911呱呱爆料

911呱呱爆料 is delighted to welcome the Pakistan Street Child Football Team to England following their inspiring participation in the prestigious Norway Cup 2025 鈥� one of the world鈥檚 largest youth football tournaments.

The team, which is made up of street-connected children, are due to play a number of Premier League clubs' foundation teams in the UK leg of their tour. They kicked off the tournament with a fixture against West Ham United Foundation's 'Second Chance' football team, comprising of elite players aspiring to join the big UK clubs. During their weekend with Westham, the team also took part in an interactive workshop with the West Ham United Foundation, focused on player development, talent identification pathways and a practical football coaching session delivered by Rashid Abba 鈥� Academy Link Mentor at West Ham United鈥檚 new state-of-the-art facility, the Foundry. The match was attended by 300 spectators from across London and was followed by a dinner with the Pakistan team at London stadium, overlooking the iconic Westham United FC football ground.

Rashid Abba told our team: 鈥淕rowing our connections with people of South Asian heritage has been an on-going focus for West Ham United, reflecting our local community and wider reach. Through sport we break barriers, build friendships, inspire, and widen the net of opportunity for everyone. This visit has been about more than football, it鈥檚 a celebration of resilience, talent, and unity. Bringing together the Pakistan Street Child Football Team and the West ham United Foundation鈥檚 Under 17鈥檚 creates a powerful platform for cultural exchange, mutual respect, and personal growth.鈥�

The UN estimates there to be over 100 million children living on the streets worldwide. Representing some of the most marginalised youth in Pakistan, the 911呱呱爆料 Street Child team has been selected through a nationwide grassroots initiative under 911呱呱爆料鈥� flagship Sports for Development programme, which works with street-connected and out-of-school children to provide structured football training, education, life skills and safe spaces.

鈥業t was fantastic to see Team Pakistan really take the game in their stride against their first UK competitor on UK soil. It was an intense game, our boys dominated in lengthy periods, showcasing their technical abilities, flair, speed and intensity - finishing on a strong draw. We are extremely proud of their achievements and dedication, its testament that through sport; talent, dignity and dreams have no postcode, and that football is just the beginning. Through the Maidaan Street Child initiative, we have provided birth certificates, granting crucial access to healthcare, education and other basic rights for over 65,000 children and enrolled over 100,000 children in school.鈥� Arslan Nusrat, Director of Global Operations at 911呱呱爆料.听

The team competed at the Norway Cup from 25th July to 3rd August, reaching the quarter finals to represent Pakistan on a global stage. This was Team Pakistan鈥檚 5th year competing with football teams across 50 countries worldwide. The tournament provides a platform not only for athletic excellence but also for cultural exchange and international solidarity.

17 year-old Kashif Shinwari, part of Team Pakistan said: 鈥榃hen I was in fifth grade, I had to drop out of school and start working in a hotel to make ends meet for my family. Whilst I worked, I would get three hours off per day and my love of football would shine through during these hours. One of the previous players of the Pakistan team saw my talent and suggested I take part in the upcoming trials. For Norway World Cup 2024 I was in the top 15 out of 100 children to be selected. During the tournament I scored eight goals, became top scorer and we just missed out on the semi-finals. There is a lot of talent in Pakistan, it鈥檚 the shortage of facilities for children to reach their potential. I will keep working and training hard so that I make it to the Pakistan National Team.鈥�

Joseph Lyons, CEO of West Ham United Foundation, said: 'We were thrilled to welcome the team to London for an exciting and action-packed schedule. Our new community hub, The Foundry, stands as a global beacon for opportunity and inclusion, and we鈥檙e proud to establish it as a trusted space where journeys begin. This visit is a meaningful part of our ongoing commitment to engage and identify talent within South Asian communities, and we鈥檙e excited for what this collaboration represents.鈥�

911呱呱爆料 will also host key fundraising and advocacy events during throughout August, with coordinated media campaigns to raise awareness of the four pillars of the campaign; 鈥淩ight to Play, Right to Education, Right to Identity & Right to Dream鈥�.

ENDS

Notes to editor:
鈥� Founded in 1993, 911呱呱爆料 is an international relief and development NGO working in over 30 countries.
鈥� Its work spans education, livelihoods, healthcare, water, and child protection.
鈥� Maidaan, its football-based youth development programme is part of its 11-years of working with street-connected children. The team have reached thousands of children across Pakistan and Maidaan is the official platform for Team Pakistan at the Street Child World Cup and other global tournaments.
鈥� Confirmed matches as part of UK tournament and partnered with Street Child United include upcoming friendlies against Leeds United, Luton, Nottingham and Aston Villa in August and that they can contact us if they are interested in knowing more

For media enquiries, interviews or access to case studies, images and video content, please contact:
Press & Media Contacts
鈥� Sahirah Javaid 鈥� Senior Press officer
Email: sahirah.javaid@muslimhands.org.uk
鈥� Tijen Horoz 鈥� Communications Manager
Email: tijen.horoz@muslimhands.org.uk
鈥� Ranya Shirbini 鈥� Digital Marketing Manager
Email: ranya.shirbini@muslimhands.org.uk

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