CHICAGO (March 11, 2019)—The U.S. Para 7-a-Side National Team will face Iran, Finland and Ireland in Group B play at the 2019 IFCPF World Cup from July 6-19 at Ciudad Deportiva Ramon Cisneros in Sevilla, Spain. The IFCPF (International Federation of CP Football) conducted the draw for the upcoming tournament in Sevilla on Feb. 15.
The USA will kick off the tournament against Iran on Monday, July 8, face Finland on Wednesday, July 10 and finish group play versus Ireland on Friday, July 12. After round-robin play, the top two teams in each group will advance to the knockout-round quarterfinals from July 13-14. Should the USA advance, it would play a team from Group A in the quarterfinals. The semifinals are set for July 16, while the tournament final and third-place match are scheduled for July 18.
“It may sound cliché, but there are no easy games when you enter a competition with the world’s best 16 teams,” Sharp said. “We’ve been drawn in a fascinating first round of fixtures. It’s probably the most difficult draw to advance from, but it’s also a winnable group!
“It will be challenging with ourselves, Iran and the Republic of Ireland all floating around the world’s top four teams in recent years, and we must also keep an eye on Finland. Although they are seeded fourth, it’s their first World Cup and I’m sure they will be preparing to make an impact. The fight to finish in the top two will be tough, but it’s a challenge that we are looking forward to.”
2019 IFCPF World Cup
USA – Group B Schedule
|
Date |
Match-up |
Kickoff (ET) |
|
July 8 |
USA vs. Iran |
3:00 p.m. |
|
July 10 |
USA vs. Finland |
3:00 a.m. |
|
July 12 |
USA vs. Ireland |
1:10 p.m. |
Sixteen teams qualified for the competition, eight through regional IFCPF championships and eight based on their IFCPF world ranking. The USA qualified as the third-place team at the IFCPF Copa America, held last fall in Quito, Ecuador.
|
Group A |
Group B |
Group C |
Group D |
|
Brazil |
USA |
Ukraine |
Netherlands |
|
England |
Ireland |
Argentina |
Russia |
|
Venezuela |
Iran |
Australia |
Canada |
|
Germany |
Finland |
Spain |
Thailand |
The USA squared off with Ireland in the fifth-place match at the 2017 IFCPF World Championships, where a thrilling come-from-behind victory earned the PNT its best modern-era finish at a major international competition. After falling behind 2-0 in the first half, the U.S. tied the game at 2-2 in the final minute of regulation and netted the game-winning goal in stoppage time.