U.S. Women’s CP National Team Wins 2-0 in a Hard-Fought Match Over Japan and Clinches Semifinal Berth in 2026 IFCPF World Cup

ATLANTA (Oct. 17, 2026) — The U.S. Women’s Cerebral Palsy (CP) National Team earned a hard-fought 2-0 win against Japan in the group A finale at the 2026 IFCPF World Cup. The victory clinched first place in the group and a spot in the semifinals of the competition at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Fayetteville, Ga.

Isabella Stankunas opened the scoring in the 21st minute in her first start of the tournament and Jesslyn Kuhnel sealed the win late in the second half. Goalkeeper Catarina Guimares made three key saves to preserve the shoutout and secured the first-ever semifinal berth in program history with the tournament changing format this year.

Stankunas was a constant threat on the right side, making multiple runs and sending in several crosses that Japan’s defense was pressured to clear. The Americans kept building their attack pushing the ball into the box from the flanks.

The breakthrough finally came in the 21st minute. Stankunas won the ball on the right side in the attacking third, drove toward goal and fired a right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area into the back of the net. The U.S. took a 1-0 lead into halftime after one minute of stoppage time.

Japan pushed hard for the equalizer after the break and Guimares came up big in a three-minute stretch making multiple saves.

The match seemed like it would end 1-0 in favor of the Americans, but they had a goal left in themd as the final whistle approached. After collecting ball in midfield, Annie Wickett skillfully dribbled forward and won a one-v-one battle that led to a quick pass to Kuhnel. Kuhnel patiently waited on the left side of the penalty box, received the ball and confidently struck a shot into the bottom corner with her right foot.

The U.S. has had success in past IFCPF World Cups having won the final in the inaugural tournament in 2022 with a 4-2 extra-time victory against Australia and finished as runner-up to Australia in 2024.

The previous two editions used a single round-robin group, with the top two teams advancing directly to the final. With seven teams competing this year, the tournament switched to group play leading into a final four.

Up next, the U.S. Women’s Cerebral Palsy (CP) Soccer National Team will head to the semifinal match on Oct. 21 at 2 p.m. ET with the opponent pending the results of the upcoming Group B matches at the Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center. All matches continue to be broadcast live via the IFCPF YouTube Channel. The IFCPF World Cup is the first major international competition to ever be played at the facility and the first event open to the public (free reserved tickets available here).

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

• The Americans are 16W-2L-1D all-time and have outscored opponents 148-24 since beginning play in 2022. The field of seven teams competing in the IFCPF Women’s World Cup marks the largest women’s competition in the history of women’s CP soccer.
• The U.S. and Finland met for the first time at a World Cup in the group-stage opener.
• The last time the U.S. faced Japan, it won 12-0 to reach the 2024 Women’s World Cup final, but the team’s drew 1-1 in the inaugural 2022 Women’s World Cup.
• Janie Richardson and goalkeeper Gabriella Scotto made their World Cup debut as second half substitutes in the first group play match against Finland.
• Kuhnel continues to be the program’s all-time leading scorer, with 26 goals in 17 caps.
• The reigning IFCPF Women’s Intercontinental Cup champions, the U.S. won the inaugural IFCPF Women’s World Cup in 2022 and finished as a runner-up to Australia in 2024.
• The field of seven teams competing in the IFCPF Women’s World Cup marks the largest women’s competition in the history of women’s CP soccer.

-U.S. WOMEN’S CEREBRAL PALSY (CP) NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-

Match: U.S. Women’s Cerebral Palsy (CP) National Team vs. Japan
Date: October 17, 2026
Competition: 2026 IFCPF World Cup – Group Stage
Venue: Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center; Fayetteville, Ga.
Kickoff: 4:10 pm ET
Weather: 83 degrees, sunny

Lineups:

USA: 12-Gabriella Scotto (7-Catarina Guimares,26); 5-Joey Emma Martin (10-Jesslyn Kuhnel,17), 9-Leah Glaser (6-Janie Richardson,17) (8-Kaia Spencer, 34), 11-Isabella Stankunas (3-Annie Wickett,43), 4-Michelle Cross (capt.)

Substitutes: none

Head coach: Chris Maravalli

JPN: 1-Aika Sasaki, 5-Mai Ohta, 7-Saki Kuroki (4-Miyabi Hamada,50), 9-Mirai Toyoda, 10-Mayuko Kaiga (8-Kiona Kitajima, 40)

Substitutes: none

Head coach: Masato Otake

Stats Summary: USA / JPN
Shots: 10 / 4
Shots on Goal: 8 / 3
Saves: 3 / 7
Fouls: 2 / 0
Corner Kicks: 2 / 4
Fouls: 3/ 1

Officials:

Referee: Adrian (N/A)

Assistant Referee 1: D. Gerson (N/A)

Assistant Referee 2: Margaret (N/A)

Fourth Official: Jorge (N/A)