On May 29, the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games announced that it will feature soccer as one of its 19 team and individual sports. Soccer events will occur from June 20-26, 2026, at the National Sports Center (NSC) in Blaine, MN, a 600-acre multi-sport complex with 52 soccer fields and the official training ground for the Minnesota United FC.
“We are thrilled to welcome the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games to our campus,” said Todd Johnson, executive director of the NSC. “Hosting the USA Games ties in perfectly to our mission of inclusion in sports. These incredible athletes inspire us all and demonstrate the unifying power of competition. We can’t wait to host them in 2026 and are honored to have been selected as a partner.”
Introduced to the Special Olympics in 1986, soccer has emerged as a “standout in the Unified Sports program,” which brings together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on the same teams in U.S. schools and communities, with over 140,000 athletes and Unified partners training and competing in soccer each year.
In the announcement, the 2026 USA Games is also named WonderFold, the manufacturer of stroller wagons, as the official soccer sponsor and former U.S. women’s national soccer team star Ali Krieger as a soccer ambassador.
“Partnering with the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games is a natural fit for us. From school soccer practices to big sporting events, WonderFold is dedicated to making outdoor activities fun and accessible for all families,” said Sabrina Ng, co-founder and managing director of WonderFold. “Our team is excited to support these incredible athletes, and we look forward to cheering them on.”
“Soccer invites athletes of all abilities to develop their skills, build friendships and experience the joy and real rewards of teamwork and competition,“ said Christy Sovereign, CEO of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. “Thanks to our partnerships with the National Sports Center and WonderFold, we’re excited for some spectacular soccer matches that celebrate the abilities of every one of our athletes.”
Soccer is rated one of the top five sports across all seven Special Olympics regions worldwide. At the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, there will be 24 soccer teams of nearly 250 athletes, Unified partners and coaches, with athletes competing across traditional 5v5, Unified 5v5, traditional 7v7, and Unified 7v7 events.
This spring, the USA Games announced basketball as the first official sport and the University of Minnesota RecWell as its designated venue. More sports and their corresponding venues will be announced in the coming months and featured on the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games website.
Image courtesy Special Olympics
