First women’s blind football, men’s Euros head to Italy

The first ever International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) Blind Football Women’s European Championships will be held in Pescara, Italy, in 2022, just ahead of the next men’s edition in the same location.

The women’s Euros join the recently announced first Americas and Asian Championships for female players in Argentina and India, respectively.

Four teams are expected to compete in Pescara from 2-7 June as women’s blind football takes off around the world, whilst 10 countries will go for the title in the men’s from 8-18 June.

Both Championships will be held at the Pescara Calcio Field.

Defending champions Spain will return to the pitch in Italy in an effort to gain an impressive ninth European title in the men’s. The Spanish grabbed victory against France at the last edition of the Euros in Rome in 2019.

England finished third in Rome after winning a penalty shoot-out against Turkey.

Hosts Italy, Russia, Germany and Belgium will join the hunt for the trophy. Romania and Greece will compete having been promoted to Division A in 2021.

Teams will play in two groups of five. The draw will be made shortly.

The Euros join the men’s IBSA Blind Football Americas Championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 20-29 October and the IBSA Blind Football Asian Championships in Kochi, India, from 9-20 November.

The Championships will be qualifiers for the men’s 2023 IBSA Blind Football World Championships taking place as part of the IBSA World Games in Birmingham, Great Britain. Birmingham 2023 will see countries secure places for the Paris 2024 Paralympics.

Both competitions will also see the first regional titles awarded to women’s teams ahead of the 2023 IBSA World Games, which will also stage the first IBSA Blind Football Women’s World Championships.