U.S. Men's CP Soccer Team Reaches 2026 World Cup Final

Men's Cerebral Palsy (CP) National Team will play in its first-ever World Cup final. The team earned its spot with wins over Ireland and Spain at the 2026 International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football (IFCPF) World Cup.

faces England for the world title on Saturday, October 24. This year's tournament is taking place at the Arthur M.

Soccer National Training Center in Fayetteville, Georgia. It's the first major international competition held at the new facility.

team hascerebral palsyor another brain-related condition that affects movement, such as a stroke or traumatic brain injury. Their run is a great example of howsports can help people with CPof all ages and abilities stay active, build confidence, and connect with others.

Reached the Cerebral Palsy Football World Cup Final The U. cerebral palsy football team has played strong soccer on both ends of the field throughout the tournament.

In the quarterfinals, John Sullivan and Jonah Meyer-Crothers each scored in the first half tobeat Ireland 2-0. The team thenbeat Spain 2-0in the semifinal to reach the final.

Here is a look at the U. run through the semifinal: 1 goal allowed through 5 matches 4 goals each for Sullivan and Meyer-Crothers 4 matches without allowing a goal 20 goals scored through 5 matches This is the first World Cup final in program history.

The team's best finish before this year came in 2022, when it placed fourth. CP soccer, also called CP football, is a version of the sport for players withcerebral palsy, stroke, or traumatic brain injury.

Players are grouped into sport classes based on how their condition affects their movement, which helps keep matches fair. The sport joined the Paralympic Games in 1988.