USA Qualifies for the 2026 Amputee Soccer World Cup After Intense Gold Cup 2025 Run in Mexico
- NigelDPresents
- Jul 16
- 3 min read
The U.S. Men’s National Amputee Soccer Team is officially World Cup bound! After a week of competitive play at the 2025 Gold Cup in San Juan de los Lagos, Mexico, the U.S. team finished with a 3-1 record, clinching a spot in the 2026 Amputee Soccer World Cup in Costa Rica.
The Teams
Originally set to feature more, this year’s tournament included Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, and the United States. While other national teams were unable to attend, the competition was fierce and the stakes were high.
Game 1: USA vs Guatemala
Final Score: 4–0: Team USA came out strong in their tournament opener with a dominant win. Musabwa Nzirimwo led the charge with a hat trick and an assist to team captain Nico Calabria. Corey Laycock started in goal and earned a clean sheet in a flawless defensive performance.
Game 2: USA vs Costa Rica
Final Score: 2–0: This was more than a win—it was redemption. Earlier this year, Team USA fell to Costa Rica in the Copa Alcalde, drawing the first game and narrowly losing the second. But this time, the U.S. made a statement. Goals from Musabwa Nzirimwo and Nico Calabria sealed the win a header off of a Jordan Obernesser assist. Ermin Omerovic earned his first start as goalkeeper and left with a clean sheet, making several key saves, including stunning headers.
Game 3: USA vs El Salvador
Final Score: 3–2: This was our toughest match yet. Musabwa opened the scoring, followed by a strike from Jovan Booker, but El Salvador wouldn’t back down. With the match tied in the final minutes, Musabwa Nzirimwo stepped up once again, scoring a clutch free kick in stoppage time. This thrilling win officially qualified the U.S. for the 2026 World Cup.
Final: USA vs Mexico
Final Score: 2–3 (Mexico Wins): The Gold Cup championship came down to a showdown with host nation Mexico. The U.S. struck first with a header from Kavi Pandya, assisted by Musabwa—Kavi's first goal as a national team player. The U.S. led 1–0 at halftime, but Mexico surged in the second half, scoring three unanswered goals. Nico Calabria converted a penalty to make it 3–2, but time ran out on a comeback. Congratulations to Team Mexico on an incredible win.
Congratulations to Musabwa Nzirimwo for wining the Golden Boot.
Congratulations to AASA alumni Rick Hoffman for being honored for his contributions to Amputee Soccer.
Gratitude and Highlights
We’d like to thank the city of San Juan de los Lagos for the warm hospitality. From packed stands to pictures with local fans, the support we received was unforgettable.
Special thanks to the World Amputee Football Federation for organizing the tournament and making this experience possible.
A heartfelt salute to our coaching staff:
Head Coach Jason Fiscina, who qualifies for his first World Cup with Team USA
Assistant Coaches: Darren Wynne, Israel Sanchez, Paige Palazzolo, and Jim Franks
And a huge thank you to our leadership team at AASA:
President Dr. Eric Lamberg and Treasurer Dr. James Pierre-Glaude for ensuring everything ran smoothly and that we were able to represent our country on the field.
Nigel Degraff for providing media coverage for the entire tournament.
The mission continues. Next stop: Costa Rica, 2026.
FULL MATCHES
Photos via WAFF
