Oranje Para-Voetbaldag: Where Inclusive Football Belongs at the Highest Level
Oranje Para-Voetbaldag: Where Inclusive Football Belongs at the Highest Level
Together, we are building a game where every player counts.
On 8 February 2026, the KNVB Campus in Zeist - the heart and home of Dutch football and the Royal Dutch Football Association - hosted the annual Oranje Para-Voetbaldag event, bringing together more than 100 players from the national teams of Amputee Football, Blind Football, Cerebral Palsy Football and Deaf Futsal.
Supported by KNVB coaches and volunteers, players trained in an inclusive, high-quality environment designed to help every athlete reach their full potential. The Oranje Para-Voetbaldag is a special training day organised by the KNVB for para-football players from across the Netherlands with the main purpose to inspire, develop and connect players with disabilities by giving them an opportunity to train and play in an elite football environment.
The KNVB organises six Oranje Para - Voetbaldagen each football season: five take place at the KNVB Campus in Zeist, and one is hosted at a local grassroots club. Traditionally, the final Oranje Para - Voetbaldag of the season is organised as a full weekend, featuring open training sessions with the national teams and friendly matches. Many players in Cerebral Palsy Football and Deaf Futsal train during the week in regular football teams, while some also play in pan-disability teams as part of the club structure. By bringing players together six times per year, they experience what it means to train with teammates who share similar challenges. In Amputee Football, a strong sense of community is actively encouraged. In Blind Football, an open-group approach has been introduced, focusing not only on players but also on inspiring coaches and encouraging knowledge exchange, so that clubs gradually adopt shared terminology, methods and vision.
As a recurring annual initiative, the Oranje Para - Voetbaldag aims to connect at least 100 new children with disabilities to para-football each year. In the longer term, the organisers plan to expand into additional disciplines such as Powerchair Football, which does not yet have a national team. Increasing awareness of para-football remains a key priority, ensuring more children know about these opportunities, can start playing, and can dream of wearing the national team shirt. Hosting the Oranje Para - Voetbaldag at the KNVB Campus in Zeist also sends a powerful message: para-footballers belong at the highest level of the game. This approach helps change perceptions and clearly demonstrates that inclusion is a core value of Dutch football.
For the organisers, the success of the final Oranje Para - Weekend of the season is always a special moment. Each year, the aim is to introduce something new or shine a light on a different aspect of para-football, while also inspiring neighbouring countries to further embrace inclusive football. One moment that left a lasting impression was the national anthem before the Netherlands - Germany Deaf match. The way the players seamlessly translated the lyrics into sign language was incredibly powerful and unforgettable. Reflecting on the importance of impactful and powerful initiatives like the Oranje Para - Voetbaldag, the organisers share a clear message:
“Para-football matters because everyone deserves the chance to play, to belong, and to dream. Football is the world’s most played and most loved sport, connecting people across cultures and communities, and everyone should have the opportunity to be part of it. Initiatives like this help make football truly inclusive for all abilities. Together, we are building a game where every player counts.”
