Fourteen Special Olympics New Zealand athletes had an unforgettable international football experience at the Genuine Cup in Houston, Texas.
Supported by five team management, the New Zealand team took on strong international opposition while experiencing everything that comes with representing their country overseas — including some serious Texas heat.
The team included athletes from Special Olympics clubs across the South Island, many of whom had competed at the 2025 National Summer Games in Christchurch.
On the field, the athletes showed courage, respect, integrity, inclusion and excellence, supporting each other and representing New Zealand with pride throughout the tournament.
But the Genuine Cup experience stretched well beyond football. The trip gave athletes the opportunity to meet people from around the world, experience a different country and make memories together as a team.
For athlete Jacob Hall, some of those memories included visiting NASA, experiencing a Texas rodeo and meeting the Harlem Globetrotters.
A huge thank you to New Zealand Football for working alongside Special Olympics New Zealand, and to the NZ Football Foundation for funding the team uniforms.
Ka pai to our athletes and team management for representing New Zealand with pride.
