BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Oct. 23, 2026) – The U.S. Power Soccer National Team utilized Lexi Heer’s game-winner in second-half stoppage time to earn a dramatic 2-1 comeback win against Argentina to win the Third-Place Match at the 2026 FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup.
Heer’s winning goal built off Riley Johnson’s equalizer in first-half stoppage time and ensured the USA finished in the top three of the FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup for the fifth-consecutive tournament. The win was the USA’s second come-from-behind victory of the World Cup, the first coming in the 3-1 win against Argentina during the group stage.
Playing in front of a loud and boisterous home crowd, the U.S. deployed the same lineup that began Thursday’s semifinal against France. Head coach Tracy Mayer swapped Zach Dickey back to goalkeeper, while Jordan Dickey returned to the field.
After trading decent chances through the early going, the USA came close in the 13th minute when Zach Dickey powered his corner kick through the penalty area to find Johnson, who pulled the ball just wide of the right post.
After some nervy moments for both teams, the goals came through in first-half stoppage time. Following a 2-on-1 violation from the United States, Argentina struck first as Heber Lopez powered his free kick across the box to find Lorenzo Lipari who tucked home his effort at the back post in the first minute of injury time.
With the home crowd buzzing after the go-ahead goal, the USA stayed resilient and equalized just before halftime. Zach Dickey’s corner kick from the right found Johnson backing up before the U.S. center sent his shot across goal and inside the right post in the second minute of stoppage time.
The U.S. kept up the pressure after halftime, with Heer seeing back-to-back efforts saved off the line inside the first few minutes before Jordan Dickey’s redirected effort was also turned away on the goal line by the Argentine defense.
As time wore on, the match became more physical with both the teams trading contact fouls leading up to U.S. players Jordan Dickey and Johnson receiving yellow cards within three minutes of each other. Argentina nearly found the go-ahead goal following Johnson’s booking, but Valentino Zegarelli’s 37th minute free kick was well saved at the right post by Zach Dickey.
Locked at 1-1 late, the U.S. secured the winning goal as Jordan Dickey’s cross found Heer who powered a spin kick that was saved off the line in the 40th minute.
With extra time looming, the U.S. finally broke through in the second minute of stoppage time. Zach Dickey advanced the ball up to midcourt on the right where Jordan Dickey swung it across to Heer who powered another no-look, spinning shot across goal from distance. The shot clanged off the inside of the left post and in for the winner. Seconds later, the referee blew his final whistle, confirming the USA’s third-place finish for a second-straight tournament.Heer’s dynamic last-second game-winner made her the team’s top scorer for the competition with four goals.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
- With the result, the USA earned third place for a second consecutive FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup. The USA has never finished below third in five editions of the FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup.
- Lexi Heer’s game-winner was the 18th of her international career and team-leading fourth goal of the tournament. Heer has led the Power NT in scoring at each of the last two World Cups, having scored six goals at the 2023 edition in Australia.
- Riley Johnson scored his third goal of the tournament and 26th of his international career, ranking him second all-time in Power NT history.
- Zach Dickey recorded his third assist of the tournament and fifth of his international career on Johnson’s goal.
- Jordan Dickey tallied his second assist of the 2026 World Cup and 14th of his international career on Heer’s goal.
- Jordan Dickey, Zach Dickey, Heer and Johnson appeared in all 11 matches for the USA at the 2026 World Cup.
- The third-place victory marked the only match of the tournament in which the United States did not make any substitutes.
- The USA finishes with a 6W-3L-2D record at the 2026 World Cup.
- The U.S. moves to 8W-0L-1D in nine all-time matches against Argentina and now holds a 48W-8L-6D all-time record since beginning play in 2007.
-U.S. POWER SOCCER NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-
Match: U.S. Power Soccer National Team vs. Argentina
Date: October 23, 2026
Competition: 2026 FIPFA World Cup – Third-Place Match
Venue: Olympic Park – America Hall; Buenos Aires, Argentina
Kickoff: 1 p.m. local time (noon ET)
Attendance: 525
| Scoring Summary |
1 |
2 |
F |
| USA |
1 |
1 |
2 |
| ARG |
1 |
0 |
1 |
| ARG – Lorenzo Lipari (Heber Lopez) | 20+1st minute |
| USA – Riley Johnson(Zach Dickey) | 20+2 |
| USA – Lexi Heer (Jordan Dickey) | 40+2 |
Lineups:
USA: 11-Zach Dickey; 3-Jordan Dickey, 5-Lexi Heer, 22-Riley Johnson (Capt.)
Substitutes not used: 2-Nathan Mayer, 8-Lindsay Muench, 9-Pete Winslow, 10-David Dowling
Head coach: Tracy Mayer
ARG: 7-Heber Lopez, 10-Valentino Zegarelli, 13-Khaleb Manzur, 17-Santiago Arocena
Substitutes: 8-Juan Bautista D’Angelo; 9-Manuel Zubiarain, 11-Lorenzo Lipari, 23-Nicolas Quikuen
Head coach: Colin Gordon
Stats Summary: USA / ARG
Shots: 7 / 4
Shots on Goal: 6 / 4
Saves: 3 / 4
Corner Kicks: 1 / 0
Fouls: 7 / 5
2v1: 7 / 5
| Misconduct Summary |
| USA – Jordan Dickey (Caution) | 34th minute |
| USA – Riley Johnson (Caution) | 37 |
Officials:
Referee: R. Byrne (IRL)
Assistant Referee 1: M. Simon-Green (AUS)
Assistant Referee 2: S. Crump (ENG)
Fourth Official: N. Balin (FRA)
