From the winner’s podium to international policy tables, Linda Mastandrea has spent her life breaking barriers and building bridges for people with disabilities. As senior manager of accessibility and safeguarding for the FIFA World Cup 2026, Linda is leading efforts to ensure that the world’s most-watched sporting event is welcoming and inclusive for all.
“I’m excited to lend my expertise to FIFA World Cup 2026 to help make sure that fans with disabilities and their families and friends from around the world have an amazing experience,” she says.
A Trailblazing Paralympic Career
Linda was diagnosed with spastic diplegia cerebral palsy at an early age, but didn’t enter wheelchair athletics until she was 26. In a sport where early starts are common, she made history, winning 15 gold and 5 silver medals internationally, including at the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta. Her silver medal in the 100m, though a heartbreaking loss, became a defining moment, teaching her resilience and fueling her comeback gold in the 200m just days later.
From the Courtroom to the Capitol
Parallel to her athletic success, Linda earned a J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1994. Her legal career has been rooted in disability rights, with leadership roles like director of paralympic sport and accessibility for the Chicago 2016 Olympic bid and director of disability integration and coordination at FEMA. She’s also been a key figure in global sport governance, chairing the International Paralympic Committee’s Legal and Ethics Committee and Electoral Commission.
Public Service and Policy Leadership
Linda’s commitment extends into civic engagement. As a member of the Cook County Forest Preserves Conservation and Policy Council, she led efforts to develop the ADA Self Evaluation and Transition Plan, helping remove barriers to access in natural spaces. She’s also a longstanding leader on the Board of Trustees for United Cerebral Palsy, where she contributes to strategic advocacy for the disability community.
Shaping the Future of Accessibility in Sports
At FIFA, Linda is elevating accessibility beyond compliance. “We’re looking past just ramps and seating,” she explains. “We’re implementing solutions for fans who are blind, deaf, or neurodiverse — like haptic shirts for deaf fans and tactile consoles for blind fans to track gameplay.”
Her vision? A world where accessibility isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s also smart business and a driver of innovation.
Lifelong Advocate, Lifelong Learner
An alumna of the University of Illinois, Linda’s journey began at the Division of Disability Resources and Educational Services, where she was introduced to wheelchair basketball. Her travels as an athlete exposed her to the real-world barriers people with disabilities face, experiences that sparked her passion for advocacy and inclusion.
A Trusted Voice on the UCP Board of Trustees
In addition to her international work and legal advocacy, Linda Mastandrea brings her experience and vision to the UCP Board of Trustees. Her global perspective, paired with her lived experience and legal acumen, plays a vital role in guiding UCP’s mission to advance independence and full inclusion for individuals with disabilities.
Thank you, Linda, for your service and for being a voice of hope, strategy, and inclusion for the disability community.
