ATLANTA (Oct. 18, 2026) -- The U.S. Men’s Cerebral Palsy (CP) National Team defeated fifth-ranked Netherlands, 4-1, and won their group at the 2026 IFCPF World Cup at Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Fayetteville, GA.
The victory marks the first time the USA has won all three of its group stage matches at an IFCPF World Cup and sends the Americans to the knockout stage for the sixth time.
The U.S. struck first on a set piece in the eighth minute off a Cameron DeLillo goal, which marked the 100th goal in U.S. history at the IFCPF World Cup. DeLillo converted after Ben Lindau lofted a corner kick to the far post, where Meyer-Crothers headed the ball across the box to DeLillo, and he tapped it in with his left foot.
Five minutes later, Ben Lindau played a long ball to Meyer-Crothers. He beat two Dutch defenders and launched a powerful left-footed shot past the goalkeeper’s reach to double the lead.
In the 22nd minute, American goalkeeper Sean Boyle made an impressive leap and pushed out a shot with one hand toward the upper far corner that would have been a goal.
The American defense endured an aggressive Dutch attack early in the second half. The Netherlands finally broke through in the 34th minute and scored their first and only goal of the match when Lorenzo Calkhoven took a shot from outside the box that snuck the ball into goal.
The U.S. answered a minute later, when a shot from Meyer-Crothers forced Netherlands goalkeeper Stefan Boersma to make a diving initial save that rebounded out. Sullivan was on the right side of the box and opportunistically hit a shot into the back of the net to give the Americans a 3-1 lead.
Sullivan struck again in the 37th minute after he found the ball near the end line and hit a powerful shot from a narrow angle into the upper far corner of the goal.
The U.S. closed out group play with wins in all three matches, outscoring its opponents 16-1 to finish atop its group.
The U.S. Men’s Cerebral Palsy (CP) National Team will face Ireland in the quarterfinals on Oct. 20 at (5:30 p.m. ET) at Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center. All matches will be broadcast live via the IFCPF YouTube Channel.. This will be the first major international competition held at the facility and the first event open to the public (free reserved tickets available here).
Match: U.S. Men’s Cerebral Palsy (CP) National Team vs. Netherlands
Date: October 18, 2026
Competition: 2026 IFCPF World Cup – Group Stage
Venue: Arthur M. Blank U.S. Soccer National Training Center; Fayetteville, Ga.
Kickoff: 5:40 p.m. ET
Weather: 59 degrees
| Scoring Summary | 1 | 2 | F |
| USA | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| NED | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| USA – Cameron DeLillo (Jonah Meyer-Crothers) | 8th minute |
| USA – Jonah Meyer-Crothers | 13 |
| NED – Lorenzo Calkhoven | 34 |
| USA – John Sullivan | 35 |
| USA – John Sullivan | 37 |
Lineups:
USA: 1-Sean Boyle; 4-Wesley Pincince (11-Jacob Crumbley,51), 5-Jonah Meyer-Crothers, 8-John Sullivan, 9-Cameron DeLillo (2-Frankie Lowery,59), 10-Ben Lindau, 13-Josh Brunais
Substitutes: 12-Marc Estrella, 3-Kyle Montgomery, 7-Adam Ballou, 6-Jacob Kaplan,14-Shea Hammond
Head coach: Stuart Sharp
NED: 4-Lorenzo Calkhoven, 5-Jochem Kintz (19-Joep Zuidema,51), 6-Jeroen Schuitert (3-Wessel Doorduin,51), 7-Jeroen Saedt, 10-Burno Hoek (14-Harm Panneman, 57), 12-Sem Van Helden (23-Guido Floors,57), 16-Stefan Boersma
Substitutes: 1-Kevin Janssen, 8-Ties Gras, 11-Malik De La Cruz Victoria
Head coach: Jeroen Voogd
Stats Summary: USA / NED
Shots: 8 / 12
Shots on Goal: 6 / 4
Saves: 4 / 2
Fouls: 3 / 2
Corner Kicks: 8 / 7
| Misconduct Summary | |
| USA – Cameron DeLillo (Caution) | 46th minute |
Officials:
Referee: Akmal (AZE)
Assistant Referee 1: A. Pouya (AUS)
Assistant Referee 2: B. Keet (ENG)
Fourth Official: Scott (ARG)