USA Blind Soccer Announces National Team Roster for AZTECA INTERNATIONAL CUP 2025

Colorado Springs, Colo. – The U.S. Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) is excited to announce the USA Blind Soccer National Team roster as the team heads to San Luis Potosí, Mexico, to compete in the 2025 Azteca International Cup from September 12-September 21.

The matches will officially start on September 15th, and the USA Blind Soccer Men’s National Team will compete against the Mexico Senior team, Brazil, Chile, Peru, and the Youth Mexican team in five group matches and finals.

Match Schedule:

September 15

• Mexico Senior vs United States 7:00 PM MST.

September 16

• United States vs Brazil 4:00 PM MST

September 17

• United States vs Chile 4:00 PM MST

September 18

• Peru vs United States 4:00 PM MST

September 19

• Mexico Youth vs United States 4:00 PM MST

The final placement matches will take place on September 20th.

These matches mark another step forward in Team USA’s yearlong preparation for the America’s “B” Tournament December 2-8, 2025 in San Juan, Costa Rica.

The U.S. Men’s Blind Soccer National Team roster includes Team Captain, Charles Catherine (Brooklyn, New York); Alvaro Mora Arellano (Phoenix, Arizona) Ricky Castaneda (Fort Worth, Texas); Antoine Craig (Richmond, Virginia); Oseas De Leon (Miami, Florida); Cody Kirchner (Columbia, South Carolina); Ethan Kunes  (Baltimore, Maryland); and Ahmed Shareef  (Staten Island, New York). The sighted Goalkeepers are Mark Baker Jr. (Charlotte, North Carolina) and Brandt Herron (Palm Coast, Florida). Team USA will be led by USA Blind Soccer Men’s National Team head coach Ryan Lazaroe and assistant coaches Jorge Polanco and Kyle Knott.

Head Coach, Ryan Lazaroe, remarks, “We’re incredibly excited to announce the U.S. Men’s Blind National Soccer Team’s participation in our first-ever international tournament, the Azteca International Cup in Mexico. This moment is a historic milestone, not just for our program but for the growth of blind soccer across the United States. Representing our country on the international stage is a tremendous honor, and this opportunity allows our athletes to showcase their hard work, resilience, and elite talent against some of the world’s best. It’s a major step forward as we continue to prepare for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

We’re proud of how far this team has come, and we’re even more energized by what lies ahead. The journey is just beginning, and we’re ready to make our mark.”

Captain Charles Catherine notes, “This is going to be an important milestone for our program for a few reasons. This is our first away tournament, a great opportunity for us to get to know each other in a different setting, and play in front of a crowd that won’t be rooting for us. This will also be a chance for us to play against five different teams in five days, forcing us to adjust to many different styles of play, the best possible way for us to prepare for the Paralympics in 2028!”

Since the teams inception, they have competed in various friendlies and scrimmages with international competition. In 2023, the team competed in two friendlies against Canada. In 2024, the USA Men’s Blind Soccer National team hosted England and Japan for the USA Blind Soccer International Cup and in April 2025, hosted Romania for scrimmages. The team will face five new teams, and is looking forward to the continued preparation as they focus on the America’s “B” Tournament in December.

Stay tuned to @USABA on social media throughout the tournament for highlights, updates, and behind-the-scenes coverage.

About the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes (USABA)

The mission of USABA is to empower Americans who are blind or visually impaired to experience life-changing opportunities in sports, recreation, and physical activities, thereby educating and inspiring the nation. A member organization of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and US Soccer, USABA is certified by the USOPC as the national governing body for the Paralympic team sports of goalball and blind soccer. Since its founding in 1976, USABA has reached more than 100,000 individuals through its multi-sport programming in eight sports. The organization has emerged as more than just a world-class trainer of blind athletes; it has become a champion of the abilities of Americans who are legally blind. As USABA celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2026, the organization continues

to build on its legacy of expanding sports opportunities for athletes who are blind or visually impaired.

For more information about USABA and its initiatives, visit www.usaba.org.

About USA Blind Soccer

The USA Blind Soccer National Team was internationally ranked for the first time in November 2024, marking an essential step in the sport’s development ahead of its Paralympic debut at LA28. Bringing blind soccer to the United States is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and USABA has taken on the challenge of building the sport from the ground up. As the National Governing Body for Blind Soccer, USABA is developing an elite USA National Team and creating a grassroots network to introduce more athletes to the sport. By establishing a strong foundation, USABA ensures that future generations of blind soccer players can access competitive and recreational opportunities, helping athletes across the country experience the thrill of the world’s most popular game.

For medal inquiries, contact marketing@usaba.org.

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