Favourites firming for IFCPF Men's World Cup glory

The IFCPF Men’s World Cup will kick off in less than 50 days, and 12 teams will head to Atlanta battling to hold the trophy aloft.

Only one will get the chance.

For hosts and 2025 IFCPF Copa América champions the USA, the script seems perfectly set.

Fresh off perhaps the biggest moment in the program, Stuart Sharpe’s team will be aiming to supersede that achievement with a Men’s World Cup, and with a raucous home crowd behind them, it might be their best chance.

The Stars and Stripes have already upset one status quo. Now, they have their eyes set on another. 

Their group is far from easy though, with the Netherlands, Scotland and Canada all hoping to spoil the party in Group A.

The Dutch loom as the likely challengers for the top spot in the group, and with their attacking firepower, it is not hard to see why.

Finishing third at the 2024 tournament and propelled there by 10 goals from Golden Boot winner Sem van Helden, the team clad in orange have established themselves as one of the most exciting squads in the game.

This was proliferated in its showing at the IFCPF Men’s Euros in Loughborough it again finished third. It has been a rapid rise for the team, who now want a piece of silverware to show for it.

Whoever wins the group will give itself a glorious chance to take home the trophy.

From Group B, expectations on Brazil will be high, particularly given its search for revenge after losing its hold on the Copa América. 

After losing its semi-final 2-0 to Argentina, a third-place finish will surely motivate the team, who will look to take the program where it has never been before.

Perhaps surprisingly, Brazil has never sat on the top step of the CP Football world, across World Cups or Paralympic Games.

A first worldwide trophy could be on offer here. Can Brazil get the job down and make it theirs?

Out of Group C, England will look to build on its run to the final at the Men’s Euros, and its seventh-place finish at the last IFCPF Men’s World Cup.

With David Porcher and Sam Dewhirst set to feature prominently in attack for new boss Jack Rutter, it looks like opposition defences will have their work cut out.

Another squad who has experience in tournament finals, the English will not only give themselves a chance of getting there, but taking it one step further. Is it England’s year?

There are plenty of storylines as the CP Football world gets set to diverge upon the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center. Regardless of who wins the 2026 IFCPF Men’s World Cup, it will be must-watch.