With the FIFA World Cup in South Africa fast approaching, FIFA and streetfootballworld have announced the 32 delegations that will take part in the Football for Hope Festival 2010. From July 4 – 10, 2010, representatives from organisations from around the world will gather in Alexandra, South Africa to represent the power of football for social change.

Delegations will participate in a range of workshops and activities dedicated to improving the social dimension of the game. In addition to these events, a fast-paced football tournament will be held in a specially constructed stadium in the heart of Alexandra. No referees will be on hand, so any disagreements between teams must be resolved through dialogue.

The 32 teams will be comprised of boys and girls from social football programmes around the world. The teams include:

Africa (13 delegations)
Alexandra Host Team (Play Soccer)- South Africa
Altus-Sport-Vuma and WhizzKids United - South Africa
Coaching for Hope - Mali
Diambars - Senegal
Espérance - Rwanda
Grassroot Soccer - Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa
Kick4Life - Lesotho
Mathare Youth Sports Association - Kenya
Moving the Goalposts - Kenya
Search and Groom Youth for Development Centre - Nigeria
Special Olympics - Botswana, Cameroon, Namibia, South Africa
The Kids League - Uganda
Zambia Street Football Network (BSA, BUSA and KSC) and Kalusha Bwalya Foundation - Zambia

Americas (8 delegations)
A Ganar Ser Paz (Fundación de las Américas para el Desarollo and Ser Paz) - Ecuador
Colombianitos - Colombia
EPROCAD and Formaçao - Brazil
Gurises Unidos and Mundo Afro - Uruguay
Red Chilena de Fútbol Callejero (Chigol, Fundación Educere, PuntaGol) - Chile
Red Paraguaya de Partidi (CDI and partners) - Paraguay
Selección Nacional de Argentina (Defensores del Chaco, Granja Andar, Club 25 de Mayo, AsEM, Cre-Arte, CDC Bongiovanni and Escuela de Deportes Alumni) - Argentina
Starfinder Foundation and Soccer in the Streets - USA

Asia (2 delegations)
Magic Bus - India
Spirit of Soccer - Cambodia

Europe (6 delegations)
Dads Against Drugs - England
Football Friends - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia
German Street Football Network (KICKFAIR and partners) - Germany
Sport Against Racism Ireland - Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland
Sport dans la Ville - France
Street League - England

Middle East (1 delegation)
The Peace Team (The Peres Center for Peace, Al Quds Association) - Israel, Palestine

Oceania (2 delegations)
Football United - Australia
Tahiti Football Federation - Tahiti

Written by Matt Preston