More and more young people are experiencing pressure, stress and mental challenges. A theme that is more urgent than ever. That is why the Cruyff Foundation Conference 2026 focused on mental health among young people.
Academic performance, social expectations, online pressure and limited access to support all have a major impact. As a society, and certainly within sport, education and the professional field surrounding young people, we share the responsibility to help them grow stronger, more resilient and more confident. Sport and physical activity can be a powerful tool in this.
Keynote speakers
The day was hosted by Kira Toussaint, former elite swimmer, Olympian and former world record holder in the 50 metres backstroke. Throughout her career, she learned to cope with extreme pressure, major setbacks and ultimately a profound experience involving a false positive doping case.
The first keynote speaker of the day was Erik Wegewijs, former Special Forces officer. With over 20 years of leadership experience as a commander during numerous Special Forces missions and training programmes, and more recent experience in the corporate world, he translates his insights into a language that is understandable and applicable for every individual and every organisation. He showed that you are responsible for your own square metre.
Yannick Hill followed as the second keynote speaker. He is Assistant Professor of Sport and Performance Psychology at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and approached mental health from a more theoretical perspective. His focus lies on how athletes adapt to stressors: when do they return to their previous level of functioning, when can they grow through stress, and when are they unable to adapt in a positive way? He linked these insights to several well-known quotes by Johan Cruyff.
The day concluded with Erik Scherder, Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology and ambassador of the Cruyff Foundation. He translates scientific insights into concrete strategies that help leaders, teams and individuals improve their behaviour, communication and productivity. He demonstrated the impact of sport on the human brain.
Workshops
In between each keynote speaker, the nearly 300 guests had the opportunity to attend various workshops on mental health. Transformers Community was present, where participants learned how to recognise early signs of mental health challenges, enabling us to support young people at the right moment.
The Mulier Institute conducts research into the role of sport and physical activity in supporting mental health. The insights gained are translated into recommendations for policymakers and sports providers. During the workshop, key findings were presented and practical tips were shared.
Zilveren Kruis and the KNVB have launched a partnership to make mental health a topic of conversation among young people in football. Together, they developed a tool that trainers, coaches, parents and mentors can use to open up the conversation around mental health.
During the inspiration session by Mind Us and In je Bol, participants were introduced to two initiatives that connect closely to the work on the Cruyff Courts: the online tool De Checkers and the platform In je Bol.
3X3 Unites developed a 3X3 Mentor Course, which they highlighted during their session. This training is specifically designed for young people within the 3X3 Unites community who want to grow into mentors and role models within their own environment. It also equips them with the skills to open up conversations about mental health.
The importance of sport for mental health was further emphasised in the session hosted by Basic-Fit. The day concluded with an accessible and energetic workout, led by Ronny, who has been committed to supporting young people’s mental health for many years, including through dedicated mental health sessions for young people.
The Cruyff Foundation Conference 2026 brought together professionals from across the world of sport. A day filled with insights, meaningful conversations and practical tools. By giving young people the space to move, to play and to develop themselves, we actively contribute to stronger mental health.
The Cruyff Foundation Conference was made possible in part by PwC.