São Paulo to Host Major Paralympic and Blind Football Championships in September 2026
São Paulo will host the 2026 final state Paralympic Games and the IBSA Blind Football American Championships, spotlighting Brazil’s leadership in inclusive sport.
- • The 2026 final state Paralympic Games in São Paulo will run September 25-27 with athletics at Ibirapuera and swimming at the Paralympic Training Center.
- • The IBSA Blind Football American Championships will take place in São Paulo from September 3-13, marking the first women’s Copa América event in blind football.
- • Brazil’s women’s blind football team recently finished fourth at the 2025 World Cup, while the men’s team won the Parasul-American Games.
- • Coaches David Xavier and Cesinha are confident about their teams’ chances, highlighting the advantage of competing at home.
- • The 2025 Paresp edition included over 1,800 athletes, with São José dos Campos winning the overall championship.
Key details
São Paulo is gearing up for two significant Paralympic sporting events this September, showcasing Brazil’s commitment to inclusive sports and international competition. The final stage of the 2026 Paralympic Games of the State of São Paulo (Paresp) is scheduled for September 25-27. Athletics events will take place at the Ibirapuera Olympic Stadium on the 25th and 26th, followed by swimming competitions at the Brazilian Paralympic Training Center on September 27. This event brings together the top athletes from regional qualifiers held between April and July, highlighting the state’s efforts to strengthen Paralympic sport across municipalities. The Paresp finals were postponed from their original date due to renovations at the training center’s athletics track and the need to coordinate with Ibirapuera’s event schedule. The 2025 edition saw the participation of over 1,800 athletes, with São José dos Campos winning the overall title, Sorocaba placing second, and Presidente Prudente third. Meanwhile, São Paulo will also host the IBSA Blind Football American Championships from September 3 to 13, bringing the sport back to Brazil after 12 years. This event will feature both the men's and women’s Brazilian national teams, with the women participating in the first-ever blind football Copa América following their historic fourth-place finish at the 2025 World Cup. The men’s team, fresh from winning the Parasul-American Games by defeating Argentina 1-0, aims to capture their seventh continental title. Coaches David Xavier and Cesinha have expressed strong confidence in their squads, emphasizing the importance of competing on home soil. Injury setbacks have affected player availability, but preparations continue in earnest. These events underscore Brazil’s prominent role as a hub for Paralympic sport development and continental competition just ahead of Paralympic Games cycles.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
