Asunción has been officially named the host city of the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup Asunción 2028.
At the Closing Ceremony of the Unified Football World Cup, the iconic Special Olympics flag was passed from Special Olympics France to Special Olympics Chairman of the Board Timothy Shriver who then presented it to Special Olympics Paraguay. Both teams, France and Paraguay, showed explementary skill and determination this week in Paris.
The momentum and unity ignited in the French capital city will only grow over the next 18 months in anticipation of the first Unified Football World Cup to be held in Latin America.
From 28 February to 4 March 2028, Asunción, Paraguay will welcome hundreds of athletes, families, volunteers, officials, and staff to join Special Olympics to deliver the global inclusive football tournament.
"Representing Paraguay in France and sharing this experience with athletes from around the world has been a dream come true. I am taking away wonderful friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. Knowing that we will welcome the Special Olympics family to our country in 2028 fills us with both excitement and a sense of responsibility. We want to show the world the warmth of our people and demonstrate that Paraguay is ready to be a great host. We look forward to welcoming you with open hearts!"
The event will host a number of non-competition events alongside the Cup. These activities aim to showcase and expand the reach of football in the host country, while engaging partners, sponsors, supporters, and new communities to come, try, and experience Special Olympics programming.
President and Managing Director Claudia Echeverry shared her pride and support for the event, “Paraguay 2028 will be so much more than just a sporting event: it will be a platform to showcase the power of football as Latin America’s universal language and greatest passion, and its ability to change lives for the better, helping build truly inclusive societies.
"Our football players with and without intellectual disabilities deserve to be recognized at a global level for their talent, discipline and leadership. This Cup will allow us to do so, sharing inclusion from Paraguay to the whole world.”
A vibrant city full of culture and vision, supported by the Paraguayan Government, Asunción will be the next step in growing a flourishing football foundation for their Special Olympics program.
Mrs. Leticia Ocampos, First Lady of Paraguay and Patron of Special Olympics Paraguay shared a message of support, "Hosting the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup Asunción 2028 is a great honor that we embrace, reflecting the Government of Paraguay’s commitment to inclusion. We firmly believe that sport is a powerful tool for driving the transformation toward the "Giant Paraguay" we are building, and we are thrilled to welcome you to Asunción.”
Special Olympics President and Chief Executive Officer David Evangelista added: "On behalf of the Special Olympics movement, we are thrilled to announce that after a highly successful Latin American Games in Asunción in 2024, Paraguay will once again show the world what inclusion looks like in motion, by hosting the 2028 Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup. This event will bring together nations from all around the world, using the mobilizing power of football to break down barriers, to build bridges, and to show the world that inclusion is a contact sport. That is, quite simply, the only way forward."
