Muslim Hands is delighted to welcome the Pakistan Street Child Football Team to the UK following their inspiring participation in the prestigious Norway Cup 2025 – one of the world’s largest youth football tournaments.

During their visit, the team will take 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 – Academy Link Mentor at West Ham United’s new state-of-the-art facility, the Foundry on Saturday 9th August. The interactive workshop and training session will provide an opportunity for the players and coaches to learn about elite talent pathways coaching and mentoring. The following day, Sunday 10th August, they will face West Ham United Foundation’s ‘Second Chance’ Football Team, comprising aspiring elite players, in an exciting fixture at the London Stadium’s Community Track.

The visit will conclude with a fundraising dinner that evening, dedicated to raising awareness and support for Muslim Hands’ Street Child initiative, which empowers vulnerable children through sport and education.

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.

'This game is more than football. It’s about giving a voice to children who’ve experienced deprivation, marginalisation and exclusion,’ explains Arslan Nusrat, Director of Global Operations at Muslim Hands. ‘Through sport, we show that talent, dignity and dreams have no postcode, and that football is just the beginning. Through this programme we have so far obtained 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.’

The team will travel to Oslo, Norway, for the Norway Cup, competing from 25th July to 3rd August, where they will represent Pakistan on a global stage. This will be 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.

17 year-old Kashif Shinwari, part of Team Pakistan said: ‘When 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’s 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.’

Joseph Lyons, CEO of West Ham United Foundation, said: 'We’re thrilled to welcome the team to London as part of what promises to be 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. It’s shaping up to be a brilliant programme and a fantastic introduction to the UK!'

Muslim Hands will also host key fundraising and advocacy events during the UK leg from 3rd August – 20th August, with coordinated media campaigns to raise awareness of the four pillars of the campaign; “Right to Play, Right to Education, Right to Identity & Right to Dream”.

ENDS

Notes to editor:
• Founded in 1993, Muslim Hands is an international relief and development NGO working in over 30 countries.
• Its work spans education, livelihoods, healthcare, water, and child protection.
• 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.
• 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
• Sahirah Javaid – Senior Press officer
Email: sahirah.javaid@muslimhands.org.uk
• Tijen Horoz – Communications Manager
Email: tijen.horoz@muslimhands.org.uk
• Ranya Shirbini – Digital Marketing Manager
Email: ranya.shirbini@muslimhands.org.uk

---