2026 Special Olympics Ontario is proud to announce that it has been selected to represent North America at the upcoming 2026 Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup to be hosted in Paris, France this July. Special Olympics Ontario’s Unified World Cup Team features an inspiring group of youth athletes who will represent their schools, communities, province, and Canada on the international stage.
France will host the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup for the first time, welcoming teams to Paris for the third edition of the tournament. Taking place July 6-11, matches will be held across venues in the heart of the city. The event will feature 24 teams -12 men’s and 12 women’s – from 24 countries, made up of athletes with intellectual disabilities and Unified partners (athletes without intellectual disabilities), all competing for their country.
Each member of the team began their journey through a Special Olympics Ontario Unified Champion Schools Program, a program that brings students with and without intellectual disabilities together through sport and youth leadership. Their selection to the World Cup Team reflects not only athletic ability, but a strong commitment to inclusion, teamwork, and community leadership.
Team Canada Roster
Samantha Hollingsworth, Whitby
Karissa Flemington, Ajax
Spring Ding, Toronto
Rae’Anna, Knight, Ajax
Yazmine Wilson-Daponte, Shelburne
Harley Moon, Napanee
Taisah Banks, Oshawa
Lydia Kirupa, Ajax
Makayla Mailhot, Whitby
Randyll Strongman, Toronto
Amran Tadele, Markham
Amanda Morra, Coach, Whitby
Jennifer Kil, Coach, Toronto
Kaitlin Ireland, Coach, Ajax
“These athletes represent the very best of sport.” said Cody Jansma, CEO of Special Olympics Ontario. “They are youth leaders who have grown through their school communities and local programs and now have the opportunity to represent Ontario and Canada on the world stage. We could not be prouder.”
Special Olympics Ontario is especially proud that this roster is a Unified Women’s Team, continuing the incredible momentum and growing visibility of women’s soccer while showcasing the power of inclusion through sport. Made up of players 23 years of age and under, the team brings together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities competing side by side on the world stage. Canada will be one of 12 countries sending women’s teams to the World Cup. The event is supported by the French Football Federation and Paris FC, alongside Special Olympics International, and while we may be a little biased, we think this just might be the best World Cup of the year.
This team highlights the strength of Special Olympics across Ontario. Players and coaches are proudly part of Unified Champion School Programs from the Durham District School Board, Toronto District School Board, Limestone District School Board, and Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board, as well as community‑based Special Olympics Programs in the Durham Region, Toronto, and South Simcoe, demonstrating the powerful pathway that exists between school and community sport. The team also proudly includes alumni of the Toronto FC Unified Team, reflecting the deep roots of inclusive soccer across Ontario. The team’s composition reflects years of collaboration between educators, coaches, community volunteers, and families who believe in inclusive sport as a platform for opportunity and leadership.
As the team prepares for the World Cup, they carry with them the pride of their classrooms, communities, and peers across the province, embodying what inclusion looks like in action. More details on the roster, training journey, and World Cup schedule will be shared in the coming months.
At the official Draw Ceremony hosted on April 16 at the headquarters of the French Football Federation, Canada was placed in Women’s Group C, where they will compete against Slovakia, Egypt, and Hong Kong in group‑stage play. The draw marked an important milestone on the road to Paris, setting the stage for an exciting and highly competitive Unified Women’s tournament as teams from around the world prepare to take the pitch this July.
For more information on the Unified World Cup visit: Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup Paris 2026