Overview
Paris will host the 3rd edition of the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup in 2026, marking the first time the event is held outside the United States. The tournament will bring together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities, known as Unified partners, to compete for the title of Unified Football World Cup champions.
Host details
Special Olympics International and Special Olympics France finalized the hosting agreement for the 2026 World Cup. The event will take place in Paris from 5 to 11 July 2026, featuring 24 teams (12 men’s and 12 women’s) comprised of 324 players and 48 coaches, with an anticipated 10,000 spectators.
Historical context
The first two editions were held in the United States: Chicago in 2018 and Detroit in 2022. France will become the host nation for the first time an International Special Olympics event is held there.
Significance
With strong support from French public authorities and the French football community, the event offers a platform to showcase the inclusive power of sport. Football, being Special Olympics’ most popular team sport and the world’s most popular sport, serves as a powerful demonstration of athletes with and without intellectual disabilities competing together.
Participation and scale
Across all Special Olympics regions, more than 450,000 athletes participate in football. In France alone, over 1,470 footballers and Unified partners are involved in the program.
“Football is the best way to showcase athletes with and without intellectual disabilities playing together.”
Author's summary: Paris 2026 will illustrate inclusive sport at a global scale, uniting 24 teams, 324 players, and thousands of fans to celebrate Unified football.