Football is Medicine: Active Aging Through the Beautiful Game

We’re excited to invite scholars, practitioners, and policymakers to explore how football promotes physical, mental, and social health among senior players.

This two-day conference will examine the transformative power of the beautiful game in active aging through keynote presentations, thematic sessions, workshops, and panel discussions.

Conference Themes

Football Formats for Seniors

• Walking football, football fitness, and adapted programs

Health Benefits & Research

• Evidence-based insights on football participation across the lifespan

Community & Policy Integration

• Building sustainable programs and frameworks

Education & Institutional Leadership

• The role of universities and organizations in promoting football for health

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Here you can register for the conference.

Conference Guest (attendance only)
Football is Medicine 2026 — Conference Registration/Payment

Conference Guest + ReyCup Senior Tournament
Football is Medicine 2026 — Conference + ReyCup Senior Tournament Registration/Payment

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PROGRAMME
18/06/2026
From 09:00 to 16:00.

Morning Session

Chair: Vanda Sigurgeirsdóttir

• Welcome address – Eysteinn Pétur Lárusson, Managing Director of the Icelandic Football Association
• Keynote: Brandi Mitchell, Advocate for Older Women in Soccer & Founder, San Diego Soccer Women
• Active Ageing in Iceland: Public Health Perspectives on Physical Activity and Social Connection: Dr. Hildur Guðný Ásgeirsdóttir, Physical activity - Project Manager, The Directorate of Health
• Football for Life: Profiling Speed, Power, Strength, and Agility in Older Recreational Players: Dr. Milos Petrovic, Associate Professor & Head of Research Center for Sport and Health Sciences, University of Iceland
• Sleep Across the Lifespan: Why It Matters for Physical Activity, Health, and Healthy Aging: Dr. Runa Sif Stefansdottir, Associate professor, Faculty of Health Promotion, Sport and Leisure Studies, University of Iceland

Light Lunch

Afternoon Session

Chair: Gudberg K. Jonsson

• Keynote: Magni Mohr, Football is Medicine
• Belonging and exclusion: Football, walking football and football fitness as a protective factor: Vanda Sigurgeirsdóttir, Assistant Professor in leisure and social science, University of Iceland
• The athlete lifespan in sport clubs as social goods: An appreciative inquiry: Daði Rafnsson, Department of Sports Science, Reykjavik University
• Healthy Feet, Active Life: Foot Care in Older Athletes: Soffía Arngrímsdóttir, Podiatrist and Teacher of Podiatry, Fjölbrautaskóli Suðurnesja
• Enhance Your Game - Protect Your Body: Margrét Lilja Burrell, Founder of Football Mobility
• Sport for Life: The Benefits of Staying Active in Later Years: Elísa Víf Weisshappel, Health Promotion Project Manager, The National Olympic and Sports Association of Iceland

Conference closing and ReyCup Senior Welcome Reception