History of U.S. Cup

The first homeless soccer project was started by BIGnews magazine in 2004 in New York City. They were joined by Charlotte’s Urban Ministry Center in 2005 and soon followed by several other social advocacy groups in other cities. The first Homeless USA Cup was held in Charlotte in 2006 and was attended by 10 teams and 55 players.  This year, 16 teams will meet at the Kastle Stadium in Washington DC for the third annual Homeless US Cup.  From those teams, 8 players will be chosen to go on to the world cup to be help this year in Milan, Italy. 

The Fort Worth Team

In October, 2008, Dr. Warren Wilson and Karla Gray began discussing the possibility of becoming involved in the Street Soccer program in Fort Worth. Both had participated in sports all their lives, but neither had played soccer. Undaunted, they moved forward in faith and in December, they met Griff Jacobsen, who volunteered to help coach the team. The Presbyterian Night Shelter, located in the Near East Side, kindly offered a place for the team to meet during inclement weather. Another business person in the area donated the use of a vacant field, where six to twelve players meet on Mondays and Wednesdays for practice. 

Over the next few months, the program evolved.  Ryan Robbins signed on as coach and Warren Wilson moved on to other ventures.  Now, with the help of volunteers around the community, the Fort Worth Program is thriving.  Two evenings each week, you can drive past the playing field and find from eight to 15 young men deeply involved in the game.

"These guys have learned to lie for survival and not to trust anyone.  The day they open up and begin to trust us is the day we can start helping them to change their lives."

And change their lives is exactly what is happening.  One player is taking his GED in hopes to start college in the fall.  One player is studying for his ASVAB test to fulfill his dream of joining the army and yet another is leaving soon for his first mission trip, one step closer to his goal of becoming a minister.

"These guys have become so much more than a soccer team or even homeless people we can help," says Gray, "they've truly become our friends!" 

The street soccer program is designed to encourage and guide homeless individuals to improve their lives and achieve goals that are set each week at practice.  Players learn valuable life lessons that will assist them with future employment, maintaining a home, family commitment and self worth.  Accountability, responsibility, commitment, setting and achieving goals, being part of a team, learning to manage anger, staying away from drugs and alcohol, making healthy choices, asking God into their lives and learning to trust are just a few of the lessons our players learn.

Our Players: (Four players will be featured each month)

Douglas Voigt:  Douglas came to us with a giant chip on his shoulder.  Angry and distant, he wasn't about to let the walls down.  Today, however, he is one of the most changed members of our team.  He offers encouragement to other players, helps without being asked and is making an honest effort to change his attitude and way of living.  Douglas has recently acquired a full time job and will be budgeting his money in hopes of moving into an apartment in the next couple of months.

Kevin Polk:  Kevin ended up living at the Presbyterian night shelter after he suffered three heart attacks and his fiance left him, unable to deal with his health issues.  Depressed and angry, Kevin was determined that no one and nothing was going to make him happy.  Kevin is now the team clown.  He keeps everyone laughing and brings an air of positivety to the team. 

Javier Castro:  Once plagued by alcoholism, Javier stays sober so he can play soccer and is now working.

Mark Benjamin: Mark just returned from a mission trip and is currently learning what steps he needs to take to become minister.