Football 7-A-Side
Summer Sports
Summer Sports
Football 7-a-side, also known as cerebral palsy football, is an adaptation of football for athletes with cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury or stroke. The sport is governed by the International Federation of CP Football (IFCPF) and is played using modified FIFA rules.
It made its Paralympic debut at the 1984 Paralympic Games and was contested at every Games through to Rio 2016. While it is no longer on the Paralympic program, the sport continues to be played internationally with its own World and regional championships, including at the Parapan American Games.
Football 7-a-side teams are made up of seven players: six outfield players and one goalkeeper. The match is played without the offside rule, and throw-ins can be made with one hand. Matches consist of two 30-minute halves, with a 15-minute half-time interval.
Athletes are classified based on the level of impact their impairment has on their mobility. There are four sport classes in Football 7-a-side: FT1 (most significant impairment), FT2, FT3, and FT4 (least impairment). To ensure fair competition, each team must have at least one FT1 player on the field at all times, and no more than one FT4 player.
The game is played on a smaller field, measuring 75m long and 55m wide, with smaller goals than in standard football. The sport is fast-paced, highly technical, and encourages inclusivity, allowing athletes with a range of physical impairments to showcase their abilities at a high level of competition.
For a full list of historical results, visit the International Paralympic Committee website.
Canada Soccer is the National Sport Federation.
Football 7-a-side includes athletes with coordination impairments such as hypertonia, ataxia, or athetosis—typically resulting from cerebral palsy, brain injury or stroke. Players are classified from FT1 to FT4 based on the degree of impairment, and team composition on the field must include a mix of classifications to ensure balanced play. All players must have a minimum impairment to be eligible to compete.
