FIFA shares Soccability Canada success.

In 2023 an email from a former colleague in the UK seemed innocent enough. Jeff Davis was assisting FIFA with a disability football guide and wanted to know if he could put some one in touch from FIFA to learn more about the work of Soccability Canada.

Of course, the answer was yes, it’s not often if ever that you get a chance to work with the football worlds governing body. A few months later an email landed in the inbox with a form asking specific questions about program development and the organization in general. Then in late 2024 a follow-up email asking for a thorough review of the draft version before it was published publicly.On February 17th FIFA launched their first ever Disability Football Toolkit. For Soccability Canada the fact we have a picture of our blind soccer players on page 8, and then a full page on Soccability Canada on page 53 was overwhelming.

‘Football unites the world, and FIFA’s role is to be a vehicle for social inclusion and economic development across the planet. This includes the development of all disciplines of disability football,' FIFA President Gianni Infantino said. 'Indeed, in many parts of the world, there is still a lack of opportunity for disabled people to play and enjoy football, and this is why FIFA is constantly working to ensure that all disabled people have the opportunity to play football, no matter where they come from or where they live.’

For organizations like ours that work solely in disability soccer a guide such as this is a great endorsement of our work. It demonstrates the global reach of DISABILITY football as a branch of mainstream football. While many national associations (too many to mention) constantly work in disability soccer and some confederations (UEFA is hands down the leader), it is reassuring to see that FIFA is now working to promote wider inclusion and accessibility.

It is important to note that FIFA have addressed accessibility at the most recent Men’s and Women’s World Cups, meaning that stadia access (parking, washrooms, communications etc.) are accessible and given fantastic attention.

This guide will be promoted by Soccability Canada as part of our ongoing workshops and as an excellent resource for new and existing programs.

Download the FIFA Disability Football Kit HERE