SO Team BC 2026 Training Squad welcomes SOBC’s first all-female soccer team
For the first time ever, Special Olympics BC will proudly send an all-female soccer team to the national stage at the 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games in Medicine Hat!
Made up of talented athletes from all corners of the province, this Special Olympics BC team will take on other all-female soccer teams from across the country.
This team will join the rest of the Special Olympics Team BC 2026 Training Squad, which is comprised of 205 athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities, 73 volunteer coaches, and 18 mission staff, from more than 42 communities across British Columbia.
Special Olympics Team BC selection is based on the number and type spots given to our Chapter by National Games organizers, and on national and provincial sport selection policies and development plans.
As part of sport growth and development planning, Special Olympics International has been introducing more gender-specific divisions at higher levels of competition. The goal is to open opportunities for more athletes to be interested in joining local programs and to experience the joy, friendship, and pride that comes with being part of a major Provincial, National, or World Games.
Because many of SOBC’s soccer programs are in small and mid-sized communities, it can be challenging to run both a co-ed and an all-female soccer division at Special Olympics BC Games. Instead of a single team advancing to National Games, female soccer players from all Regions across the province were considered as part of the SO Team BC 2026 Training Squad women’s soccer team selection process.
To be considered, female athletes had to have played soccer in the 2024/25 program season and take part in their respective Regional Qualifier. The process was similar for coach selection. Team selection was led by an external consultant and included applications, endorsements, and skill assessments.
Athletes who had already earned a spot on the Special Olympics Team BC 2026 Training Squad through their team’s performance at the 2025 Special Olympics BC Summer Games were not eligible for this roster. This helped ensure more athletes have the fun and meaningful opportunity to be part of the National Games experience.
This is a great chance for these athletes to take their game to the next level. They get to learn new skills, gain confidence, and be part of a supportive team environment with other women who love the sport.
Special Olympics BC extends heartfelt thanks to viaSport and the BCSPP Provincial Sport Program Development Fund for their generous support of SOBC’s meaningful programs for women and girls in sport. Their impactful contribution will help pave the way and empower women and girls with intellectual disabilities to build confidence, develop skills, and compete with pride.
Congratulations to the first all-female soccer team in Special Olympics BC history! We’re excited you have joined the Special Olympics Team BC 2026 Training Squad and can’t wait to see your skills in action.