New Year-Long Soccer League for Athletes With Intellectual Disabilities Set to Launch August 2025
RICHMOND, Va. (July 1, 2025) —
The first-ever, year-long competitive soccer league for athletes with intellectual disabilities in the United States will launch in August 2025. The league is called Inspire Soccer League and features four teams from around the country, including Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, One Knoxville SC, USL Spokane and United Genuine FC.
Inspire Soccer League is powered by Project Inspire, a nonprofit and 501(c)(3) founded by two former Richmond Kickers teammates João Gomiero and Nil Vinyals (Vinyals now plays for Spokane Velocity) who saw a gap in the competitive soccer space for athletes with intellectual disabilities while volunteering with a local nonprofit soccer program in Richmond, Virginia.
“Everyone should have the opportunity to compete at the highest level with a dedicated fan base of supporters,” said co-founder João Gomiero. “Inspire Soccer League provides an organized, competitive, year-long soccer league for athletes who deserve an opportunity to represent their home team in a competitive environment.”
By utilizing each team’s existing fanbase and local community of supporters, the league creates the framework for athletes to play for their hometown on the biggest stage. This type of partnership has proven successful in other countries, such as Spain’s La Liga Genuine. Inspire Soccer League will also create a pool of players to form U.S. national teams, giving players the opportunity to compete internationally at events like the Virtus Americas Games and the Virtus World Futsal Championships.
To help launch the inaugural season, Project Inspire was awarded a $100,000 grant from the U.S. Soccer Federation that will be used to help fund staff members, event coordination and travel. Project Inspire has brought on a dedicated staff of volunteers to help ensure a smooth inaugural season, which includes marketing, finance, event planning and communications.
Each team in the Inspire Soccer League will be staffed with a coach, assistant coach, coordinator and athletic trainer. The league will follow the Inspire Soccer League competition system and be free for all athletes to participate.
The season will kick off on August 22-24, 2025 at Colorado Springs Switchback FC’s Weidner Field stadium, located in downtown Colorado Springs, and include the following scheduled fixtures for the remainder of the season:
Second fixture: September 12-14, 2025 in Spokane (ONE Spokane Stadium)
Third fixture: October 10-12, 2025 in Knoxville (One Knox Stadium)
Fourth fixture: November 21-24, 2025 in Houston (venue TBD)
Quotes from each participating team are included below.
Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC (Colorado Springs, Colorado):
“The Switchbacks organization has always been a community club first; My City, My Team! After being presented with the mission and goals of the Project Inspire League, we felt like it was a no-brainer to be one of the first teams to join this amazing project. With the growth of development from the Switchbacks Unified Team and the inspiring stories from athletes, coaches, peers and community partners, this project is the next step in the development of creating inclusive soccer for all. We are excited to see where this league can go,” said Jon Taylor, business development director for the Colorado Springs Switchbacks.
One Knoxville SC (Knoxville, Tennessee):
"One Knoxville SC is proud to announce its role as one of the founding members of Project Inspire–the nation's first professional league created specifically for athletes with intellectual disabilities. This pioneering initiative marks a transformative moment in the world of sports, inclusion, and professional opportunity. As a founding member, One Knoxville SC is honored to be providing a professional platform where athletes with intellectual disabilities can compete, grow and be celebrated at the highest levels. This is an area we are passionate about as a club, but also as a city. Knoxville is a soccer town, for all athletes, and we believe in the power of sport to break down barriers. We could not be more excited to be on the forefront of this movement," said Drew McKenna, managing partner for One Knoxville SC.
United Genuine FC (Houston, Texas):
“At United Genuine FC, we believe every person deserves the chance to be seen for their strengths, not their limitations. This league is a powerful step forward for inclusion in sports, and we’re proud to represent Houston as part of this incredible inaugural season. Our players bring talent, heart and determination to the game. Powered by the Genuine Foundation, we’re building more than a team; we’re building an ecosystem of opportunities, a community where athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities can thrive, compete and inspire,” said Lorna Ortiz, president and founder of The Genuine Foundation.
USL Spokane (Spokane, Washington):
"We launched Project Inspire in Spokane because we believe every athlete deserves the opportunity to compete, grow, and belong – regardless of ability. Athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities bring a spirit of courage, joy and determination that inspires everyone around them. Through our local partnerships with Unified Sports and Side by Side, our players and staff have experienced firsthand the impact inclusive opportunities can have — not just on the athletes, but on teammates, families and the entire community. Adding this team to our roster alongside Spokane Zephyr FC and Spokane Velocity FC is a natural next step in shaping what soccer means in Spokane: a sport that truly welcomes and lifts up everyone," said Katie Harnetiaux, USL Spokane president and co-owner.
The inaugural season will provide opportunities for teams to compete against each other for the Inspire Soccer League Championship. The first two events will make up the regular season, and the third event will include the playoffs. The Championship Game, All-Star Game and Skills Challenge will take place in Spokane for the league’s final event.
Project Inspire League’s focus extends beyond the soccer field, as all players will have access to nutritional plans provided by the Alicia Foundation, a dedicated fitness app provided by Bloom Fitness, along with workforce inclusion and cultural events provided by the Genuine Foundation.
To learn more about the league, receive updates and support Project Inspire, visit projectinspireusa.org. Media assets from the league can be found here.
About Project Inspire
Project Inspire is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) creating the first year-long soccer competition tailored specifically for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the U.S. At its heart, Project Inspire is about making soccer accessible to all.
