"2026 IBSA Goalball World Championships" Opens! Both Women's and Men's Teams Win Their Opening Matches Against Poland and Argentina
The "2026 IBSA Goalball World Championships" opened on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. The women's team won their first match against Poland 10-0, and the men's team defeated Argentina 11-1. Both teams secured victories in their opening games, making a smooth start.
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- 📰 Published: June 11, 2026 at 04:30
- 🔍 Collected: June 10, 2026 at 19:51
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 11, 2026 at 00:25 (4h 34m after Collected)
The "2026 IBSA Goalball World Championships" opened on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. The women's team played their first match against Poland and won 10-0. The men's team played against Argentina and won 11-1. Both teams won their opening games, making a smooth start.
■ Day 1 (Preliminary Round) Results
Women's: Japan 10-0 Poland
Men's: Japan 11-1 Argentina
■ Comments from Women's Captain Takahashi after the match
- How do you feel looking back on the first match?
We were able to win the first match against Poland 10-0 by a cold game, and I am filled with a sense of relief and happiness right now.
- Which scene left the strongest impression on you?
I think it was very good that we persistently followed up on the points we scored. That led to consecutive points and energized the team as a whole. I think it was a very good point that we were able to create consecutive points with Amuro's 9-3 ball and Kimura's ball from zero.
- Please say a few words for the next match.
While we will thoroughly review our challenges, I think we were able to play in a good atmosphere, so we will carry that forward and do our best in tomorrow's match against Ukraine.
■ Comments from Men's Captain Kaneko after the match
- How do you feel looking back on the first match?
I think each of us fulfilled our roles, and the bench work also worked well.
- Were you nervous for the first match?
Since it was our first official tournament in two years, I was actually a bit worried about whether I would be nervous or not, but I was properly nervous, so I felt it was a tournament like any other, and the nervousness itself became a source of reassurance, which was good.
- How do you plan to lead the team in the next match?
As captain, I want to show my game through my play, score points, and lead the team, while trusting my teammates. I want the whole team to get another win and steadily move closer to the championship.
- Please give a message to everyone waiting in Japan.
Yes, we were able to get through the first match, and it's really thanks to everyone's support. We will win one game at a time, so please continue to support us.
■ Match Video
https://www.youtube.com/live/EUiymu7jdq4?si=1MJSvuYho6Kk_SA5
■ Related Release
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000099.000101312.html
■ Tournament Overview
[Tournament Name] 2026 IBSA Goalball World Championships
[Tournament Period] Saturday, June 6, 2026 – Tuesday, June 16, 2026 *Matches are from Wednesday, June 10 to Monday, June 15
[Venue] Hangzhou, China
■ Upcoming Japan Match Schedule *Japan Time
Thursday, June 11
10:00 Women's: Japan vs. Ukraine
17:30 Men's: Japan vs. Finland
Friday, June 12
11:30 Women's: Japan vs. Canada
16:00 Men's: Japan vs. Poland
Saturday, June 13
16:00 Women's Quarterfinals
20:30 Men's Quarterfinals
Sunday, June 14
17:30 Women's Semifinals
19:00 Men's Semifinals
Monday, June 15
16:00 Women's 3rd Place Match
17:30 Men's 3rd Place Match
19:00 Women's Final
20:30 Men's Final
■ Day 1 (Preliminary Round) Results
Women's: Japan 10-0 Poland
Men's: Japan 11-1 Argentina
■ Comments from Women's Captain Takahashi after the match
- How do you feel looking back on the first match?
We were able to win the first match against Poland 10-0 by a cold game, and I am filled with a sense of relief and happiness right now.
- Which scene left the strongest impression on you?
I think it was very good that we persistently followed up on the points we scored. That led to consecutive points and energized the team as a whole. I think it was a very good point that we were able to create consecutive points with Amuro's 9-3 ball and Kimura's ball from zero.
- Please say a few words for the next match.
While we will thoroughly review our challenges, I think we were able to play in a good atmosphere, so we will carry that forward and do our best in tomorrow's match against Ukraine.
■ Comments from Men's Captain Kaneko after the match
- How do you feel looking back on the first match?
I think each of us fulfilled our roles, and the bench work also worked well.
- Were you nervous for the first match?
Since it was our first official tournament in two years, I was actually a bit worried about whether I would be nervous or not, but I was properly nervous, so I felt it was a tournament like any other, and the nervousness itself became a source of reassurance, which was good.
- How do you plan to lead the team in the next match?
As captain, I want to show my game through my play, score points, and lead the team, while trusting my teammates. I want the whole team to get another win and steadily move closer to the championship.
- Please give a message to everyone waiting in Japan.
Yes, we were able to get through the first match, and it's really thanks to everyone's support. We will win one game at a time, so please continue to support us.
■ Match Video
https://www.youtube.com/live/EUiymu7jdq4?si=1MJSvuYho6Kk_SA5
■ Related Release
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000099.000101312.html
■ Tournament Overview
[Tournament Name] 2026 IBSA Goalball World Championships
[Tournament Period] Saturday, June 6, 2026 – Tuesday, June 16, 2026 *Matches are from Wednesday, June 10 to Monday, June 15
[Venue] Hangzhou, China
■ Upcoming Japan Match Schedule *Japan Time
Thursday, June 11
10:00 Women's: Japan vs. Ukraine
17:30 Men's: Japan vs. Finland
Friday, June 12
11:30 Women's: Japan vs. Canada
16:00 Men's: Japan vs. Poland
Saturday, June 13
16:00 Women's Quarterfinals
20:30 Men's Quarterfinals
Sunday, June 14
17:30 Women's Semifinals
19:00 Men's Semifinals
Monday, June 15
16:00 Women's 3rd Place Match
17:30 Men's 3rd Place Match
19:00 Women's Final
20:30 Men's Final
FAQ
Where is the 2026 IBSA Goalball World Championships held?
It is held in Hangzhou, China.
What were the results of Japan's first matches?
The women's team won 10-0 against Poland, and the men's team won 11-1 against Argentina.
Who is the women's captain?
The women's captain is player Takahashi.