Draft:WK AdoptieKids

The WK AdoptieKids (English; Adoption Kids World Cup) is a friendly 'World Championship' football for adopted children in the Netherlands. The aim of the tournament is to allow adopted children and their adoptive parents to meet and greet each other, to connect and also play a nice game of football.

The participants represent their country of birth and are divided according to age into teams from 5 years old to under 23.

Teams consist of 7 players (and substitutes), matches last fifteen minutes. Countries of birth with fewer than 7 participants form teams according to continent or ‘Moniaal’.

Origin
In the run-up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, two gentlemen had the idea of ​​organizing a football tournament especially for adopted children. The first edition of the WK AdoptionKids championship took place in Hilversum that same year. About 100 participants defended the honor of their native country.

After this success, it was quickly decided to hold a second edition, doubling the number of participants. More and more adoptees heard about the event and registered. The diversity of countries of birth also increased and a larger sports complex had to be found. The sports park Delta Sport ’95 in Houten was the location of the event from 2012, which grew by more than 100 participants every year. As a result, the complex in Houten also became too small in 2015.

They moved to VV Altius in Hilversum for only 1 year. From 2017 onwards, participants will be received at the Sportpark Blankensteyn of VV Brederodes and VV Vianen in Vianen. In 2019, 1,000 young people from 37 countries played in the tournament. 300 matches were played and more than 1200 goals were scored. After the Covid pandemic, the organization picked up the WK again and 930 children played in the 11th edition on June 25, 2022.

Countries of origin edition 2024
On June 22, 2024, there were 970 participants from 32 countries of origin. South Africa was the most represented with 139 players, Team U.S.A. had 125 players and 121 of the participants were originally from China. The children adopted within the Netherlands also form a team.
 * Benin (1)
 * Bolivia (25)
 * Brazil (1)
 * Bulgaria (25)
 * Burkina Faso (3)
 * Colombia (50)
 * China (121)
 * Congo, Democratic Republic (27)
 * Czech Republic (1)
 * Ethiopia (32)
 * Ghana (2)
 * Haiti (91)
 * Hungary (48)
 * India (2)
 * Israel (2)
 * Kenya (66)
 * Lesotho (22)
 * Malawi (2)
 * Netherlands (8)
 * Nicaragua (9)
 * Nigeria (46)
 * Philippines (13)
 * Portugal (4)
 * Slovakia (3)
 * Sri Lanka (5)
 * Sudan (1)
 * Suriname (1)
 * Taiwan (51)
 * Thailand (42)
 * Uganda (3)
 * United States (125)
 * South Africa (139)

Sources and References

 * WK AdoptionKids, web page (dutch)
 * NRC report: ''The Adoption Kids World Cup is not about football, but about recognition’' (Juni 23th 2024) (dutch)
 * Nederlands Dagblad, It is especially fun at the Adoption Kids World Cup, (June 25th 2018) (dutch)
 * NOS Jeugdjournaal reportage of the WK Adoption Kids (June 24th, 2023)