Lithuania have made a perfect start to their Homeless World Cup 2025 campaign in Oslo, underlining why they came into the tournament ranked as the world’s third strongest side. The Baltic nation opened with a commanding 7–2 victory over India on the opening day, before following it up with a 7–3 win against Hong Kong on day two. With two wins from two, Lithuania look well placed to build on last year’s third-place finish in Seoul.
A tournament with a broader mission
The Homeless World Cup is unlike any other competition in football. First staged in 2003, it brings together players who have faced homelessness, poverty, or social exclusion, offering them the chance to represent their countries on a global stage. The format itself adds to the excitement: matches are four-a-side (three outfield players plus goalkeeper), played on small synthetic pitches with surrounding walls, in two halves of seven minutes each. Rolling substitutions keep the tempo high, and draws are settled by sudden-death penalties. The result is a thrilling brand of football where every second counts.
For the players, though, the meaning stretches far beyond the pitch. The tournament has been credited with changing thousands of lives, giving participants a platform to rebuild confidence, find stability, and become part of a community. That spirit has also reached new audiences thanks to Netflix’s recent film The Beautiful Game, which dramatises an England squad’s preparation for the competition while capturing the power of football to change lives.
Lithuania’s rise
Lithuania are no strangers to this tournament. They have entered every edition bar the first three in 2003, 2004 and 2005, and have steadily grown into one of the most consistent performers on the world stage. Last year in Seoul they beat Indonesia 2–1 in the playoff for third place, finishing behind champions Mexico and runners-up England. That bronze medal confirmed their status as one of the most competitive teams, and they arrived in Oslo ranked third in the world, behind only Mexico (1) and Portugal (2).
This year’s squad features a mix of experience and fresh energy: Vytautas Paunksnis, Dovilė Dockaitė, Nikita Voitechocskij, Arūnas Kačiaunas, Titas Jonavicius, Vladyslav Bukvych, Augustas Blaškevičius, and goalkeeper Dominykas Basarabovas. Together, they have already shown the attacking firepower and defensive resilience to suggest another deep run is on the cards.
After the 7-2 win over India, Baltic Football News caught up with Dominykas Basarabovas in Oslo. “The game was good for the opening of this tournament. When I think about this tournament, it is going to be a really great experience because you don’t get a lot of chances to play in these kinds of tournaments.” said the goalkeeper. “It’s going to be fun, I think, it’s all about the fun.”
In the wider regional picture, Lithuania also stand alone. Estonia’s sole participation came in 2006, when they finished 31st out of 48 teams. Latvia, meanwhile, have never taken part. For nearly two decades, Lithuania have carried the Baltic flag in this unique competition, and their record speaks for itself: consistent appearances, competitive finishes, and a growing reputation as a country that takes the Homeless World Cup seriously.
Eyes on Oslo
Two days in, the mood around the Lithuanian camp is buoyant. With 14 goals scored in their first two games, the team are brimming with confidence and hungry to go one step further than last year’s bronze.
Lithuania’s next fixture is later today, at 18:00 Vilnius time, against Scotland. The match will be broadcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPsv3z2jRA4
