West Asia #FootballForAll Festival 2025 Concludes with Two Days of Inclusive Football
West Asia #FootballForAll Festival 2025 Concludes with Two Days of Inclusive Football
Para Football and the West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) successfully concluded the 2025 #FootballForAll Festival today in Bahrain, marking two days of inclusive football activities held in celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
The final day of the festival brought together participants from Bahrain, Iraq and Jordan for a series of mixed 5v5 games, friendly representative matches and closing activities that highlighted teamwork, respect and cross-country connection. Players demonstrated great enthusiasm and progress following the learning-focused sessions from Day 1, showing how adapted and inclusive football environments can promote confidence, participation and personal growth.
Throughout the festival, coaches and staff took part in workshops on inclusive methodologies, safe session planning and adapted football formats — strengthening their ability to support players with different types of disabilities. Volunteers and organisers worked side by side to ensure a welcoming, enjoyable and safe environment for all.
In the afternoon, teams also returned to their country line-ups for friendly representative matches. Despite competing in separate national teams, players continued to show the same positive connection, friendship and mutual respect demonstrated throughout the festival.
This year’s festival represents another important step in the long-term Para Football × WAFF development programme, launched in 2021 to expand disability-inclusive football across West Asia. The practical sessions, mixed-team activities and knowledge-sharing delivered over the past two days contribute to building sustainable structures within national associations and increasing opportunities for persons with disabilities to engage in football at every level.
Para Football and WAFF extend their gratitude to all players, coaches, volunteers, national associations and local organisers whose dedication made the 2025 festival possible.
Together, we continue working toward a region where every person has the right to play, belong and thrive through football.
