The first qualifying round the 2027 Gañafote Cup, held in Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz), showed that youth soccer is about much more than just competition. In addition to crowning Atlético Sanluqueño champions in the alevín division, the tournament served as a platform for social action and visibility for UNIPER (Union of People with Rare Diseases), a local association that fights daily for the rights and treatments of children and young people affected by rare diseases.

 

The Ball Rolls with Values in Jerez

 

At the Chapín Municipal Stadium we experienced the excitement of the pre-benjamín, benjamín, and alevín divisions, where the Atlético Sanluqueño secured the first direct spot in the 2027 World Cup. However, as our CEO, Joaquín Rasco, rightly points out, the Gañafote Cup is firmly establishing itself as a tool for social development and the promotion of values.

That is why, during this official stop in Cádiz, we decided that the real victory had to be achieved through solidarity and empathy. Throughout the tournament, we partnered closely with the UNIPER Association, giving them a voice at our event to shed light on a reality that directly affects many families in our community.

UNIPER: An Essential Union in the Face of Adversity

 

UNIPER (Union of People with Rare Diseases), chaired by Eva Guillermo Sauci, is an organization that currently supports about 23 families (about 100 people, including immediate family members and relatives). Its work focuses on providing comprehensive support to children and adults diagnosed with highly complex syndromes and conditions, such as:

• Pitt-Hopkins and Petigrew Syndrome.
• Familial Mediterranean Fever, DADA2, and FPAPA.
• SINGAP 1, Costello, Weaver, and Glut 1 Syndromes.
• Tuberous Sclerosis, Epileptic Encephalopathy, West Syndrome, among others.

Those affected live with severe disabilities, hearing loss, cognitive impairments, epileptic seizures, or extreme mobility limitations. UNIPER’s presence in the stands and at the entrances to the Gañafote Cup helped thousands of attendees understand the urgency of its main cause: full inclusion and visibility of these individuals in society.

A commitment that never stops

 

For the organizers of the Gañafote Cup, supporting these initiatives is part of our institutional DNA. Youth sports cannot turn a blind eye to the challenges faced by the most vulnerable children and young people. We are immensely proud to have turned the Chapín Municipal Stadium into a platform for solidarity, echoing the motto championed by UNIPER and one we fully embrace: “You’ll never be alone”.

We will continue to travel across the country and around the world as we head toward our big event in 2027, but we will always carry with us our unwavering commitment to children’s rights, family mental health, and full inclusion.

Because together we're invincible!