Inaugural West Asia #FootballForAll Festival

Building upon the successful development project by the West Asian Football Federation and Para Football and the positive involvement of the member associations; together we held the first West Asia #FootballForAll Festival.

A landmark event for a better tomorrow for persons with disabilities in West Asia, inspiring players to dream, believe, and achieve the chance to represent their country. Following a pan-disability format, member associations brought a representative team of players with different disabilities to play together through skills development activities and informal small-sided competition. Players with disabilities deserve to be included in football and this event is an opportunity to kickstart a programme of #FootballForAll.

Day 1: Play - Safe, Fun and Learning

Football themed skills development activities for players to explore both football skills and valuable life skills.

Positive goals - Shooting and saving activities themed around experiencing success and confidence building.
Defending - Tackling and defending activities themed around supporting one another and staying safe.
Playing by the rules - Match play activities themed around understanding the rules of football and respect.
Teamwork - Passing activities themed around communication and interpersonal skills.
Control - Ball control / receiving activities themed around regulating and managing emotions and behavior.
Running with the ball - RWTB and dribbling activities themed around being fit and healthy.

Supporting integration and inclusion between countries, member associations were mixed together to provide a platform meet new people, make new friends and develop skills together.

Click here to visit the event photo album

Train - Workshop - Coaching Para Football & Disability Inclusive Safeguarding

Coaches and representatives from all WAFF member associations were invited to attend the festival to observe and support the practical coaching, and also attend classroom based coach education.

As a new area to many member associations, Para Football and WAFF provided disability inclusive safeguarding and welfare training to support MAs to provide safe and inclusive #FootballForAll.

Day 2: Compete - Play Together, Win Together

In the morning session, teams were made with players from each member association to play in a round robin format. In the afternoon, member associations played informal matches representing their country against other nations.

Click here to visit the event photo album

Celebrate - #FootballForAll Celebration

At the end of the second day, the #FootballForAll Celebration brought all teams and representatives together with a number of awards presented to teams and individuals to celebrate the achievements of players with disabilities.