KRIDA Vikas Sanstha (Slum Soccer) has announced its men and women’s teams for the Homeless World Cup 2025, scheduled to take place in Oslo, Norway, from August 23 to 30. Both the men and women’s teams, selected earlier this year at the 21st National Inclusion Cup in Nagpur, are set to showcase their skills, determination, and resilience on the global stage.

 

A total of 16 players (8 men and 8 women) have been selected to represent India, hailing from Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Punjab, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. This year holds significance as the Indian women’s team enters the competition ranked 3rd in the world, behind only Mexico and Romania. Speaking on the occasion, Vijay Barse, founder of Slum Soccer, said: “Football has always been more than a game for us — it is a tool for transformation. Each player travelling to Norway carries the dreams and struggles of thousands of young people in India who fight against poverty, exclusion, and marginalisation. We are confident they will inspire with both their performance and their stories.” TEAMS: Men: Darshan Mohankar (Maharashtra), Saqib Naseer (J&K), Rajendra Kharwade (Mah), Zafarul Hasan (Mah), Buta Singh (Punjab), Devesh Singha (Madhya Pradesh), Adarsh Kumar (Delhi), Parsi Hembram (Jharkhand). Women: Sejal Sonare (Maharashtra), Lavanya Maddinala (Andhra Pradesh), Anvi Dhonde (Madhya Pradesh), Kamal Lata Biruly (Jharkhand), Munmun Yadav (Mah), Nikita Rahangdale (Mah), Taniya Bawane (Mah), Gunjan Patle (Chhattisgarh).