The football team of FC „Karposhovo“, consisting of athletes with Down syndrome and mild intellectual disabilities, won first place at the Balkan Football Championship for athletes with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities, held from 2 to 4 October 2026 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
The tournament, organized by the Federation for Adapted Physical Activity of Bulgaria (FAPA), featured teams from Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia and Croatia. The matches were played on the artificial-turf pitches at the „Georgi S. Rakovski“ Military Academy in Sofia.
Winning first place is significant recognition of the hard work, dedication and team spirit of the players and coaching staff of FC „Karposhovo“. The success, however, has much broader significance, sending a strong message about the importance of inclusion, equal opportunities and the equal participation of persons with disabilities in sport.
Through the project „Football for All Children“, children and young people with intellectual disabilities are enabled to actively engage in football, develop their abilities and become equal members of the sporting community.
The activities of FC „Karposhovo“ are carried out with the support of the Football Federation of Macedonia (FFM) and the UEFA Foundation for Children, with the aim of promoting inclusion, social integration and the creation of equal opportunities through sport.
The triumph in Sofia is further confirmation that football unites people, breaks down barriers and proves that everyone deserves the opportunity to play, progress and win.
