PARIS TO HOST 3RD EDITION OF THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS UNIFIED FOOTBALL WORLD CUP 2026

PARIS, WASHINGTON DC, 17 NOVEMBER 2025,

Special Olympics International and Special Olympics France have finalized the agreement to host the Special Olympics 2026 Unified Football World Cup. For the first time, France will host a Special Olympics International event with the 3rd edition of the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup to be held in Paris in 2026. The first two editions were held in the United States, in Chicago in 2018 and in Detroit in 2022.

From July 5 to 11, 2026, 24 teams (12 men's and 12 women's) composed of 324 players and 48 coaches will travel to Paris to compete for the cup in front of 10,000 fans.

With the strong support of the French public authorities and the French football community, Special Olympics France will have the unique opportunity to shine a light on the inclusive power of sport at a time when the whole world will be turned towards football.

By far the most popular sport in the world and Special Olympics' most popular team sport, football is the best way to showcase athletes with and without intellectual disabilities who play together. Across all Special Olympics regions, more than 450,000 athletes participate in the sport and more than 1,470 football players and unified partners compete in France alone.

More than hosting unified men's and women's football tournaments, the Paris 2026 stakeholders aim to offer a unique Parisian experience to Special Olympics athletes and coaches.

They are also strongly committed to building a lasting legacy for the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities with the objective, from 2026 to 2030, to create more opportunities for young people to play unified football in grassroots clubs, primary schools and high schools in the Paris region and throughout France.
 
Special Olympics International President TIM SHRIVER expressed his support for the event:
"Paris, France, will become the capital of inclusion at the 2026 Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup, where teams will come together under the principle of 'Live Together, Play Together' – uniting athletes on the field of play with a collective purpose.

"France's deep commitment to harnessing the power of sport to foster 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, as well as the French Football Federation and Paris FC for their collaboration to advance the power of football to build a more inclusive society.”

EMANUELLE DUTRA FERNANDES (Manu), Special Olympics Brazil Athlete and Special Olympics International Board Member, shared her thoughts on the upcoming Cup: 
"Given France's excellence in football, for both men and women, being in Paris for the Unified Football World Cup will be a one-of-a-kind experience. We will show the world that through football, we can be inclusive and overcome obstacles together with determination, love and unity. Inclusion is for everyone!”


PIERRE DEJOUX, President of Special Olympics France, and JACQUES RIVOAL, President of The Local Organising Committee of The Unified Football World Cup Special Olympics Paris 2026, said: 
"We warmly thank Special Olympics International for its trust and all the stakeholders of the event for their support. Since the Rugby World Cup France 2023 and the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, France has been a must-see destination for international sporting events. With the Special Olympics Paris 2026 Football World Cup and as part of the legacy of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the country is becoming a key destination for inclusive sport.

"Through this event, Special Olympics France will continue to work hard to bring together all public authorities, sports entities and private partners committed to building a more inclusive society in France."


On behalf of the State, MRS. MARINA FERRARI, Minister of Sports, Youth and Community Life, announced: 
"For the first time, France will host an international Special Olympics event. The French Government is resolutely committed to making sport a powerful lever for inclusion in society. That's why it's proud to support the Special Olympics Paris 2026 Unified Football World Cup and the legacy it aims to create. This unique event embodies the values of solidarity and respect, values that also define the entire sports movement in France.

For the City of Paris, MRS. ANNE HIDALGO, Mayor of Paris, said: 
"Paris is proud to host the Special Olympics 2026 Unified Football World Cup. After the emotion aroused by the Olympic and Paralympic Games and their incredible popular success, this "Special World Cup" will continue our ambition to host para-sporting events, and will mark a new stage in our commitment to sport open to all. IèmeThe City of Paris is pursuing its accessibility strategy by making its facilities, services and public spaces ever more inclusive and accessible, by training its agents, by developing innovative solutions and by ensuring that everyone can participate fully in the life of the city. The organisation of this World Cup is an opportunity for us to show that Paris remains a united, committed and accessible capital.

For the Greater Paris Agglomeration Community, MR. PATRICK OLLIER, President of the Greater Paris Metropolis, said: 
"In the dynamics of the Paris 2024 Games, the Greater Paris Metropolis is continuing its commitment to a unifying and inclusive sporting legacy by supporting the organization of the Special Olympics 2026 Unified Football World Cup, welcomed for the first time in France! This event is a unique opportunity to promote inclusion through sport in the heart of the Metropolis, to ensure that people with intellectual disabilities are taken into account, and to extend its influence to all 130 municipalities, particularly among young people.

On behalf of the Île-de-France Region, MS VALÉRIE PÉCRESSE, President of the Île-de-France Region, said: 
"After the incredible momentum of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Île-de-France Region is proud to host the Special Olympics 2026 Unified Football World Cup. This event continues the spirit of the Games: a sport that brings people together, breaks down barriers and gives everyone a place on the pitch.

On behalf of the French Football Federation (FFF), MR. PHILIPPE DIALLO, President of the FFF, said: 
"The FFF is proud to support Special Olympics France and to see France host the Special Olympics 2026 Unified Football World Cup. This event demonstrates a shared commitment to inclusive football for all.

For Paris FC, MR. PIERRE FERRACCI, President of Paris FC, said: 
"Paris FC is very proud to participate in the organization of the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup 2026. Inclusion, diversity and openness are at the heart of our club's identity. Welcoming these athletes from all over the world, with or without disabilities, to Paris is a powerful way to show that football can and must be a real driver of equality and respect.