Football is one of the key team sports within the Virtus programme, offering opportunities for athletes with an intellectual impairment to compete in both outdoor (football) and indoor (futsal) formats.
Virtus manages the eligibility of athletes wishing to participate in the sport. The organisation delivers world and regional competitions, including Championships and tournaments, providing structured international competition pathways for athletes.
Athletes interested in competing at a high level should first contact their National Federation, which can provide information on selection processes, training, and competition opportunities.
The sport is managed by the Virtus Football and Futsal Committee.
History
Football has been part of the Virtus sport programme since its early development, reflecting its global popularity and accessibility.
It featured in the ‘World Games for Athletes with an Intellectual Disability’ and continues to be included across all editions of the Global Games, held every four years. Futsal has also been developed within the Virtus framework as a complementary indoor format of the sport, increasing participation opportunities.
Virtus continues to expand competition opportunities and strengthen pathways for athletes in both football and futsal worldwide.
Rules and Regulations
All competitions are conducted in accordance with FIFA rules for football and futsal.
Adaptations may be applied where necessary to support athletes with an intellectual impairment, ensuring fair and inclusive competition while maintaining the integrity of the sport.
Full details of sport-specific rules and classification processes can be found in the official Virtus sport specifications.
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Rankings
Virtus Football/Futsal Committee
- Chairperson – John Ball (GBR)
- Assistant Chairperson – Göran Engström (SWE)
- South America – vacancy
- Europe – Alexandre Steux (FRA)
- Europe – Sofie Gistafsson (SWE)
- Africa – vacancy
- Asia – Naoki Tsushima (JPN)
Virtus is the brand name of the International Sports Federation for athletes with intellectual impairment and is a founding member of the International Paralympic Committee. Registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in the UK (1173901)
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