The "Helm" team (HELM Egypt) achieved an unprecedented global accomplishment by winning the Genuine Cup World Championship for football for people with disabilities, held in Houston, Texas, USA, after defeating the Andorra national team 2-1 in the final match, in addition to receiving the Genuine Award for best energy and sportsmanship, within competitions that brought together teams from 53 countries around the world.
This achievement represents the first Egyptian participation in the history of the tournament, as the "Helm" team was selected to represent Egypt under the Egyptian flag, in a step that reflects more than fifteen years of work on empowering people with disabilities and opening real opportunities for them to participate, succeed, and excel.
The team consisted of 12 players (9 men and 3 women) from various Egyptian governorates, representing people with intellectual disabilities and neurodevelopmental disorders (Neurodivergence), including individuals with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and other developmental disabilities. They were selected through an evaluation process focused on team spirit, commitment, leadership, and the ability to represent Egypt as ambassadors of inclusion, alongside athletic skills.
Over just three months, the team underwent an intensive preparation program before completing its preparations in Houston, under the leadership of Egyptian coach Ahmed El-Sakry. The team also faced logistical challenges, most notably the failure of the main goalkeeper and one of the coaches to obtain visas, yet that did not prevent the players from continuing their journey until they were crowned with the tournament cup.
During the tournament, the team achieved consecutive victories over the teams of Spain, Turkey, Costa Rica, and Iceland, before clinching the final match against Andorra with a 2-1 result, returning to Egypt carrying the tournament cup and the award for best energy and sportsmanship.
The journey to Houston was not merely participation in a tournament, but a human experience that changed the players' lives, as they formed friendships with participants from 53 countries, exchanged cultures and experiences, and visited the NASA Space Center (Space Center Houston), in an experience that confirmed to them that opportunity can expand dreams before achieving them.
