02 pm IST