Adaptive and Thrive recently opened its doors at the U.S. Soccer training complex in metro Atlanta, inviting members of the Power Chair National Team and the U.S. Men's and Women's Cerebral Palsy National Teams to trial a set of purpose‑built soccer courts.
A New Standard for Adaptive Play
The test session brought together athletes who use power chairs and those with cerebral palsy, allowing them to experience surfaces and layouts designed to remove barriers that have long limited participation in mainstream soccer.
Joey Martin, a forward on the Women's CP National Team, spoke about the significance of seeing adaptive athletes integrated into the national training conversation, noting that inclusion at this level reshapes perceptions and opens pathways for future talent.
Organizers emphasized that the facility is not a niche experiment but a core component of U.S. Soccer’s strategy to develop world‑class resources for athletes of every ability as the country gears up to host marquee events, most notably the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The initiative reflects a broader movement to embed accessibility into the fabric of American sport, positioning Georgia as a hub where innovation in adaptive athletics meets the ambitions of a nation preparing for global competition.
U.S. Soccer’s involvement underscores a partnership that goes beyond infrastructure, aiming to cultivate an ecosystem where talent can emerge from any background, reinforcing the country’s commitment to inclusive excellence on the world stage.