Deo is a 14-year-old boy from Zimbabwe who is highly protective of his older brother. He loves soccer and relies on his resourcefulness to keep himself and his brother safe when violence forces them to leave their village. He frequently trusts the people he meets along the way, though his lack of worldly experience sometimes puts them at risk.

Innocent is Deo's 24-year-old older brother. He has an unspecified developmental disability that makes him reliant on specific routines and the use of sensory items like his Bix-box and radio. He memorizes numbers easily and trusts people readily, increasing his reliance on Deo during their travels.

Commander Jesus is a violent, ruthless soldier working for the Zimbabwean government. He uses the pretense of hunting political dissidents to terrorize and exert social control over the citizens of Gutu. He demands food and absolute obedience from the villagers.

Salie, also known as Solomon Davids, is a South African street soccer coach from Hanover Park. Having overcome his own past involvement with gangs and prison, he recruits unhoused youth to play in the Street Soccer World Cup, providing them with lodging and support.

Amai is Deo and Innocent's mother and a schoolteacher in Gutu. She attempts to provide for her village by corresponding with an American church to secure food aid. She is fiercely protective of her children and attempts to shield them from the invading soldiers.

Grandpa Longdrop, born Dixon Nyandoro, is Deo and Innocent's grandfather and a former army sergeant. He fought in the liberation war and considers himself a patriotic supporter of the president. He crafted the handmade soccer ball that Deo carries.

Samuel is Deo and Innocent's father. He works as a trucker in South Africa and does not live with the family in Zimbabwe. Deo has very few memories of him, but his existence provides a potential destination for the boys.

Captain Washington is a policeman living in the town of Bikita. He is a sympathetic ally who previously had a romantic relationship with Amai. He uses his connections to secure transport for Deo and Innocent when political youth groups threaten them.

Mai Maria is a physically imposing woman who organizes border crossings over the Limpopo River into South Africa. While she initially frightens Deo, she softens when she learns of their connection to Captain Washington and facilitates their passage in exchange for their shoes and money.

Lennox is a brave guide who works for Mai Maria. He leads refugees across the dangerous Limpopo River and through a wild game reserve, instructing them on how to avoid crocodiles, violent gangs, and wild animals before returning to Zimbabwe alone.

Patson is a young boy with one leg who uses crutches to walk and play soccer. He travels with his father and joins Deo and Innocent during their treacherous crossing of the Limpopo River.

Philani is a young man working on the Flying Tomato Farm alongside his uncle. He takes advantage of Deo's lack of experience with South African currency, promising lucrative work in Johannesburg to secure a free taxi ride for himself.

Benjamin is Philani's uncle and a fellow worker at the Flying Tomato Farm. He keeps his nephew's wages, prompting Philani to look for other ways to travel to Johannesburg.

Foreman Gerber runs the Flying Tomato Farm. He exploits refugee labor by paying extremely low wages, knowing the workers cannot complain without risking deportation. He refuses to employ Patson due to his missing leg.

Gawalia is a Zimbabwean refugee raising two young children in a makeshift shelter inside a concrete bridge. He works at a small store and kindly offers Deo and Innocent a place to stay in exchange for childcare.

Tsepo is one of Gawalia's young children. He stays in the shelter during the day and is watched over by Deo and Innocent.

Rasta is Gawalia's other young child, who receives childcare from Deo and Innocent while the adults work in the township.

Angel is a sex worker and a refugee sharing the bridge shelter with Gawalia and the others. She is supportive of Deo and Innocent, offering to use her cell phone to call the brothers' father.

Catarina is a restaurant worker who lives in the bridge shelter. She brings home leftovers from her job to feed the group and is engaged to Rais Sewika.

Rais is a musician and refugee living in the bridge shelter. He is engaged to Catarina and forms part of the supportive community that takes in Deo and Innocent.

Ahmed is a Somali refugee who runs a small spaza shop in Alexandra Township. He employs Gawalia and faces violent xenophobic attacks from the local residents.

T-Jay is a South African teenager from Steinkopf who ran away from home to find his father and ended up on the streets. Initially hostile toward the refugee players on his soccer team, he slowly learns to connect with them and becomes a staunch defender of his teammates.

Keelan is a refugee from Kenya who fled to South Africa after her father was killed. She plays on the street soccer team and hopes to earn enough money to bring her baby sister to Cape Town. She offers Deo late-night companionship when he struggles to sleep.

Tom is the manager, doctor, physical therapist, and part-time psychologist for the street soccer team. He helps Salie support the players both physically and emotionally.

Aziz is a boy waiting with his family to cross the border into South Africa. He invites Deo and Innocent to stay with his family to protect them from robbers after their truck driver abandons them.

Javu is one of Deo's childhood friends from Gutu. He plays in the village soccer matches.

Lola is another of Deo's friends and soccer teammates from his home village.

Bhuku is a village child and friend of Deo who plays soccer with him before the violence erupts.

Shadrack is a childhood friend of Deo who lives in the village of Gutu.

Pelo, also known as Pelo the Buster, is a young boy who plays soccer with Deo in their home village.

Mujuru is a boy waiting at the Beitbridge border crossing who joins Deo's soccer game.

Sinbaba is one of the children stranded at the border who bonds with Deo over soccer.

Fantan is another boy waiting at the border who joins the soccer match to pass the time.

Godfast is a fellow Zimbabwean refugee who plays on the street soccer team in Cape Town.

Ernesto is a refugee from Mozambique who plays on Salie's street soccer team in Cape Town.

Jacko is one of the young players recruited by Salie for the street soccer tournament.

Alfabeto is a child playing on the street soccer team who trains for the international tournament.

Desmond Tutu is an Anglican Bishop and prominent political figure who opens the tournament. He is a real-life historical figure included to ground the story in a realistic context.