Special Power Team Croatia, made up of individuals with intellectual disabilities, shone at the Genuine Cup 2026 in Houston, with four players from Koprivnica standing out among the medalists.
Croatia's national team for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, named Special Power Team Croatia, has returned with a historic medal from the world tournament Genuine Cup 2026. At the competition held in Houston, which attracted more than 1,000 athletes across 54 teams from various parts of the world, the Croatian representatives clinched the silver medal.
In the fight for gold at Rice Stadium, they faced off against the German team Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Among the players who secured this great success were four athletes from Koprivnica: Vladimir Strmecki, Filip Posavec, Boris Brgles, and Ivan Vuk. Their journey and participation in the USA were made possible thanks to the City of Koprivnica, the Association of Sports Clubs of the City of Koprivnica, the Koprivnica Tourist Board, the Koprivnica-Križevci County, and the Center for Missing and Abused Children Osijek.
Behind this triumph lies the Special Power League (SPL) project, a unique inclusive football league. The initiative was founded by the Health Life Academy, which launched the league back in 2018. From day one, the initiative has enjoyed the support of the Croatian Football Federation, as well as several leading domestic clubs such as Slaven Belupo from Koprivnica, Dinamo, Hajduk, Rijeka, Istra 1961, and Osijek.
Originally conceived as a local initiative to involve children and young people with developmental disabilities in sports activities, the project has grown over time into an internationally recognized sporting phenomenon. The tournament in Houston once again confirmed that football can be a powerful tool for promoting the values of friendship, equality, inclusivity, and togetherness.
