At the first competition, held in Graz in Austria last year, 14 countries were represented. Countries participating this year include Brazil, Japan, Namibia and the United States. About 300 players are involved, including the homeless, recovering addicts, asylum-seekers and sellers of street newspapers.

"The World Cup should cast light on the problems of the homeless and their misery," organiser Bernhard Wolf of Austria said at the opening ceremony of "The Homeless World Cup", quoted by the Swedish TT news agency.

"It is also pure therapy for those taking part, because football has a magic effect."

At last year's tournament 141 players were involved, 31 of whom later found their lives transformed, through training courses, treatment for drug or alcohol addiction or the finding of accommodation.

"But the few who play football in this World Cup are just the tip of a huge iceberg," according to Wolf, creator of the tournament and former editor of a street newspaper in Austria.

The tournament is sponsored by sporting goods manufacturers. Matches last 14 minutes, seven minutes each way, and are played on pitches measuring 20 metres (65 feet) by 14 metres (45 metres). Four players including a goalkeeper may be on the pitch for each side at any given moment.

The next tournament is due to take place in New York next year.