The U.S. amputee soccer team
Photo Credit Carl Calabria
Team USA will kick off its quest for the Amputee Soccer World Cup with an opening match against England when the sport’s premier global event gets underway in Istanbul, Turkey, later this month. The Americans will take on England on Oct. 1 before rounding out the group stage against Argentina (Oct. 2) and Indonesia (Oct. 3). Sixteen teams will advance to the knockout rounds: the top two sides from each of the six groups, in addition to the top four third-place teams. Nef Stadium, the home of famed Turkish soccer club Galatasaray, will host the Oct. 9 final. Turkey, which finished second at the 2018 World Cup, is an early favorite to hoist the trophy.
“The U.S. Amputee Soccer team has been training and is at peak performance. We look forward to competing against the best amputee soccer teams in the world.” Head coach Dr. Eric Lamberg, an associate dean in the School of Health Professions at Stony Brook University and president of the American Amputee Soccer Association, commented.
Dr. Lamberg explained that Amputee Soccer was codified in 1980 by Seattle native Don Bennett, amputee soccer is played on a ¾-size pitch with seven players to a side. Field players use forearm crutches and may play the ball with only one leg. Goalkeepers defend a 7’x16’ net and may use only one arm.