On Oct. 25, 2009, midfielder Adam Ballou made his international debut with the U.S. Men’s Cerebral Palsy (CP) National Team against Scotland.
Nearly 17 years later, Ballou faced Scotland again, this time earning his 100th cap, a remarkable feat for any international soccer player. The 34-year-old, who has spent more than half his life with the CP MNT, became just the third player in program history and the fifth U.S. Extended National Team player to reach the century mark.
The milestone came Oct. 17 in the team’s 5-0 win over Scotland in the second match of group play in the 2026 IFCPF World Cup, which is taking place at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Fayetteville, Ga. The U.S. dominated its group and advanced to the quarterfinal, where it will face Ireland on Oct. 20.
“It’s been a ride,” Ballou said. “The guys paved the way before me, and (I can) now step into that club of players in the ENTs that are over 100. And we’re in the middle of a World Cup. It couldn’t get any better.”
Ballou has represented the USA at several major international tournaments, including the 2019 IFCPF World Cup in Spain and both the 2015 and 2017 IFCPF World Championships in Argentina and England. He was also part of the team that won the 2025 IFCPF Copa America, earning the program its first-ever trophy. The Virginia Beach, Va., native also competed with Team USA at the 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games.
