Milan might be best known for its fashion, but it's putting on a pretty good show for the 2009 Homeless World Cup, an event which uses football to help homeless and marginalised people turn their lives around. 

The weather is warm (so warm, in fact, that this writer is now epic-fail lobster red on the body parts she failed to lather with sunscreen), the community spirit is strong, and the football fast and furious. 

The event kicked off in historic Arena Civica in Sempione Park today, with teams hailing from 48 nations spread across the five continents marching into the stadium decked out in team uniforms and-in the case of the Welsh and Japanese-even a dragon costume and kimonos. 

Host nation Italy, which is, coincidentally, the only nation to have won the HWC twice, took on Ghana in the opening match. 

Ghana finished third in the 2008 HWC and again proved their quality, scoring goals in quick succession as the Italians struggled to get into the game. 

They staged a comeback in the second half, but Ghana held on to record a 4-6 victory. 

The other 46 teams played for the rest of the afternoon, with all excited and relieved to get their first match out of the way. 

Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Germany, Brazil, Poland, and Portual looked likely HWC contenders from their opening match forms, with Ireland actually looking even more dangerous after one of their players was sent off for a short time for an overzealous tackle.  

The Australia-Canada match was the second last of the day, with the Street Socceroos waiting patiently in the warm Milan weather and cheering for the other teams, dividing their encouragement equally to diplomatically support both on-field teams. 

The weather was still warm when five o'clock rolled around, but the Street Socceroos were focused and the match up against Canada was even, making for a nail-biting first match. 

The Street Socceroos drew first blood in the first half and the excitement (and relief) at opening the goalscoring campaign was palpable.  

It was short-lived, though, as Canada equalised and then went 1-2 up.  

The Street Socceroos were visibly rattled, but held their nerve and, after some patient build up play, levelled the score at two goals apiece.  

There are no such things as draws in the Homeless World Cup, with matches going to sudden-death penalty shoot outs should the scores be locked at full time.  

It seemed as though the match was heading for a penalty shoot out until a long-range, unlikely shot on goal that looked more like a pass saw the Canadian 'keeper go the wrong way and give the Street Socceroos a 3-2 win. 

The preliminary stage will continue tomorrow, with the Homeless World Cup running until 13 September.