Pakistan Street Child Football Team which is made up of street-connected children, kicked off the UK Tour 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 United Foundation, the team also took part in an interactive workshop, focused on player development, talent identification pathways and a practical football coaching session delivered by Rashid Abba – Academy Link Mentor at West Ham United’s 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: Growing 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’s a celebration of resilience, talent, and unity. Bringing together the Pakistan Street Child Football Team and the West ham United Foundation’s Under 17’s creates a powerful platform for cultural exchange, mutual respect, and personal growth.
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 Muslim Hands Street Child team has been selected through a nationwide grassroots initiative under Muslim Hands’ 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.
‘It 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.’ Arslan Nusrat, Director of Global Operations at Muslim Hands.
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’s 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.
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’re 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’re excited for what this collaboration represents.’
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