--- title: "Ukraine's amputee football team secures a spot at the 2026 World Cup" description: "Ukraine's amputee football team has officially joined the list of participants for the 2026 World Cup, taking the place of the withdrawn Irish national team. The World Cup will be held in Mexico from 13 to 22 November among 24 teams." date: 2026-09-18T18:16:01.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/ukraine-amputee-football-team-2026-world-cup tags: [ukraine, amputee-football, world-cup-2026, waff, irlandia, mexico] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Ukraine's amputee football team secures a spot at the 2026 World Cup ![Ukraine amputee football national team in Adidas kits on a stadium pitch after the 2025 Champions League victory](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/19/sbornaya-ukrainy-po-ampfutbolu-chm-2026/sbornaya-ukrainy-po-ampfutbolu-chm-2026-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - WAFF officially confirmed Ukraine's amputee football team's inclusion in the 2026 World Cup participant list - Ukraine took the place of the withdrawn Irish national team, which pulled out due to injuries and squad issues - The World Cup will be held from 13 to 22 November 2026 in San Juan de los Lagos (Mexico) among 24 teams - The spot was a result of Ukraine's triumph in Division C of the EAFF Nations League - The "League of Mighty" project, supported by the UAF fund, unites more than 25 clubs across the country The World Amputee Football Federation (WAFF) has officially confirmed Ukraine's inclusion in the list of participants for the 2026 World Cup. This was reported by Sport RBC.UA, citing the international organization's press service. The Ukrainian team became the last to join the final tournament lineup, taking the place of the withdrawn Irish national team. The Irish players were forced to withdraw due to squad issues and player injuries that prevented them from fielding a full squad for the World Cup. ### Mexico to host the world's 24 strongest teams The 2026 Amputee Football World Cup will be held from 13 to 22 November in the Mexican city of San Juan de los Lagos. The final stage of the tournament will feature 24 national teams — the strongest in this sport. The Ukrainian national team will compete for the main trophy alongside the world's leading squads. The secured spot opens up for Ukrainian athletes the opportunity to represent the national flag at the largest global forum and showcase a high level of play to an international audience. ### Triumph in the EAFF Nations League as a springboard The chance to compete at the World Cup is a logical continuation of the Ukrainian team's successful performances on the international stage. A key step on this path was their triumph in Division C of the EAFF Nations League, which confirmed the high level of preparation of the "blue-and-yellow" side and their competitiveness among European national teams. It was precisely these results that allowed Ukraine to claim the spot in case another team released its slot. ### "League of Mighty": the infrastructure for amputee football development in Ukraine Stepping onto the world stage is the result of the systematic development of amputee football within the country. The "League of Mighty" project, implemented with the support of the UAF fund, today supports more than 25 all-Ukrainian and regional clubs. This infrastructure creates a sustainable ecosystem in which athletes with amputations have the opportunity to train regularly, compete in tournaments, and grow professionally. It is thanks to this base that Ukraine is able to field a competitive national team for World Cup-level competition. ### Context and significance of the event For Ukrainian sport, participation in the Amputee Football World Cup carries special significance. It is not just a sporting achievement, but also a demonstration that people with disabilities are capable of reaching the highest peaks in professional sport. The national team, pictured in their signature yellow kits bearing the UAF emblem and the "League of Mighty" sponsor logo, is preparing for its appearance in Mexico, where it will face the strongest teams on the planet. The tournament, which kicks off on 13 November 2026, will be the main test for Ukrainian amputee footballers and a chance to make their mark in the history of world Paralympic football. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Ukraine's national team unexpectedly secures a spot at the 2026 Amputee Football World Cup](https://sport.rbc.ua/ukr/football/zbirna-ukrayini-nespodivano-otrimala-putivku-1789755182.html) - Подтверждает факт утверждения WAFF, замену Ирландии, даты и место проведения турнира (13–22 ноября 2026, Сан-Хуан-де-лос-Лагос), 24 команды, триумф в Дивизионе C Лиги наций EAFF, проект «Лига сильных» с 25+ клубами. - [Ukraine's amputee football team becomes the last participant of the 2026 World Cup](https://www.ua-football.com/ukrainian/news/1789813376-sbornaya-ukrainy-po-ampfutbolu-stala-posledney-uchastnicey-chm-2026.html) - Подтверждает факт участия Украины и добавляет деталь, что команда стала последней участницей турнира. Согласуется с основной версией о замене Ирландии. - [World Cup. Qualifying tournament. Europe. Play-off matches. Semifinals](https://www.sport-express.ru/football/world/chempionat-mira-2026/fbl_match-ukraina-shveciya-432612/?mob) - Источник относится к отборочному турниру чемпионата мира по обычному футболу (Украина–Швеция), а не к ампфутболу. Не используется для подтверждения фактов статьи. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Why did Ukraine's national team qualify for the 2026 Amputee Football World Cup? **A:** Ukraine took the place of the Irish national team, which was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to squad issues and player injuries. WAFF officially confirmed the inclusion of the Ukrainian team in the participant list. ### Q: When and where will the 2026 Amputee Football World Cup be held? **A:** The World Cup will take place from 13 to 22 November 2026 in the Mexican city of San Juan de los Lagos. Twenty-four national teams will participate in the tournament. ### Q: What result allowed Ukraine to claim a spot at the World Cup? **A:** The key factor was the Ukrainian national team's triumph in Division C of the EAFF Nations League, which confirmed the team's high level and its readiness to compete at world level. ### Q: What is the "League of Mighty" project? **A:** It is a project for the development of amputee football in Ukraine, implemented with the support of the UAF fund. It unites more than 25 all-Ukrainian and regional clubs and builds the infrastructure for athlete development.