Special Olympics Thailand builds inclusion through football

The Unified Football World Cup Paris 2026 proved to be a landmark event for Special Olympics Thailand as their women's football team demonstrated on and off the field that sport is a powerful tool for creating a legacy of inclusion and positive change. By Niamh Nelson The Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup was about more than justfootballfor the Special Olympics Thailand Women's Football Team.

Led by Coach Chownee Phanlert, athletes and Unified partners came together to build trust, improve skills, and form lasting friendships both on and off the pitch. In the lead up to the Cup, Special Olympics Thailand and its partners utilized Sport for Development practices, as part of the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals, using sport as a catalyst for social inclusion, education, health, and community development.

Through more than 35 years of partnership with Special Olympics Thailand and the Sports Authority of Thailand, Special Olympics Thailand Women's Football Team set a precedent in France, and now, for the world that sport is a powerful tool for lasting inclusion. Special Olympics Thailand also won the women's Most Unified Team Award which celebrated the men's and women's teams that best brought inclusion to life through meaningful participation on and off the pitch.

Watch and learn how Special Olympics Thailand set their footballers up for success both through sport and far beyond: From Sport Development to Sport for Development: Thailand Building Inclusion Through Sport on YouTube Key Links View the original article and video on specialolympics. org Watch Special Olympics Thailand Prepare for the Unified Football World Cup