Twenty-four athletes from across the Greater Toronto Area are lacing up for one of the most meaningful fixtures on the soccer calendar. Tomorrow, July 22, the 2026 Toronto FC Unified Exchange Team kicks off its season against the New England Revolution's Unified squad at Gillette Stadium in Boston, with a second match set for BMO Field on August 15.
For the athletes taking the field, it's the payoff for months of training. For the program itself, it's another chapter in a partnership that has grown steadily over the years, one that puts inclusive sport on a stage most fans will never forget.
A Big Year to Take the Field
The timing could not be more fitting. Both host venues, Gillette Stadium and BMO Field, also served as match sites for the FIFA World Cup 2026 this summer, meaning the Unified Exchange Team will compete on fields that hosted the world's biggest tournament in the very same year.
“This program has grown substantially over the years and has been an incredible experience for the athletes and coaches selected to the team,” said Cody Jansma, President & CEO of Special Olympics Ontario. “The matches and surrounding activities are always memorable, and we're so grateful to Toronto FC and Major League Soccer for continuing to provide these opportunities and ensuring a platform to spotlight and encourage inclusiveness and acceptance on a competitive stage.”
What the Unified Exchange Program Is About
At its core, the Unified Exchange Program brings athletes with and without intellectual disabilities together on the same roster. It's Special Olympics Unified Sports in its truest form: shared teammates, shared training, and a shared spotlight. Traveling alongside MLS First Team fixtures and suiting up in authentic adidas kits, the athletes get a taste of professional soccer culture while showing thousands of fans what inclusive sport looks like at its best.
Ahead of the July 22 opener, the team held a full practice and signing session at the BMO Training Ground, with special appearances from Toronto FC General Manager Jason Hernandez and club alumnus Doneil Henry, a send-off that made the moment feel every bit as real as any professional call-up.
Meet the 2026 Roster
Here they are: the athletes who earned their spot on this year's Toronto FC Unified Exchange Team.
#1 Stathis Liamakeros
#2 Pratheep Sayanthan
#3 Owen Gritton
#7 Afaan Fazal
#8 Yuvraj Pannu
#9 Mysha Jeofry
#10 Danny Miller-Kaiser
#11 Christian Ritchie
#12 Rourke Martin
#13 Layton Strongman
#18 Abdalla Mohamed
#19 Usman Alam
#20 Jesse Cook
#25 Faruq Mohammed
#29 Shahrukh Khan
#30 Amelia Brown
#31 Justin Williams
#33 Cole Robert
#34 Rich Matthews
#51 Nathan Graham
Behind them, a coaching and Special Olympics staff team dedicated to making this experience count:
Coaches: Kaitlin Ireland, Amanda Morra, Jordan Nicolaides
Special Olympics Staff: Jason Hussak, Javed Thadani, Dondre Wright
Two Games, Two Countries, One Team
Game 1: July 22, 2026 — Gillette Stadium, Boston, Massachusetts
Game 2: August 15, 2026 — BMO Field, Toronto, Ontario
The New England Revolution's Unified squad is now in its 12th season of competing through Special Olympics Massachusetts, and this year's series marks a genuine international matchup between two clubs based in FIFA World Cup 2026 host cities.
Follow along as the Toronto FC Unified Exchange Team takes on the Revolution twice this summer, first on the road, then in front of a home crowd at BMO Field.