Plot
Former youth football trainer Mal Bradley saves Vinny from an angry parent when he interrupts a youth training session. Introducing him to his 'dream team', the squad he's training for a global annual football tournament in Rome, Vinny is unimpressed.
Vinny realises they are talking about the Homeless World Cup when he stays for a meal afterwards, so insists he doesn't qualify and leaves. Mal follows him to his car, where he's been living. Seeing Vinny's too proud to admit his hardship, he leaves his number and goes.
The troubled Vinny regularly has flashbacks to his brief West Ham football career and youth team. In the present, Vinny is turned away from his part-time job. Visiting his young daughter Evie, she invites him to a school special assembly, where she'll talk about someone she admires. His ex Ellie asks him to tell Evie if he won't make it, so Vinny says he'll be in Rome.
The team heads to Rome with Vinny. At the opening ceremony, he can see it's a truly international event. Vinny is assigned a room with Nathan. When he discovers he takes methadone, he freaks out that Nathan is a heroin addict. Taking off, Vinny falls asleep in a park.
In the morning, Vinny arrives to play their first match with South Africa. As they don't turn up, England gets their first victory. They were held up at their home airport as their Zimbabwe refugee has a restrictive visa.
In the England vs. Portugal match, Vinny takes them to victory. It's Japan's first year participating, so their young female coach is hard on them. After they lose their first match, as she's reprimanding them, the squad sneaks off to explore Rome.
England's Jason is smitten by the USA's Rosita, but inadvertently expresses his interest in an excessively sexual way. Inexperienced with women, he doesn't realise he was offensive. Jason makes amends by giving Rosita a salmon. The Japan coach apologises too and reconciles with her team.
The nun South African coach Protasia coerces Vinny into agreeing to a match. The English crew is unhappy with him, but when Nathan tries to talk with him, he storms off. Feeling guilty, Nathan wants to retrieve him, but the squad insists he stay. During the search, Albar, Kevin, Jason and Cal see Rome's sights. Cal finally finds Vinny and they bond over being fathers, then the others come. Everyone decides Vinny was right in supporting a rematch with South Africa.
The next day, Vinny warms up to the squad. At the match against South Africa, Nathan can't finish it. They lose the match, but play Japan and recover the points needed to make the quartfinals. Ecstatic, they become somber upon discovering Nathan leaving due to methadone withdrawal. He'll be better in the UK, as he has support.
Rosita forgives Jason and invites him for a run, on the way explaining she's a 'Dreamer'. As she's not a permanent US resident, she hopes to be scouted.
England beats Mexico, so goes to the quarterfinals against Italy. Albar refuses to play for political reasons, as he's a Kurd and the Italian captain is Turkmen Syrian. England 'borrows' an Argentinian player, but soon Vinny is sent off the field for two minutes. Albar jumps back in, and once Vinny returns to the field, he evens the score. In the penalties round, Italy wins. Albar and the Italian captain make peace.
Afterwards, the English squad fight. Vinny defensively points out why many of them are homeless. Albar points out that he's a barber refugee, then offers to give everyone a shave. When Evie calls Vinny to say her school presentation was on him in the Homeless World Cup, mortified and humiliated, Vinny takes off.
Over dinner with the Italian director of the Cup Gabriella, Mal explains he scouted Vinny while in West Ham's youth training. As being cut makes Vinny see himself as a loser, Mal is hoping to help him.
The next morning, although Vinny is too late for the USA match, they still win. Rosita is also college-scouted and named most valuable player. Vinny substitutes for South Africa, thanks to Protasia, helping them win the gold.
Mal shows Vinny he scouted him as a child. With his confidence returned, Vinny helps to motivate the next year's team.
