Amputee Soccer 'Reopin Cup 2026': FC Avorada Wins 8th Consecutive Title!

On May 24, the second day of the 11th 'Reopin Cup Copa Amputee' (specially sponsored by Wakunaga Pharmaceutical), a national amputee soccer tournament supported by supplier SSK/hummel, took place at Tsurumi Ryokuchi Ball Stadium in Osaka. Five matches, including the final, were played, with FC Avorada taking its 8th consecutive title.

■ Amputee Soccer: Starting as Rehabilitation

Amputee soccer is a disability sport primarily for people with lower-limb amputations who play while using crutches. It began in Japan in 2010. This year is a World Cup year for amputee soccer, just like men's soccer, with the 'WAFF 2026 World Cup' set to be held in Mexico in November. The Japanese national team has already secured its 6th consecutive entry in the tournament.

Beyond athletic performance, amputee soccer originally began as rehabilitation and is a sport that can be enjoyed regardless of age or gender. At the spring Reopin Cup, non-disabled participants are permitted to play while keeping one leg raised, making it a tournament where diversity can be felt firsthand.

Player Yuta Kawanishi of Kansai Sete Estrelas shared, 'I've come to support my brother since I was little and always wanted to play. It's different from soccer in how you kick and defend, but there's a joy when you perform well. I'm happy not just for practice, but to play in games with the Kansai Sete members I've always cheered for.'

Naomi Hisamitsu of AFC Bumblebee Chiba returned to competition after maternity leave. Because it's hard to participate in every tournament that requires travel, this was her first entry in the Reopin Cup in two years. She said, 'After quitting my job to become a mother and housewife, I felt some pain when I hit a wall with childcare. But here, people call me 'Nao,' there's the joy of chasing the ball with teammates, and I can feel growth in my own play—thinking, 'That pass worked today' or 'I dribbled.' I want to continue playing amputee soccer.' It has become one of her places to belong.

■ Aiming for the Amputee Soccer World Cup

FC Avorada won the tournament, marking their 8th consecutive victory at the Reopin Cup. Henrique Matsumora Dias, a pioneer who helped spread amputee soccer in Japan, expressed his joy: 'While this is a consecutive victory, it's never easy. I'm happy with the results of the team approaching the game with focus.'

Tournament MVP Kaito Akiba, who shared the top scorer award with 5 goals, stated, 'I was able to score in the way we practiced. There are still areas that need adjustment, so I want to become even stronger.' Regarding the Japanese national team, while selection trials are still ahead, he said, 'In January, we had our first international tournament in Japan and were able to play against top European teams like Poland and Spain. I want to hold onto the image of playing against global powerhouse teams and adjust for the selection trials.'

The best record for the Japanese amputee soccer national team at the World Cup is 10th place in 2018. Head coach Ryosuke Ogata noted, 'I was worried because there was a gap since the 'Amputee Soccer International Challenge Cup' in January, but many players have maintained good condition, so I have high expectations for the selection trials in July. Regarding the World Cup, since the (Asian qualifiers in) Indonesia, I've told the players, 'Our goal is a medal.' First, we want to break through the best 8, and then return to Japan with a medal as a souvenir.'

The two days of the Reopin Cup were streamed live on Yomiuri TV's 'Athlete Channel' (https://ytv-athlete.jp). Sports producer Haruo Matsui commented, 'While our programs focus on amateur and student sports, besides this amputee soccer, we have featured wheelchair basketball, and we want to continue disseminating the charm of para-sports.' The tournament remains available in the archives, and amputee soccer will be featured in the late-night broadcast on May 29. Attention is expected to grow leading up to the Amputee Soccer World Cup in November.

■ May 24 Match Results

Kansai Sete Estrelas 3-1 Ganesha Shizuoka AFC
FC Avorada 2-0 FC TS-ONE2026
AFC Bumblebee Chiba 4-0 Hiroshima/Hyogo Combined Team
Ganesha Shizuoka AFC 1-0 FC TS-ONE2026
Kansai Sete Estrelas 0-3 FC Avorada

■ Tournament Results

1st: FC Avorada
2nd: Kansai Sete Estrelas
3rd: Ganesha Shizuoka AFC
4th: FC TS-ONE2026
5th: AFC Bumblebee Chiba
6th: Hiroshima/Hyogo Combined Team