2026 IFCPF World Championships Kick Off in Loughborough
2026 IFCPF World Championships Kick Off in Loughborough
The 2026 IFCPF World Championships get underway today in Loughborough, England. Four nations are competing for the title through to August 24: Italy, Kazakhstan, CP Soccer US and hosts Loughborough Para Football.
Teams arrived in Loughborough on August 15 and spent the days that followed on classification and training, with a technical meeting held on August 17.
Tournament schedule:
August 18
- 10:00 - Opening Ceremony
- 11:00 - Kazakhstan vs CP Soccer US
- 14:30 - Italy vs Loughborough
August 19
- 11:00 - CP Soccer US vs Loughborough
- 14:30 - Italy vs Kazakhstan
August 20
- 11:00 - Loughborough vs Kazakhstan
- 14:30 - CP Soccer US vs Italy
August 22
- 11:00 - Semi-Final (1st vs 4th)
- 14:30 - Semi-Final (2nd vs 3rd)
August 23
- 11:00 - 3rd/4th Place Playoff
- 14:30 - Final
For Kazakhstan, this tournament marks their international competitive debut. Head coach Chingis Temerhanov has been part of the programme since it joined the IFCPF back in 2017, and today his players finally get the chance to compete on the international stage. "Cerebral palsy does not prevent us from being good players, excellent coaches, sports team managers, classifiers, doctors and masseurs in the future," Temerhanov said back in 2017 - now his team gets to prove it on the pitch.
Italy arrive for their third consecutive World Championships, still chasing their first piece of silverware after finishing fourth in Salou two years ago in heartbreaking fashion. It's also a new chapter for the team, competing under the FIGC banner for the first time this year. "This is the first year we will be a part of the FIGC, and it was exciting to wear the shirt every child dreams of," says Italy stalwart Antonio Marigliano. "We've been waiting for this moment to come for a long time."
CP Soccer US arrive off the back of their 2025 IFCPF Copa América campaign in Uruguay, where a young squad gained valuable experience against some of the best teams in the world. Coach Peter McGahey believes that experience gives his players a real frame of reference for what's ahead in Loughborough.
Loughborough Para Football CP's Football Team, the tournament's hosts, is itself a product of the sport's growth in the UK, formed in the wake of the IFCPF Men's Euros and Women's Intercontinental Cup. Around ten players have trained regularly at the university since the team's founding, and after this tournament they move on to the National CP Football League in September.
Para Football is proud to support this year's World Championships. IFCPF is represented on Para Football's Steering Board, and Para Football founder and trustee Sam Turner serves as IFCPF Football Director, reflecting Para Football's wider role across disability football. We wish every athlete competing in Loughborough the very best of luck.
