While Scotland supporters continue to dream of seeing Steve Clarke’s side lifting the FIFA World Cup one day, one Scotsman has already experienced football’s greatest prize — not once, but three times.
Adam Reid MBE, has become an inspirational figure through his work with Street Child United Brazil (SCUB), helping disadvantaged young people transform their lives through football, opportunity and hope.
Last week, Adam’s boys’ team, proudly wearing their Luton Town shirts, were crowned 2026 Street Child World Cup champions in Mexico City after a superb 5-2 victory over India in the final. It marked yet another remarkable achievement for the charity, adding to previous tournament triumphs by the girls’ team in Moscow in 2018 and Doha in 2022.
For Adam, however, the victories are about far more than silverware.
From Scotland to Brazil
Hailing from a small fishing village in Fife, Scotland and one-time player for Pittenweem Rovers and Waid FP, Adam moved permanently to Brazil in 1986, and his involvement with Street Child United began ahead of the 2014 Street Child World Cup in Rio de Janeiro, where he chaired the local organising committee before helping establish Street Child United Brazil as an independent charity.
Since then, SCUB has become a lifeline for young people growing up in the Complexo da Penha favela in Rio — an area where many children face poverty, violence, instability and limited opportunities.
Through football, education and community programmes, SCUB offers a safe environment where children can play, learn and develop confidence both on and off the pitch.
Football Changing Lives
The Street Child World Cup is unlike any other football tournament.
Held alongside major international football events, it brings together teams of young people from vulnerable backgrounds across the globe, combining football with activism, cultural exchange and campaigning for children’s rights.
Over six emotional days in Mexico City, the 2026 tournament showcased not only exceptional football, but also courage, resilience and friendship between young people from every continent.
Street Child United’s daily reports from the tournament highlighted stories of players overcoming enormous personal challenges simply to take part. Many participants were travelling abroad for the first time, obtaining passports for the first time and experiencing opportunities they never imagined possible.
Adam described the impact as “life-changing”. “To see girls and boys from such a background get a passport and travel out of the favela for the first time and then around the world is amazing,” he said.
The Brazil team’s journey through the tournament captured the spirit of the competition perfectly. Across the six days there were moments of joy, emotion and unity, as teams bonded through football despite speaking different languages and coming from vastly different cultures.
Luton Town Supporters Trust, Luton Town FC and Street Child United
The relationship between Luton Town FC, the Luton Town Supporters’ Trust and Street Child United began to grow significantly in August 2025, when the club and Trust hosted the Pakistan Street Child Football Team during their visit to the UK.
The initiative included an exhibition match at The Brache against Luton Town’s Community Development Team, alongside interactive coaching and development sessions delivered by the club’s Community Trust. Working in partnership with Muslim Hands and its Maidaan initiative, the project also helped strengthen engagement with Luton’s South Asian community while raising awareness and support for Street Child United’s work around the world.
The visit received a warm welcome from both the club and the wider town, highlighting football’s ability to unite communities and create opportunities for young people from challenging backgrounds.
That connection continued into this year’s Street Child World Cup, where the victorious Brazilian side wore donated Luton Town kits throughout the tournament. Cheered on in Mexico, by Luton Town Supporters’ Trust representative Maryan Broadbent, the team went on to defeat Pakistan in the semi-finals before overcoming India in the final to lift the trophy.
“The boys seemed to think our shirts brought them luck,” Maryan said. “But actually they are just fantastic players.” “The spirit of the tournament is a lesson in how the world should be. Despite the age differences, the varying skill levels and the competition itself, all the teams celebrate together. They are competitive on the pitch, but so joyful with each other both on and off it.”
For The Luton Town Supporters’ Trust, whose identity has long been rooted in community, inclusion and resilience, the story of Street Child United is a powerful reminder of football’s ability to change lives far beyond the professional game.
At a time when football is often dominated by money, transfers and television deals, the scenes from Mexico City showed the sport at its purest: bringing people together, building confidence and giving young people hope for a brighter future.
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For more information on Street Child United
