海角大神

Lisa Wrightsman was a former college soccer player whose life was derailed by drug addiction before she eventually made her way back to the sport. Her return came via a tournament for players from around the globe who have experienced homelessness.

Ms. Wrightsman qualified for the Homeless World Cup in Brazil. It was a competition that would forever change her life. When she returned to Sacramento, friends at the sober living facility where Ms. Wrightsman lived told her they wanted 鈥渢o feel the way you look right now.鈥�

鈥淚 actually started to feel value,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he whole tournament kind of instills you with that.鈥�

Ms. Wrightsman is now a coach for the United States women鈥檚 team in the Homeless World Cup. The tournament made its U.S. debut on July 8 in the capital of California, a state that is home to the largest homeless population in the country. It runs through Saturday.

The tournament is being held after a three-year hiatus due to the pandemic, when homeless populations surged in many U.S. cities. In Sacramento alone, it increased 68% between 2020 and 2022.

Thirty countries are competing in the games with teams that include people who have lived on the streets, refugees, foster children, and more.

They include Yuli Pineda, who moved to California from Honduras and was living with a foster family when she joined. Ms. Pineda said she鈥檚 found a sense of community playing for the U.S. team.

鈥淓very single player comes from different backgrounds,鈥� Ms. Pineda said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 amazing that in a short amount of time we have connected that fast.鈥�

One of the special parts about soccer is that it is so popular across the globe, said Lawrence Cann, founder of Street Soccer USA, which organizes the U.S. men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 teams.

鈥淚magine if you鈥檙e isolated, you feel some level of shame with everything that comes along with being homeless,鈥� Mr. Cann said. 鈥淭his gives you a natural way to connect to the largest community in the world, which is the soccer community.鈥�

Mel Young, who co-founded the organization running the tournament, said the aim is to build players鈥� confidence to achieve their goals beyond the games. Some of the athletes have gone on to play professionally, but that鈥檚 not the point, Mr. Young said.

鈥淭he events are fantastic. I urge anyone to come and watch,鈥� Mr. Young said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 about moving on. It鈥檚 about impact. It鈥檚 about people changing their lives.鈥�

Mr. Young said he has witnessed the transformation. Years ago, Mr. Young said he got on a bus in his native Scotland and was surprised to find out the driver was a former player who competed in the tournament. He told Mr. Young he got his bus driving license after the games, was living in an apartment, and was engaged to be married.

Ms. Wrightsman grew up in a Sacramento suburb and was a striker for California State University, Sacramento, also known as Sac State. She struggled with drug addiction and ended up in a sober living facility, which made her eligible to qualify for the Homeless World Cup. At the tournament in 2010, she remembered how much she loved playing, and it built her confidence knowing she could share her knowledge with players who were less experienced.

This year, players are battling dry, hot weather in Sacramento, with temperatures set to surpass 100 degrees Fahrenheit by Friday. Some of the games were scheduled for later to avoid the most intense heat of the day.

The games are much shorter than traditional soccer matches, lasting only seven minutes each half, so anyone can participate. Each country can bring a men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 team. Women can compete on the men鈥檚 team if the country is not bringing a women鈥檚 team.

On a recent day at Sac State鈥檚 Hornet Stadium, players tried to cool down by sitting in the shade under bleachers and tents or by placing wet towels around their necks.

In the stands, spectators waved flags and sported jerseys and caps to show support for their country鈥檚 team. Supporters of the Mexican women鈥檚 team chanted 鈥淪i, se puede!鈥� or 鈥淵es, you can!鈥� during a group stage match Tuesday as the reigning champions fought to win their eighth title.

For Sienna Jackson, a Sacramento native on the U.S. women鈥檚 team, playing soccer offered a welcome escape from stress growing up.

鈥淚t was something to get my mind off of my life and kind of calm me down,鈥� said Ms. Jackson, who experienced homelessness for four years starting at the age of 19.

Ms. Jackson now lives in an apartment, works with a pediatric dentist, and is studying dental assisting at Carrington College, a career-training school in Sacramento.

This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP journalist Haven Daley contributed.