The following is an excerpt from sportanddev’s article, “Paris to host 3rd edition of the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup 2026” detailing the upcoming 2026 Unified Football World Cup in Paris and sharing the excitement from sponsors and Special Olympics leadership.
From 5 – 11 July 2026, 24 teams (12 men’s and 12 women’s) made up of 324 players and 48 coaches will descend upon Paris to compete for the cup in front of 10,000 fans.
With the strong support of the French Public Authorities and of the French Football Community, Special Olympics France will have the unique opportunity to highlight the inclusive power of sport during a time when the whole world will be focused on football.
… Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver stated his support for the event, "Paris, France will become the capital of inclusion at the Special Olympics 2026 Unified Football World Cup, where teams will come together under the principle of ‘Living together, playing together’—uniting athletes on the playing field with a collective goal.
France’s deep commitment to harnessing the power of sport to drive inclusion makes Paris the perfect host for this global celebration of unity, resilience, and joy. We are deeply grateful to the French Government and the City of Paris, along with the French Football Federation and Paris FC, for their collaboration in advancing the power of football to build a more inclusive society."
