England win Cerebral Palsy World Cup with extra-time victory over USA
England have won the Cerebral Palsy World Cup for the first time. They beat the United States 2-1 in the final in Atlanta, and the winner came in extra time, the additional period played when a match is level after 90 minutes.
The final looked to be going the other way. With three minutes left, the United States took the lead from a corner, the set piece where a team restarts play from the corner flag. England did not fold. Sam Dewhirst equalised, and the match went into extra time, according to BBC Sport.
Then David Porcher settled it. Dewhirst's shot was saved, and Porcher scored England's winning goal. England's head coach is Jack Rutter.
The tournament, officially the IFCPF Men's World Cup 2026, ran from 14 to 24 October in Atlanta, Georgia. The IFCPF, the international body that runs the competition, describes it as the most prestigious event in the CP football calendar. CP football is played by players with cerebral palsy, a lifelong condition that affects movement and muscle control. The United States were the host nation.
Twenty nations from six continents took part, playing 56 matches across the men's and women's events, according to the IFCPF. England's route to the final was built on goals. They beat Brazil 2-0 in the semi-final. Earlier, in their last group match, they scored seven goals. Dewhirst scored their fourth, and Porcher scored twice, including their fifth.
Brazil then beat Spain to finish third, so the podium was completed by the two teams England had already faced in the knockout rounds.
For a squad, the path to a final is rarely simple. The England squad list had Dewhirst at number 9 and Porcher at number 10. In the final, those two shirts were the ones that found the net when England needed them.
The IFCPF's own match report carries the headline "England come from behind to claim Men's World Cup, defeat USA 2-1." That line captures the story. England were behind with three minutes to play, and they still had the last word.
