U23 World Deaf Football Championships
Historic First U23 World Deaf Football Championships Conclude in Serbia
The inaugural U23 World Deaf Football Championships officially came to an end in Zlatibor, Serbia, marking a historic moment for international deaf football and celebrating the incredible talent of young athletes from around the world.
The tournament brought together nine nations: Great Britain, Germany, Japan, Kenya, Liberia, Poland, Serbia, Türkiye, and Ukraine for the very first edition of the competition. Over the course of the tournament, teams competed with passion, determination, and pride while helping grow the visibility of deaf football on the global stage.
The GB Deaf Football U23 team enjoyed an impressive campaign throughout the championship, reaching the semi-finals after a series of strong performances. On May 21, Great Britain faced Japan in a tightly contested semi-final match. Despite giving everything on the pitch, the GB side suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat, ending their hopes of reaching the final.
The second semi-final was equally close, with Türkiye defeating Germany 1-0 to secure their place in the championship final against Japan.
In the battle for third place, Great Britain faced Germany once again. After another hard-fought performance, the GB team narrowly missed out on the bronze medal, losing 3-1 and finishing the tournament in an impressive fourth place overall.
The final between Türkiye and Japan delivered an exciting conclusion to the first edition of this tournament, with Türkiye emerging as champions after a 2-1 victory to become the first ever U23 World Deaf Football Champions.
Final Positions
- Türkiye
- Japan
- Germany
- Great Britain
- Ukraine
- Poland
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Serbia
Special congratulations go to all athletes, coaching staff, organisers, and volunteers who contributed to the success of this landmark event. A huge congratulations also goes to the GB Deaf Football U23 team and the coaching staff, including Para Football’s Sam Turner, for their incredible achievement in reaching the semi-finals and finishing fourth in the world during the first ever edition of the championships.
“This tournament is just the beginning, and these amazing players are the trailblazers for those who follow in their footsteps. As young footballers, each player is on their individual learning journey, as well as being of these developing youth national teams. An U23s World Championships provides another step on the international ladder to gain valuable experience, and ensure a pipeline of talented deaf athletes for the future of the game.” – Sam Turner.
The tournament represented much more than results alone. It showcased the growth of deaf football internationally and highlighted the talent, resilience, and dedication of deaf athletes competing at the highest level. The success of this first edition has laid a strong foundation for the future of U23 deaf football worldwide.
