What Is CP Football?
News2026 looms as a huge year for Cerebral Palsy Football, and there is no better time to jump on the bandwagon.
There are plenty of reasons why our game is on the precipice of something special. Here is our game in a nutshell.
How We Play
Cerebral Palsy Football is built for athletes with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, and symptoms of stroke. The game is played 7-a-side in the men’s game, with 30-minute halves, and 5-a-side on the women’s side, with 25-minute halves. The pitches and goals are smaller to tailor to our athletes, while the lack of an offside rule and the ability to roll the ball in to restart play are other differences from association football. Our players are classified into three categories for fairness: FT1 for our severely-impaired athletes, FT2 for moderate impairment, and FT3 for our players least affected by their impairment.
One Sport, One Community
Cerebral Palsy Football is the only team sport in the Paralympic movement specifically designed for athletes with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury and stroke. It exists because athletes with coordination impairments deserve a game built for how they move, think and compete, not adapted as an afterthought. While it is a sport made for those who play it, it's a high-level game laden with skill and passion that even those who have never watched it can appreciate right from the off.
Why We Love It
Cerebral Palsy Football looks familiar - until you watch closely. Athletes adapt every step, every touch, every decision. Balance, control & coordination are tested constantly. It’s football that rewards intelligence & resilience — not despite impairment, but because of it.
A Global First
Cerebral Palsy Football has the opportunity to deliver the first-ever women’s football event at the Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games. Men's Cerebral Palsy Football ran at every Paralympic Games from 1984 to 2016, but 2032 offers an opportunity for a women's event to take centre stage for the first time.
For women and girls with cerebral palsy, this isn’t just about competition — it’s about visibility, belonging & the right to dream bigger.
2032 host nation Australia have the number one ranked team in the world, largely owing to major tournament wins in 2023 and 2024. They are the reigning IFCPF Women's World Cup champions, defeating the United States of America in the 2024 decider.
As Australia star Georgia Beikoff puts it, "Our unique stories about overcoming setbacks are what makes us a great team and that’s what unifies us. We know there’s millions of people out there just like us and to show them there is a community, a family for them, is so important."
Built for the World
We're growing fast.
OUR 2024 Men's & Women's World Cups reached 397 million people across digital platforms. In 2025, we reached record YouTube views, including a record 62,000+ views on the IFCPF Asia-Oceania Cup Final streams in Indonesia.
Cerebral Palsy Football is played across six continents, with sustainable international competition, formal classification & clear pathways for men & women.
How To Follow Our Game
To become fully immersed in our sport, follow your country and its players on social media, and watch a match. Check out the IFCPF YouTube channel for all the action from past tournaments.
You can also support our Bris32 bid. Like, share and have conversations. Together, we can show what Cerebral Palsy Football is all about.