PHOENIX, Ariz. (Nov. 16, 2025) – The U.S. Power Soccer National Team utilized braces from Riley Johnson, Lexi Heer, single strikes from Jordan Dickey and Michael Rayton and a trio of assists from Pete Winslow to earn a dominant 6-0 win against Mexico in the opening match of the 2025 APFC America’s Cup at Ability360 on Sunday. The USA continues the qualifying tournament for the 2026 FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup on Monday against Argentina (9 a.m. MT / 11 a.m. ET) and Uruguay (1:30 p.m. MT / 3:30 p.m. ET), with both matches to be shown live via the Power Soccer Shop YouTube channel.
Playing in front of a boisterous crowd, the tournament opener also marked the first ever match between the USA and Mexico in international power soccer and Tracy Mayer’s side made sure to put its stamp on the match from the first whistle.
It took the USA just two minutes to get on the board. Pete Winslow (pictured below), who earned the dead ball opportunity seconds earlier, used Riley Johnson as a decoy on his corner kick from the right and fired a cross that found Jordan Dickey stealthily sneaking through the box to poke it home at the back post.
The USA dominated in the first half, keeping possession in the attacking half for almost the entirety of the first frame, leading to another good opportunity in the 10th minute. Winslow carried the ball on the right and pushed back for Johnson who tapped to the back post for Dickey, but his effort was saved off the line by Mexico captain Rubén Sánchez.
A second goal came again from a Winslow set piece taken from the right corner. This time the Mailman coolly delivered a pass to Johnson who streaked in at the right, redirecting the ball off a Mexico defender and past goalkeeper Adrian Sánchez to give the U.S. a 2-0 lead in the 13th minute.
Mayer’s side continued to threaten from set pieces in the second half. After a two-on-one infraction from Mexico in the 25th minute, Winslow powered a cross to Dickey at the right post, but his first-time effort careened off the bar.
After the close chance, the U.S. got a third goal two minutes later. Dickey crossed for Winslow at the left post, but saw his shot saved off the line before Johnson pounced on the rebound, bundling his second of the match over the line from close range.
Mayer called on substitutes to continue the pressure, as 16-year-old Michael Rayton, who earned his international debut, and veteran Lexi Heer (pictured below) entered in the 28th minute. Heer nearly got a goal a minute later, re-directing Winslow’s corner from the left off the near post, before her follow up attempt went just wide.
That chance only spurred her on, as Heer expertly anticipated Winslow’s corner from the right in the 31st minute, popping up in the box before slotting it between two Mexico defenders to make it 4-0.
Fellow substitute Rayton then ensured a dream debut by getting on the score sheet on a well-worked team goal in the 36th minute. After a two-on-one infraction, center David Dowling put the ball back in play just inside the Mexico half, playing to Heer on the right before centering for Rayton who hit home his first career goal, slicing an accurate shot between multiple defenders.
The USA put a stamp on the match in the 38th minute, as Dowling sent a corner kick from the right to Heer rolling through at the left post. While her initial attempt was saved, she followed through and put back the rebound to cap the USA’s impressive 6-0 victory.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
Match: U.S. Power Soccer National Team vs. Mexico
Date: November 16, 2025
Competition: 2025 APFC America’s Cup – Group Stage
Venue: Ability360; Phoenix, Arizona
Kickoff: 2 p.m. MT (4 p.m. ET)
Attendance: 567
| Scoring Summary | 1 | 2 | F |
| USA | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| MEX | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| USA – Jordan Dickey (Pete Winslow) | 2nd minute |
| USA – Riley Johnson (Pete Winslow) | 13 |
| USA – Riley Johnson | 27 |
| USA – Lexi Heer (Pete Winslow) | 31 |
| USA – Michael Rayton (Lexi Heer) | 36 |
| USA – Lexi Heer | 38 |
Lineups:
USA: 2-Nathan Mayer; 3-Jordan Dickey (Capt.), 9-Pete Winslow 22-Riley Johnson
Substitutes: 5-Lexi Heer, 6-Michael Rayton, 10-David Dowling, 13-Ryan Connolly
Head coach: Tracy Mayer
MEX: 10-Adrian Sánchez; 4-Roberto Camiro, 8-Ángel Aguiar, 9-Rubén Sánchez (Capt.)
Substitutes: 7-Erick Ramirez, 17-Jordan Martinez, 29-Ramiro Benevenutti
Head coach: Jose Acosta
Stats Summary: USA / MEX
Shots: 29 / 1
Saves: 1 / 11
Corner Kicks: 8 / 0
Fouls: 4 / 8
Misconduct Summary:
none
Officials:
N/A
ABOUT POWERCHAIR SOCCER
The U.S. Power Soccer National Team features male and female athletes with disabilities that include quadriplegia, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and cerebral palsy, among others. The game is played in a gymnasium on a regulation basketball court with four players who attack, defend, and spin-kick a 13-inch soccer ball in a skilled and challenging game similar to mainstream soccer.
Power Soccer is the first competitive team sport developed specifically for power wheelchair users and has been played internationally since 2006. The 2023 FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup marks the first world championship event for the U.S. Power Soccer National Team under U.S. Soccer supervision. The team officially became part of the Extended National Teams program in 2022 as part of U.S. Soccer's effort to build out programming for soccer in all of its forms.
For more information on the sport or to inquire about athlete eligibility, please contact U.S. Soccer's Extended National Teams Department via email at extendednt@ussoccer.org