The U.S. Power Soccer National Team will travel to Argentina for the 2026 Fédération Internationale de Powerchair Football Association (FIPFA) Powerchair Football World Cup from Oct. 17-23. The U.S. Power Soccer NT is seeking its third World Cup title and first since 2011.
As the teams prepare to open group stage play later this month, here’s everything you need to know:
What is power soccer?
Power soccer is the first competitive team sport developed specifically for power wheelchair users and has been played internationally since 2007. The U.S. Power Soccer National Team features male and female athletes with disabilities that include quadriplegia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and cerebral palsy, among others. The game is played in a gymnasium on a regulation basketball court with four players who attack, defend, and spin-kick a 13-inch soccer ball in a skilled and challenging game similar to mainstream soccer.
When and where is the 2026 FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup?
The 2026 FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup will take place from Oct. 17-23 at Parque Olimpico de la Juventud in Buenos Aires, Argentina. This year’s tournament marks the fifth edition of the FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup, with the U.S. Power Soccer NT having qualified for every edition since the competition began in 2007.
How many teams are competing in the 2026 FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup?
Ten nations will compete in this year’s tournament: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, England, France, Italy, Japan, the United States and Uruguay. The U.S. Power Soccer NT will play a nine-match round-robin schedule during the group stage before the competition moves to the knockout rounds.
How did the U.S. qualify?
A year ago, the U.S. Power Soccer NT won the 2025 APFC America’s Cup in Phoenix with a perfect 7-0-0 record, its third straight regional title, by downing Brazil in the semifinals and Argentina in the finals by identical, hard-fought 1-0 scorelines. The APFC championship qualified the Americans for the 2026 FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Who does the U.S. play in the group stage?
The USA’s nine-match round-robin schedule begins against fifth-ranked Australia on Oct. 17. The schedule is then highlighted by matches against two-time defending World Cup champions France on Oct. 19, a showdown with hosts Argentina on Oct. 20 (who the U.S. defeated in the third-place match in the 2023 World Cup), and a group-stage finale against England on Oct. 21 (a rematch of the 2023 World Cup semifinals won by England).
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) |
|---|
| Oct. 17 | Australia | 3:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 18 | Denmark | 9 a.m. |
| Oct. 18 | Belgium | 1:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 19 | Italy | 10:30 a.m. |
| Oct. 19 | France | 2:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 20 | Uruguay | 9 a.m. |
| Oct. 20 | Argentina | 1:30 p.m. |
| Oct. 21 | Japan | 12 p.m. |
| Oct. 21 | England | 3 p.m. |
| Oct. 22 | Semifinals | TBD |
| Oct. 23 | Final | 2 p.m. |
** All matches to be played at Parque Olimpico de la Juventud, Buenos Aires Argentina
How do teams advance to the knockout rounds?
Following the nine-match round-robin portion of the competition, the tournament will advance to the Semifinals on Oct. 22. The winners of those matches will meet in the Final on Oct. 23 at 2 p.m. ET.
Who is on the U.S. roster?
U.S. Power Soccer NT head coach Tracy Mayer has named his final eight-player roster on Sept. 29. The roster features six players who helped the U.S. win the 2025 APFC America’s Cup, including three-time Player of the Year Riley Johnson, the Power Soccer National Team's all-time caps leader Jordan Dickey and veterans Nathan Mayer, Lexi Heer, and Pete Winslow.
What is the U.S.’s history at the World Cup?
Having started under U.S. Soccer member organization U.S. Power Soccer Association (USPSA) in 2007, the U.S. Power Soccer National Team are two-time FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup champions, winning the first two competitions in 2007 and 2011, before earning a runner-up finish in 2017 and third place in 2023.
The USA is also three-time APFC America’s Cup champions, winning the competition in 2014, 2019 and 2025. The Power Soccer National Team holds a 42W-5L-4D overall record and joined U.S. Soccer’s Extended National Teams program as a fully funded national team in 2022.
How can fans follow along during the tournament?
All matches of the 2026 FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup will be broadcast live via FIPFA YouTube channel.
Fans are also encouraged to follow the U.S. Power Soccer NT throughout the 2026 FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup on ussoccer.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter/X for score updates and additional tournament information.
