ALL TEAMS PARTICIPATING
| Team | Country | Member of |
|---|---|---|
| Fundação Benfica Lisbon | Portugal | EFDN |
| Bayer 04 Leverkusen | Germany | EFDN |
| Fundación Alcoraz Huesca | Spain | EFDN |
| Fundación Levante | Spain | EFDN |
| Werder Bremen | Germany | EFDN |
| NAC Breda | Netherlands | EFDN |
| FC Rheinsüd Köln | Germany | EFDN |
| Juventus FC | Italy | EFDN |
| Arsenal FC North London Utd | England | EFDN |
| SV Zulte-Waregem | Belgium | RBFA |
| KV Mechelen | Belgium | RBFA |
| Club Brugge | Belgium | RBFA |
| KV Kester-Gooik | Belgium | RBFA |
| Special Devils & Flames A | Belgium | Special Olympics Belgium/RBFA |
| Special Devils & Flames B | Belgium | Special Olympics Belgium/RBFA |
| Special Devils & Flames C | Belgium | Special Olympics Belgium/RBFA |
| SO Luxembourg | Luxembourg | Special Olympics Europe |
| SO France | France | Special Olympics Europe |
| SO Denmark | Denmark | Special Olympics Europe |
| SO Poland | Poland | Special Olympics Europe |
| SO Isle of Man | Isle of Man | Special Olympics Europe |
| SO Italy | Italy | Special Olympics Europe |
Get to know the EFDN teams
FUNDACAO BENFICA
The Adapted Football Team of the Fundação Benfica brings together young individuals from various institutions, including orphanages and special education schools across Portugal. These remarkable youths are part of the Fundação Benfica’s Adapted Football Project, which not only focuses on developing their football skills but also integrates them into employability and volunteering programs. The aim is to enhance their self-confidence and facilitate their transition into the job market, empowering them to build a brighter future.
BAYER 04 LEVERKUSEN
Since the last special Champions League tournament in Breda, few things has happened and changed in our Simply Football team. We’ve had the pleasure of welcoming new participants to our team who share an interest in football. And we also welcomed a new coach. Additionally, the core of the team has been held together and developed further. The team spirit and unity continue to grow stronger. These qualities are reinforced in every training session and through our weekly gatherings on the football field. Furthermore, the team has had the opportunity to participate in various tournaments, friendly matches, and other group activities, allowing us to grow together as a team athletically as well. The progress of the players is evident in every training session and game, which is rewarding for the coaching staff to observe.
SD Huesca – Fundación Alcoraz
This is their seventh season, and they will play in LaLiga Genuine with the aim of growing as individuals and enjoying football as a family.
The team faces this trip to Ghent with the desire to meet other players from other countries and not to compete, because the team has in mind that we have to enjoy before competing because otherwise, our team would not make sense.
Also, in this tournament many are new to the team, so for us it is a growth for the club to be able to give these people the opportunity.
Werder Bremen
The inclusive football team, the ‘Werder Youngstars’, has now been in existence for over 10 years. More than 100 children with disabilities now take to the pitch on two training days a week. As well as taking part in many international tournaments, we organise our own inclusive league with the Bremen Football Association, in which teams from all over northern Germany regularly take part.
NAC BREDA
Since mid-2015, the TSC G-Toppers have been a significant enrichment at the football club TSC, “because there should be a place for all target groups at our beautiful TSC,” said Hermann-Otto. Now, 8 of these players have the opportunity to represent NAC Breda in the Special Champions League. The TSC G-Toppers have once again shown their best side this season, and the numbers don’t lie. With 7 victories and an undefeated status, they proudly sit at the top. A goal difference of +57 demonstrates that the scoring ability of our TSC G-Toppers is very high.
FC Rheinsüd Köln
The Inclusion team of FC Rheinsüd Köln, hailing from the vibrant German city of Cologne, is set to make its debut on an international stage. For the first time, they will participate in the prestigious Special Champions League, a tournament that promotes inclusivity and sportsmanship for athletes with disabilities. The team’s participation in this tournament highlights their dedication to promoting diversity and inclusion through football, and they are eager to showcase their skills and spirit in this remarkable competition.
FUNDACION LEVANTE
Levante UD EDI (Football School for people with Intellectual Disabilities) was created in 2012 with the aim of promoting a sport that was accessible to all people, regardless of their characteristics and needs. Currently, there are a total of 170 male and female players, between 5 and 57 years old and with a wide range of disabilities.
The team we are taking to Leverkusen to play the Special Champions League is different from the one in Lisbon. There are 8 players that we wanted to reward for their commitment and good behaviour during this season. We train two days a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays, for 1 hour and a half. Not all the players are from the same group during the season, but they will train together during the months of April and May. These 8 players will have their first international experience with the tournament.
Juventus ONE
Juventus ONE is Juventus sport and social inclusion project born in 2017 to favour inclusion of people with cognitive-relational disabilities through sport.
On sport level, it is making over 87 players with cognitive disabilities and/or mental illness. Team members are subdivided based upon their degree of disability and technical level in four homogenous categories led by both coaches and educators to respect sports objectives and the social dimension.
Since his debut, Juventus ONE teams has been participated in the Italian dedicated tournament organized by the F.I.G.C.
From 2021/22 sport season we are participating also in Special Olympics regional tournament.
Beyond football, Juventus ONE manage, as well Juventus,the educational ludic project Gioca con Me, in this case to facilitate access to football children with cognitive, relational and mental disability.
NORTH LONDON UNITED
North London United, in partnership with Arsenal FC, is a community-based football club for young people with Down syndrome (DS).
We run weekly training sessions that provide opportunities for young people with DS to participate in football activities that help to develop their skills and technique, introduce them to meeting new people, and encourage a physical and healthier lifestyle.
We have played in 3 UK National Down syndrome football festivals.