Brazil's Blind Football Team Advances to Copa América 2026 Final Against Colombia
Brazil's blind football team defeated Costa Rica 2-0 to reach the Copa América final where they will face Colombia, with the final set for November 12 in São Paulo.
- • Brazil defeated Costa Rica 2-0 in the Copa América blind football semifinal.
- • Goals were scored by Maicon Mendes and Raimundo Nonato in the first half.
- • Brazil is undefeated in the tournament and has reached every final in history, winning six times.
- • Colombia eliminated defending champions Argentina via penalties and will meet Brazil in the final.
- • The final will be played on November 12 at 5:30 PM and streamed live on IBSA's YouTube channel.
Key details
Brazil's blind football team secured their place in the final of the 2026 Copa América de Futebol de Cegos with a commanding 2-0 win over Costa Rica in the semifinals on November 10 at the Paralympic Training Center in São Paulo. Maicon Mendes opened the scoring at six minutes, skillfully navigating past three defenders to score a low shot, and Raimundo Nonato doubled the lead six minutes later with a powerful strike inside the box. Brazil dominated play throughout, limiting Costa Rica's chances and goalkeeper Rony Madrigal making several saves in the second half.
Brazil remained undefeated in the tournament, finishing atop Group 2 with impressive wins over Chile and Peru and a goalless draw against Colombia. Historically, Brazil is the most successful team in the tournament, having reached every final in all 11 editions and winning six titles.
Colombia eliminated the defending champions Argentina in a tense semifinal that ended goalless and was decided by a 1-0 penalty shootout. Brazil and Colombia will face off in the final on Saturday, November 12, at 5:30 PM Brasília time, with free public entry and live streaming on the International Blind Sports Federation's YouTube channel.
Brazil has already qualified as host nation for the next World Championship, alongside Colombia, Argentina, and Costa Rica, who sealed World Championship spots through their performances. Meanwhile, Argentina and Costa Rica will compete for third place in the bronze medal match the same day.
This marks a significant moment as Brazil continues to uphold their reputation as a powerhouse in blind football, seeking their seventh Copa América title with anticipation building ahead of the final showdown against Colombia.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
Source articles (3)
Source comparison
Date of semifinals
Sources report different dates for the semifinals match.
agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br
"semifinals held at the Paralympic Training Center in São Paulo on Thursday, December 10."
agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br
"semifinals held at the Centro de Treinamento Paralímpico in São Paulo on Thursday, October 10."
Why this matters: One source states the semifinals were held on December 10, while another claims it was on October 10. This discrepancy affects the timeline of events leading up to the final.
Date of final match
Sources report different dates for the final match against Colombia.
agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br
"final match against Colombia is scheduled for Saturday, December 12."
agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br
"final against Colombia is scheduled for Saturday, October 12."
Why this matters: One source indicates the final is on December 12, while another states it is on October 12. This discrepancy significantly alters the expected schedule of the tournament.
Date of semifinals in third source
The third source reports a different date for the semifinals match.
cpb.org.br
"semifinals held on November 10."
agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br
"semifinals held on December 10."
agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br
"semifinals held on October 10."
Why this matters: It states the semifinals were held on November 10, conflicting with the other sources. This affects the understanding of the tournament timeline.