South American teams ruled the turf at the IBSA Blind Football World Championships in Tokyo. In a repeat of the 2006 final, Brazil beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time to earn their fourth world title in the five-man game on Monday (24 November). As hosts, Brazil already had their place at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games confirmed, so Argentina had already guaranteed their spot by reaching the final. Confirmation was published at the International Paralympic Committee website.

The decisive match saw the only two teams who have won the title go into battle again. Brazil, who were champions in 1998, 2000 and 2010, and Argentina, who claimed the crown in 2002 and 2006, both arrived in the final unbeaten. And their evenness resulted in a tight and tense game that remained goalless until the second half of extra time, when Brazil star Jefinho made the breakthrough.

“When I shot, I didn’t expect the ball to go in,” he said. “I think luck played a part but the important thing is that now we can celebrate this title. Scoring in the final is very emotional. We worked hard and gave all that we could. When I scored, I let everything out.”

Argentina guaranteed their place at Rio 2016 by beating Spain on penalties in the semi-final (Photo: Facebook)

Argentina will come to Rio in search of their first Paralympic Games gold medal in football 5-a-side, having taken silver at Athens 2004 and bronze at Beijing 2008.

“Winning the Paralympic Games is all that we are missing,” said Argentina’s Froilán Coki Padilla. “And now we have plenty of time to think about and plan for this.”

However, Brazil will be favourites to defend their title in Rio, having won all three Paralympic Games gold medals available so far. In Ricardinho, they had the top scorer in Tokyo, with six goals, and the player of the tournament.   

In addition to Brazil and Argentina, a further six teams – to be decided in continental qualifiers in 2015 – will compete at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

Rio2016.com is not an absolute authority on qualification for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which is an ongoing process. Final places will only be confirmed in July 2016 (for the Olympic Games) and August 2016 (for the Paralympic Games). The qualification systems are defined by each sport’s respective International Federation and the International Olympic Committee or International Paralympic Committee, and are subject to change. When an athlete or team wins a quota place for their nation, the final decision on whether this ‘slot’ is used and which athletes are sent is taken by the respective National Olympic Committee or National Paralympic Committee (NOC or NPC). Even when athletes win a ‘nominal’ place for themselves, NOCs/NPCs may have to decide who to send if the number of qualified athletes from one country exceeds the quota.