PARIS, France — 13 July 2026, Thailand’s women’s football team made history by winning the bronze medal at the Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup 2026 in Paris after advancing to the Division 1 bronze-medal match, where they defeated Slovakia in a penalty shootout following an exhilarating 4-4 draw in regulation time.
In addition to their third-place finish, the Thai women’s football team received two special tournament honours: the Most Unified Team Award and the Soccerex Coaches’ Coach Award.
The Special Olympics Unified Football competition provides a platform where athletes with intellectual disabilities, known as Special Athletes, compete alongside teammates without intellectual disabilities, known as Unified Partners, on the same team. The format showcases the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities while promoting equal participation, teamwork and inclusion both on and off the pitch.
Thailand’s historic seven-a-side women’s squad featured:
• Yatika Watchawong – Unified Team Co-Captain (Special Athlete)
• Kewalin Thamniyom – Special Athlete
• Piyamart Huajaipeth – Special Athlete
• Siriwimol Saetao – Special Athlete
• Saithan Tina – Special Athlete
• Aekchittra Khongtako – Goalkeeper (Special Athlete)
• Thidathip Pankaeo – Unified Team Co-Captain (Unified Partner)
• Natthatida Somchart – Unified Partner
• Noppakao Pornpipat – Unified Partner
• Saowapark Narksanit – Unified Partner
The team was coached by head coach Chownee Phanlert and coach Kanya Sahree, with Dr. Petai Sopasin serving as team physician, Chuchai Angkabkaew as head of delegation, and Dr. Rittirong Intrachinda as team director.
Held every two years by Special Olympics International, the Unified Football World Cup aims to provide people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to develop their skills and showcase their abilities on the international stage while encouraging greater social acceptance and inclusion.
The 2026 tournament marked several historic milestones for Thailand’s intellectual disability sports community. Thailand was the only women’s team from the Asia-Pacific region to compete in this edition of the World Cup and went on to finish third, becoming one of the world’s top three unified women’s football teams.
Thailand was also the only nation to receive both special awards:
1. Most Unified Team Award, recognising the team that best demonstrated inclusion through meaningful participation on and off the pitch.
2. Soccerex Coaches’ Coach Award, recognising coaches who inspired their teams through leadership, knowledge and a passion for the game.
The women’s seven-a-side Division 1 title was won by Guatemala, with Costa Rica finishing second and Thailand taking bronze. In the men’s 11-a-side competition, Libya claimed the title ahead of Jamaica, while Paraguay finished third. Paraguay will host the 2028 Special Olympics Unified Football World Cup.
