Sofia to Host European Homeless Championship in 2018

The Bulgarian capital will host the European homeless championship in 2018.

This was announced by Mel Young, co-founder and president of the Homeless World Cup, after his meeting with Sofia mayor Yordanka Fandakova and Deputy Sports Minister Asen Markov on Wednesday.

Young noted that the national partner of the Homeless World Cup in Bulgaria, namely "Sports Management Bulgaria", has been making huge progress in the last five years, both in terms of social and sports results.

He added that the Bulgarian association has large experience in the organisation of sports events.

Young pointed that it is logical for Sofia to host the championship in two years due to its designation as European capital of sport for 2018.

The first official European homeless championship will take place this year in Manchester.

Three years ago, the German partner of the Homeless World Cup organised on its own initiative a European championship. The women's tournament was won by the team of Bulgaria.

Fandakova assured that the tournament could be held in the centre of the city, right next to the Monument of the Soviet Army.

The matches from the Homeless World Cup are played on pitches measuring 22 metres in length and sixteen metres in width, which allows for the tournaments to be held in attractive locations.

The plans foresee the European championships to last up to five days and the number of participants to be up to twelve.

Clarification of the criteria, which will be used in the selection of participants, is forthcoming. This might become clear on Friday, which is the last day of the conference of the European partners of the Homeless World Cup, that is taking place in Sofia.