Gothia Special Olympics Trophy 2025 closes in Gothenburg

The 50th edition of the Gothia Special Olympics Trophy delivered four days of high energy, Including footballWith 25 teams from 16 countries participating in Gothenburg, Sweden, from 16 – 17 July. The event was supported by UPS and SonePar.

Each team played two qualifying matches and four group stage matches in the tournament. After three days of intense competition, the last day contained ten placement matches to determine the final rankings, with the five winning teams bringing the cup home.

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 determining rule of competition is that each athlete must participate in each game, a principle that reflects the core values of Special Olympics.

“I really love the atmosphere and philosophy to give players of all skill levels a chance to perform in every game,” said Teet Alas, 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 for football and dedication is visible at every step. It is a perfect platform for recording for players with idd and also for youth teams. I am so happy that I am affiliated with this event as part of the Special Olympics Technical Team, while I am.”

Photo by Iñaki Esnoola

For some athletes, the 2025 edition was their first chance to prove itself at the Gothia Special Olympics Tournament. Among them, Varel Afandi, a young recruitment of the DKI Jakarta team of Special Olympics Indonesia.

“The games are difficult. But we are so happy to be here, thank you Sweden!” Goes on Varel, who also shared his enthusiasm in confronting teams that they had never played before. “We are looking forward to Germany!” He added.

However, the advantage of the experience went further than being part of the competition. For the 22-year-old Janne Jordaens van Special Olympics BelgiumAlso a first timer in Gothenburg, the tournament was an opportunity to form meaningful connections with fellow athletes and an opportunity for personal growth.

“The match we won against France was unforgettable,” she said. “But more importantly, the friendships we made on and outside the field were.”

Despite losing the final for the bronze medal against Special Olympic Games EstoniaThe Special Olympics Belgium team made great progress in development during the competition and was highly praised by head coaches.

Photo by Iñaki Esnoola

Special Olympics and Gothia Cup have been working together since 2011 to offer players with intellectual handicap The same inclusive experience as other participants in this youth football Tournament, with an increased emphasis on facilitating the meeting between young people from different countries and cultures.

Male, female and mixed teams are all welcome in the tournament, provided that the organizers can guarantee an equal skill level for participating teams.

Since its foundation, more than 300 teams from 50 countries have participated in the competition, originally called the ‘Kim Källström -Trophy’, and later renamed the Gothia Special Olympics Trophy.

The dedicated attempt to offer a high -quality competition for everyone, made possible by various important partners, including SKF, SonePar and UPS, makes the Gothia Special Olympics Trophy one of the most anticipated annual football events in Europe and Erazia.