Children's stories trump on-field results at Street Child World Cup

A mural hangs at the Street Child World Cup, a tournament featuring underprivileged children from around the world and is aimed at raising awareness for child homelessness.

Wilf Whitty

The USA boys team takes on host Brazil at the Street Child World Cup.

Wilf Whitty

"One of the kids from India said he had to go to work when he was 12 years old," says softly spoken defender Jah'Qwel Williams, who, along with the other Charlotte boys Ty'ree, Deron and Ryan, plays with the Urban Eagles outreach program in the city. "He had to work from early in the morning until the next morning. That's crazy. I could never have worked when I was 12."

Street Child World Cup participants visit the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.

SCWC

James Young is a Brazil-based contributor to SI.com. He can be followed on Twitter @seeadarkness.