The 'Wall of Disability, Breaking Down on the Ground' Professional Football Federation Holds the Opening Ceremony of the '2026 Integrated Football Team'

*This content was translated by AI.

The Korea Professional Football Federation announced on the 8th that it held the "2026 Korea Professional Football Federation Integrated Football Team Launch Ceremony" at the Seoul City Development Disabled Welfare Center and Boramae Park in Dongjak-gu, Seoul on the 7th.

Integrated soccer is an event in which "special players" with developmental disabilities and "partner players" with non-disabled people play soccer as a team. This aims to improve social awareness of people with developmental disabilities and create a social environment without disability.

The federation has been holding an integrated soccer tournament involving K-League clubs since 2021, and since 2023, it has established and operated the Federation Integrated Football Team through a business agreement with the welfare center.

Officials and athletes from both organizations, including Lee Jong-kwon, head of the Federation's headquarters, Choi Sun-ja, and the ▲ donation delivery ceremony, ▲ sharing the operation status of the integrated soccer team, ▲ taking commemorative photos of the team, and ▲ integrated soccer games.

Captain Song Joon-seok said at the launching ceremony, "Thank you to the officials who participated in the launching ceremony. This year, we will trust and communicate with each other on and off the field, and do our best to show better performance as a team," he said.

This year, there are a total of 20 special players for the unified soccer team. They continue their passion for soccer by participating in training twice a week after work while working in various occupations such as cafe baristas, daycare center childcare helpers, and music instructors.

Meanwhile, the federation plans to continue to support the operation of the integrated soccer team, including support for soccer supplies, joint training, and participation in the tournament. The funds were raised through the "Pay 1% Donation Campaign" in which league members, including league executives and employees, K-League referees, game supervisors, and TSG members, donate 1% of their monthly salaries, and are supported by the operation of the integrated soccer team through the foundation K-League Association.

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*This content was translated by AI.