Photo by Iñaki Esnaola
The 50th edition of the Gothia Special Olympics Trophy delivered four days of high-energy, inclusive football, with 25 teams from 16 nations competing in Gothenburg, Sweden, from 16 – 17 July. The event was supported by UPS and Sonepar.
Each team played two qualification matches and four group-stage games across the tournament. After three days of intense competition, the final day featured ten placement matches to determine final rankings, with the five winning teams bringing home the cup.
Group Winners, Gothia Special Olympics Trophy 2025
Group 1: Special Olympics Uzbekistan
Group 2: Special Olympics Bharat
Group 3: Special Olympics Germany 1
Group 4: Special Olympics Hong Kong
Group 5: Special Olympics Germany 2
Full Results Available
A defining rule of the competition is that every athlete must participate in every game, a principle that reflects the core values of Special Olympics.
“I really love the atmosphere and the philosophy of giving players of all ability levels a chance to perform in every game,” said Teet Allas, grassroots manager for the Estonian Football Association and a former Gothia Cup player.
“The attitudes of the Special Olympics players and coaches are incredible. Their love to football and commitment is visible on every step. It is a perfect platform for inclusion for players with IDD and for youth teams as well. I’m so glad I joined this event as part of the Special Olympics technical team, especially while I remember my experience as player here, many years ago.”
Photo by Iñaki Esnaola
For some athletes the 2025 edition was their first chance to prove themselves at the Gothia Special Olympics tournament. Among them, Varel Afandi, a young recruit from the team DKI Jakarta of Special Olympics Indonesia.
“The games are difficult. But we are so happy to be here, thank you Sweden!” commented Varel, who also shared his enthusiasm in confronting teams they never had a chance to play against before. “We look forward to Germany!”, he added.
The benefit of the experience, however, went beyond being part of the competition. For 22-year-old Janne Jordaens from Special Olympics Belgium, also a first timer in Gothenburg, the tournament was a chance to form meaningful connections with fellow athletes and an opportunity for personal growth.
“The match we won against France was unforgettable,” she said. “But even more important were the friendships we made on and off the field.”
Despite losing the final for the bronze medal against Special Olympics Estonia, the Special Olympics Belgium team made great progress in development throughout the competition and was highly praised by head coaches.
Photo by Iñaki Esnaola
Special Olympics and Gothia Cup have partnered since 2011 to offer players with intellectual disabilities the same inclusive experience as other participants at this youth football tournament, with heightened emphasis on facilitating the encounter between youths from different countries and cultures.
Male, female, and mixed teams are all welcome to the tournament, provided that the organizers can ensure an equal skill level for participating teams.
Since its inception, more than 300 teams from 50 countries have taken part in the competition, originally called the ‘Kim Källström Trophy,’ and later rebranded as the Gothia Special Olympics Trophy.
The committed effort to provide a high-quality competition for all, made possible by several key partners, including SKF, Sonepar and UPS, makes the Gothia Special Olympics Trophy one of the most-anticipated annual football events in Europe and Eurasia.
