Harri's Story - Premier League Kicks & the Street Child World Cup
Before Premier League Kicks became such an important part of Harri Stevens’ life, managing his behaviour and emotions could be difficult. In particular, Harri struggled with anger. Football was something he loved, but even on the pitch his emotions could sometimes get the better of him.
Harri began attending Swansea City AFC Foundation’s Premier League Kicks sessions and gradually found much more than somewhere to play football. He found an environment where he could enjoy himself with his friends, build relationships with people he trusted and learn to manage his emotions in a more positive way.
Harri has spoken openly about the change himself. When he was 12, he explained that he used to become angry while playing football, but that working with Youth Engagement Manager Craig Richards and the Foundation coaches helped him to feel happier and deal with those emotions differently.
That support became increasingly important as Harri grew up. Kicks gave him consistency and something positive to focus on. Rather than simply being a football session he attended each week, it became an important part of his life and development. The relationships he built through the programme helped him work on his anger, improve his behaviour and make more positive choices.
Looking back, Harri recognises that things could have been very different. He believes that without Kicks and the opportunities that came with it, he could have continued down a path that would have led him into trouble.
His progress was already clear in 2022. After around two years of attending Kicks, Harri was selected as Swansea City AFC Foundation’s Premier League Kicks Local Legend, recognising his attitude, passion for football and personal development both on and off the pitch.
Read more about Harri's award HERE
But that recognition wasn't the end of Harri's story. The relationships he had built, and the progress he continued to make, would eventually lead to an opportunity far beyond anything he had experienced through Kicks before.
Four years after becoming a Premier League Kicks Local Legend, Harri’s journey took him thousands of miles from home. In 2026, he was selected as one of the young people representing Wales at the Street Child World Cup in Mexico City, with Swansea City AFC Foundation becoming the first organisation to represent Wales at the tournament.
For Harri, travelling to Mexico was about far more than playing football. It was the culmination of years of progress and an opportunity that gave him something significant to work towards.
The Street Child World Cup brought together young people from countries around the world through football, art and advocacy. Alongside representing Wales on the pitch, participants were given opportunities to experience another culture, build friendships, develop their confidence and have their voices heard.
For a young person who had previously struggled with anger and managing his behaviour, being selected to represent his country also carried a much deeper significance. It gave Harri a reason to stay focused on the progress he had made and demonstrated what could become possible when his energy was channelled positively.
“Opportunities like Mexico has kept Harri out of trouble and focused on his behaviour and anger issues.”
Craig Richards
Youth Engagement Manager, Swansea City AFC Foundation
That is perhaps what makes Mexico such an important chapter in Harri’s story. The boy who had once struggled to control his anger through football was now using that same sport to represent Wales on an international stage.
The journey from his local Kicks sessions to Mexico did not happen overnight. It was built through years of showing up, developing relationships, learning to manage his emotions and responding to the support and opportunities around him.
Harri’s story is ultimately not simply about Kicks, nor is it simply about travelling to a World Cup. It is about a young person changing the direction he felt his life was heading in. Kicks gave Harri somewhere to start; the people around him helped him keep moving forward; and Mexico showed just how far that journey could take him.