The participation of 12 young football players with intellectual disabilities in this competition is a testament to the commitment to social inclusion, the empowerment of people with disabilities, and the promotion of equal opportunities.

Minister of Health and Social Protection, Prof. Evis Sala, together with the Vice President of the Albanian Football Association, Geri Çipi, and AFA Executive Committee member Blendi Fevziu, visited the national team during its latest training session ahead of its departure for the United States of America.

In conversations with the players and their parents, Minister Sala praised this historic moment for inclusive sports in Albania, emphasizing that the Albanian Government is developing policies that go beyond financial support by creating real opportunities for participation in education, employment, culture, and sports.

“For the first time, Albania is participating in the Genuine Cup with a team of young players with disabilities. This is a sporting achievement, but above all, it is a victory for inclusion. Our policies aim to ensure that every person with disabilities has greater opportunities to learn, work, participate in sports, and be an active part of the country’s life,” Minister Sala stated.

Minister Sala thanked the Albanian Football Association, the organization “National Club of Parents of Children with ASD & PAK / Autism Speaks,” the coaches, parents, and all the structures involved in the realization of this initiative.

AFA Vice President Geri Çipi highlighted the importance of interinstitutional cooperation in promoting the inclusion and integration of people with disabilities through sports.

“This is a clear message that football is inclusive, allowing these individuals to feel equal to everyone else and to create and pursue a normal activity just like all of us,” Çipi said.

Meanwhile, AFA Executive Committee member Blendi Fevziu thanked all the institutions and structures that made Albania’s participation possible, praising the inspiring example these young people set by overcoming challenges through sport.

“This demonstrates, first and foremost, that nothing in life is impossible and that anything can be achieved. It also shows that football is a sport for everyone — from those who train daily at the professional level, to amateur players, and to these young people who have faced challenges in life and are working to overcome them through football,” Fevziu said.

Participation in the “Genuine Cup 2026” is the result of ongoing interinstitutional cooperation and a commitment to implementing policies that promote inclusion, integration, and the empowerment of people with disabilities.

By expanding community-based services and improving access to education, rehabilitation, employment, and social activities, the initiative seeks to ensure equal opportunities and provide every individual with the conditions needed to reach their full potential and actively participate in society.

/sm/