ATLANTA (Oct. 20, 2026) -- The U.S. Men’s Cerebral Palsy (CP) National Team defeated Ireland 2-0 in the quarterfinal match of the 2026 IFCPF World Cup at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center to advance to the semifinals for the second time in the modern era of program history.
John Sullivan and Jonah-Meyer-Crothers scored five minutes apart in the first half, each recording their fourth goal of the tournament, and the U.S. defense held Ireland scoreless the rest of the way to earn its third clean sheet in four matches.
The USA will face Spain in the semifinal on Thursday, October 22. Spain advanced with a 3-2 overtime win over Indonesia. The other semifinal will feature Brazil against England. Brazil defeated Scotland 5-1 in the first quarterfinal of the day, and England edged the Netherlands 2-1 in overtime.
The Americans spent the opening minutes settling in before controlling possession and taking a few shots that went just wide. The attack persisted, and in the 11th minute Jacob Crumbley dribbled forward through the left side and sent a cross to Sullivan. Already positioned inside the box, Sullivan converted and gave the U.S. a 1-0 lead.
Meyer-Crothers doubled the lead in the 16th minute, taking the ball in his own half and advancing through defenders before shooting past Irish goalkeeper Raudhan Dooley to make it 2-0.
Second-half substitute Jacob Kaplan nearly extended the lead in the 36th minute when he fired a beautiful curling shot that missed the upper right corner by inches.
Irish goalkeeper Dooley kept his team in the match making six saves on the night, including denying Meyer-Crothers on a free kick and later on a hard shot from 18 yards out.
Ireland's best opportunity came in the 46th minute on a free kick just outside the box, but American Wesley Pincince cleared the ball out with a header.
The U.S. has scored 18 goals and conceded only one goal through four matches in the tournament.
The USA only previous World Cup Semifinal appearance was in 2022, falling to eventual champion Ukraine 5-1. The Americans have now advanced to the semifinal for the second time in the last three World Cups.
Thursday’s match against Spain will be the first meeting under the IFCPF banner, which began in 2014. The teams have met on three prior occasions, including the first-ever meeting at the 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta.
Until 2015, the sport was under the umbrella of the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA), which introduced CP Football into the Paralympic Games in 1988, and including it among other international tournaments involving other CP sports. CPISRA motioned for CP football to become an independent sport and transferred its governance to the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football (IFCPF) in January 2015.
Both semifinals will take place on Thursday, Oct. 22 at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center. All matches will be broadcast live via the IFCPF YouTube Channel.
The 2026 IFCPF World Cup is the first major international competition held at the National Training Center and the facility’s first ever open to the public. Free reserved tickets available here.
-U.S. MEN'S CEREBRAL PALSY (CP) NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-
Match: U.S. Men’s Cerebral Palsy (CP) National Team vs. Ireland
Date: October 20, 2026
Competition: 2026 IFCPF World Cup – Group Stage
Venue: Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center; Fayetteville, Ga.
Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. ET
Weather: 75 degrees, sunny
| Scoring Summary |
1 |
2 |
F |
| USA |
2 |
0 |
2 |
| IRL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| USA – John Sullivan (Jacob Crumbley) | 11th minute |
| USA – Jonah Meyer-Crothers (Ben Lindau) | 16 |
Lineups:
USA: 1-Sean Boyle; 4-Wesley Pincince, 5-Jonah Meyer-Crothers; 8-John Sullivan, 10-Ben Lindau (capt.); 11-Jacob Crumbley (2-Frankie Lowery,31), 14-Shea Hammond (6-Jacob Kaplan,31)
Substitutes: 12-Marc Estrella, 3-Kyle Montgomery, 7-Adam Ballou, 9-Cameron DeLillo, 13-Josh Brunais
Head coach: Stuart Sharp
IRL: 16-Ruadhan Dooley; 4-Luke Staunton (3-Darren Martin,60), 2-Eric O’Flaherty, 5-Conor Halpin; 6-Ryan Nolan (10-Dillon Sheridan,42), 7-James Bateman (11-Warren Morrissey,50); 13-Darryl Fay (12-Jake Hannon,60), 16-Ruadhan Dooley
Substitutes: 8-Aaron Tier, 9-Jack O’Sullivan
Head coach: Paul Smyth
Stats Summary: USA / IRL
Shots: 17/ 3
Shots on Goal: 8 / 1
Saves: 0 /6
Corner Kicks: 3 / 2
Fouls: 4 / 5
| Misconduct Summary |
| IRL – Luke Staunton (Caution) | 58th minute |
| IRL – Brian Dorrian (Caution) | 59 |
Officials:
Referee: N/A
Assistant Referee 1: N/A
Assistant Referee 2: N/A
Fourth Official: N/A
