RadioTimes.com<\/a>, star Callum Scott Howells explained how the film was also loosely inspired by the 2008 documentary Kicking It, which followed the experiences of seven people from around the world at the 2006 Homeless World Cup in Cape Town.<\/p>\n\u201cIf you watch the documentary, a lot of the characters that you see in The Beautiful Game, you\u2019ll kind of maybe loosely connect with characters from the documentary,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike my character, Nathan, is loosely based off of a character in the documentary.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you know, it\u2019s really interesting because [for] so many people, it changes their lives \u2013 like, there\u2019s stories about players that have gone on to become professional referees in the professional game, which is amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cBut also it\u2019s worth saying that some people who experience the tournament, it\u2019s an amazing experience and it\u2019s something really special for them, but some people don\u2019t make it \u2013 and I think Nathan, my character, is really interesting.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a really interesting example of kind of\u2026 I don\u2019t want to spoil it, because obviously I want people to watch the movie, but Nathan is a really interesting example of what kind of people compete in the Homeless World Cup, and the kind of challenges that they face.\u201d<\/p>\n
Howells also explained that an extra degree of authenticity was brought to the film by the decision to cast former Homeless World Cup players as supporting artists.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was really special, and spending every day in and around former players, it taught us so much,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd it just really helped us tell this story as authentically and truthfully as we could.\u201d<\/p>\n
Speaking about the film, the president and founder of the Homeless World Cup Foundation, Mel Young, said: \u201cWe are incredibly excited to be the focus of the upcoming film The Beautiful Game. The Homeless World Cup is our contribution to tackling the homeless problem across the globe \u2013 but there is so much more to do.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have proved just how powerful football can be when it is applied to a social problem, and we will keep striving to do more. We hope that the work we do being told in The Beautiful Game inspires more people to join in and support future Homeless World Cups, and together we can all aim to end homelessness forever.\u201d<\/p>\n
What is The Homeless World Cup?<\/strong><\/h2>\nThe Homeless World Cup Foundation was first established in 2001 and the first event took place two years later in Graz, Austria.<\/p>\n
According to the Foundation, it\u2019s mission is: \u201cTo use football to support and inspire people who are homeless to change their own lives; and to change perceptions and attitudes towards people who are experiencing homelessness.\u201d<\/p>\n
The event traditionally takes place every year \u2013 although there was a four-year gap between 2019 and 2023 due to the pandemic \u2013 and host cities over the years have included Gothenburg, Edinburgh, Copenhagen, Cape Town, Melbourne, Milan, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, Mexico City, Pozna\u0144, Santiago, Amsterdam, Glasgow and Oslo.<\/p>\n
Rome, which hosts the fictional version of the tournament in The Beautiful Game, is yet to host an event.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the 2024 edition of the tournament will take place in Seoul, South Korea and will kick-off in October.<\/p>\n
England have yet to win the tournament in either the Men\u2019s or the Women\u2019s events, but Scotland have fared much better \u2013 emerging victorious in both the 2007 and 2011 Men\u2019s tournaments and finishing as defeated finalists on a further two occasions.<\/p>\n
Speaking about his conversions with co-founder Mel Young on set, Callum Scott Howells said: \u201cI had so many conversations with him about what the day to day is like, in terms of the tournament and what it\u2019s like to be there.<\/p>\n
\u201cI spoke to a lot of people who were involved with the charity, as well, but also about how he kind of came up with the idea \u2013 and it was over a pint with his friend, which is just amazing!<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so mad to think that he had a pint with his friend and they come up with this thing called the Homeless World Cup, and now it\u2019s 20 years down the line, and it\u2019s changed over a million people\u2019s lives. It\u2019s extraordinary.\u201d<\/p>\n