On the fresh green pitches of Parisian stadiums, beyond the beads of sweat and hoarse throats, every pass, tackle and goal celebration will showcase why football remains such a powerful force for inclusion when the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup 2026 kicks off.
The Women’s competition will feature 12 teams of 11 players -six footballers with intellectual disabilities (ID) and five Unified partners without ID. Matches will be played in a fast-paced 7-a-side format, with four footballers and three Unified partners on the pitch at any given time. In the Men’s competition, each of the 12 squads consist of 16 players—nine footballers and seven Unified partners. Matches are played 11-a-side, with six footballers and five Unified partners on the field throughout. The format reflects the different stages of football development across Special Olympics Programs worldwide, while highlighting a shared commitment to growing the game.
Unified Sports brings together footballers with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. They train together, compete, and show up for one another through all the goals and yellow cards.
“This is football at its best, its most authentic. Unified Sports is built on teamwork, commitment, trust. In Paris, Special Olympics footballers and Unified Partners will hit the pitch and show the world what inclusion looks like in motion. They support one another, they learn from one another, they compete as one team, with one shared vision.”
The Road to Paris
The journey to Paris has been years in the making. Building on successful tournaments in Chicago in 2018 and Detroit in 2022, the Unified Football World Cup returns for its third edition, continuing a growing legacy of football development and inclusive opportunities.
GROUPS
MEN'S
Group A: Special Olympics France, Special Olympics Senegal, Special Olympics Jamaica, Special Olympics Brazil
Group B: Special Olympics Spain, Special Olympics Bharat (India), Special Olympics Libya, Special Olympics Ecuador
Group C: Special Olympics Israel, Special Olympics China, Special Olympics UAE, Special Olympics Paraguay
WOMEN'S
Group A: Special Olympics France, Special Olympics Cote d'Ivoire, Special Olympics Thailand, Special Olympics Costa Rica
Group B: Special Olympics Azerbaijan, Special Olympics Namibia, Special Olympics USA, Special Olympics Guatemala
Group C: Special Olympics Slovakia, Special Olympics Egypt, Special Olympics Canada, Special Olympics Hong Kong
The matches will be hosted at the following locations:
● Charléty Stadium – Opening Ceremony on 6 July, Finals and Closing Ceremony on 11 July
● PUC Stadium – Hosting group-stage matches (Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris)
● Dalmasso Stadium (Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris)
● West Stadium (Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris)
For host nation France, the event represents a landmark moment. Special Olympics France currently supports more than 1,600 footballer players, including 1,300 footballers with ID and 300 Unified partners, working alongside 20 certified coaches and hosting 10 football matches each year.
“Welcoming a Special Olympics global event to France for the first time is a proud moment for Special Olympics France. This tournament reflects the hard work and strong commitment by our footballers, coaches, and volunteers, and it strengthens the foundation of inclusive sport across France for years to come with the essential support of the National and Local Governments, the Football Community and our many engaged sponsors,” added Julien Collette, National Director of Special Olympics France.
Beyond the Final Whistle
The action in Paris will extend far beyond matchday. Throughout the week, teams, families and coaches will also come together through Healthy Athletes screenings, Unified Sports Experiences, the Young Athletes program, and the Motor Activity Training Programme (MATP).
The Unified Football World Cup will also be powered by a team beyond the teams. Players will be joined by hundreds of volunteers, officials, and supporters whose dedication will help create an unforgettable week of football.
For Margaret Turley, Special Olympics Ireland athlete and Sargent Shriver Global Messenger, the significance of the tournament reaches far beyond football.
“In Unified Sports, I have seen friendships begin on the pitch and grow far beyond it. Paris will be another reminder that when we play together, we support each other and show the world that everyone belongs in the game.”
And the countdown is on. Soon passes will be threaded through midfield. Crosses will arc into crowded penalty areas. New connections will form between teammates and delegations from different countries and cultures, sharing everything from team songs to dances. As 24 teams take the field, the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup Paris 2026 will demonstrate what becomes possible when everyone has a place.
More information about this event is available on the official webpage.
