Women’s Homeless World Cup squad receive match kit

IRISH women’s football enjoyed a great year, but the upward trajectory looks set to continue, with the Ireland Women’s National Team donating a full set of match kit to the Irish Women’s Homeless World Cup squad for their 2024 campaign.

At the Women’s National Team (WNT) training session in December, representatives of the Irish Homeless Street leagues were met by Irish Women’s team manager Eileen Gleeson and captain Katie McCabe.

With the help of primary sponsors Sky Ireland, the WNT squad were keen to follow up on the link created in 2021 between the two teams where they supplied much-needed gear and equipment.

They will present the players who are selected from the Irish Homeless Street Leagues with new Sky-branded Castore kit ahead of competing in the Homeless World Cup next year.

The Homeless World Cup team finished fourth in this year’s tournament in Sacramento, USA, winning eight of their 11 games. The team is made up of players from diverse backgrounds and circumstances, using football as a positive force to change lives.

Through the Irish Homeless Street leagues, players are introduced to an environment that creates positive change by motivating, inspiring and developing people who have experienced homelessness, alcohol and substance abuse, or are ex-offenders or refugees.

The Homeless World Cup is an annual tournament with over 40 countries participating. Players representing Ireland, for the men’s or the women’s team, are selected not just for their footballing abilities, but their commitment, attitude, and discipline – attributes that empower them to move on in life.

It promises to be an exciting 2024 for the IHSL with a 6-nations tournament being organised for June in Tallaght, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the founding of Street Leagues.

Katie McCabe, a Kilnamanagh native indicated her desire to attend the tournament if she is available.