The England Senior Men’s Blind Football Team was founded in the late 1990s via the guidance and leadership of Tony Larkin. Blind football continued in England to grow under the guidance of the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) and support from The FA. Over the years, the team has played a major role in the development of elite blind football in England, with key milestones including competing at the Paralympic Games, hosting the IBSA World Championships at the Royal National College for the Blind in 2010, and growing the national talent pathway. England has produced some of the sport’s most recognisable players in Europe with the team being ever present in reaching the latter stages of major competitions. Recent successes include winning the 2025 IBSA Blind Football Nations Cup, continuing England’s reputation as one of Europe’s leading blind football nations.

The French Blind Football Team has established itself in recent years as one of the leading nations in the sport.
Paralympic champions at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the team relies on an experienced squad and a strong performance culture developed over time.

Regular contenders in major international competitions, France has won several European titles (3), earned a silver medal at London 2012, and consistently competes with top nations such as Brazil and Argentina.

Led by performance manager Charly Simo and head coach Toussaint Akpweh, the team operates within a well-structured program, with high standards across technical and tactical execution, physical conditioning, and mental strength—essential in a discipline where everything relies on sound, spatial awareness, and collective trust.

Blind football exists in Germany since 2006. In 2007 first participation in the 5th European Championship in Greece. Since then qualified for every European Championships up to now paired with two qualifications for the World Championship (2014, 2023).
In 2026 the team has a promising and balanced mix of very experienced players, players in their mid-twenties and promising talents under twenty. Headcoach since 2021 is Martin Mania (33 years of age). After the best result in a European championship in the last edition in Pescara 2022 (4th place), the team is looking to make the next step this year.

Milestones
2007: first participation in a major tournament (European Championship 2007)
2007: First Goal in the history of the German Nationalteam scored by Alexander Fangmann during a 1-3 loss to the Turkish Nationalteam (European Championship 2007).
Two Qualifications for the World Championship (2023 and 2014)
Best achievement: two times 4th place in the European Championship (2022, 2013)

Statistics
International caps/matches (as of April 2026): 152(61 wins, 30 draws, 61 losses, Goal difference: 191:164)
Player with most international caps (as of April 2026): Alexander Fangmann (124 games), Talme Kuttig (113 games)
Top Goalscorer (as of April 2026): Jonathan Tönsing (39 goals in 58 games), Taime Kuttig (38 goals in 113 games), Alexander Fangmann (35 goals in 124 games)

Major Tournament Placements up to now
WC 2023 (Birmingham, England): 11th of 16
EC 2022 (Pescara, Italy): 04th of 10
EC 2019 (Rome, Italy): 07th of 10
EC 20217 (Berlin, Germany): 06th of 10
EC 2015 (Hereford, England): 06th of 10
WC 2014 (Tokyo, Japan): 08th of 12
EC 2013 (Loano, Italy): 04th of 08
EC 2011 (Aksaray, Turkey): 08th of 08
EC 2009 (Nantes, France): 05th of 09
EC 2007 (Athens, Greece): 07th of 07

The first appearance of the Greek National Blind Football Team took place in 1997 at the 1st European Championship in Spain, where the Greek team won the silver medal, paving the way for the establishment and development of the sport in the country, with continuous participation in top international competitions.

A highlight of these successes was their participation in the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games, where they finished in 4th place.

Most recently, at the European Championship in Pescara 2022, the Greek team secured 6th place.

The Italian Blind Football Team represents Italy in international blind football competitions organized under the auspices of the IBSA (International Blind Sports Federation). In Italy, the sport is managed by FISPIC, the Italian Federation of Paralympic Sports for the Visually Impaired and Blind, a federation recognized by the Italian Paralympic Committee.

Over the years, the Italian national Blind Football team has participated in:

• IBSA European Championships;
• Grand Prix;
• Camps and Nations Cup;
• IBSA World Championships.

One of the most important moments in the national team’s recent history was the hosting of the 2019 IBSA European Championships in Rome and 2022 IBSA European Championships in Pescara, Italy. Italy finished the tournament in fifth place, qualifying for the 2023 World Cup for the first time, finishing in eighth place. In preparation for the 2023 World Championships, it participated in the 2022 Grand Prix in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and the Schiltigheim Grand Prix, finishing eighth and fifth, respectively. In 2022, they participated in the Birmingham Tri Nations Cup and the Berlin tournament, finishing second and third, respectively.

In 2025, the Italian national team achieved one of its best results in recent history, winning the bronze medal at the IBSA Men’s Blind Football Nations Cup in India.

In the third-place match, Italy defeated India 3-1.

In the tournaments he has taken part in since 2022, the Italian football player Paul Lyobo has obtained the Fair Play award in the 2025 Nations Cup and at individual level the title of top scorer at the 2022 European Championship, top scorer at the 2023 World Championship, top scorer and best player at the 2022 Schiltigheim Grand Prix and top scorer at the 2025 Nations Cup.

Italy is ranked 12th in the 2026 IBSA Men´s Blind Football Ranking.

The national football team for the blind was created in 2014, at the initiative of theRomanian Association of the Blind, with the support of the National Paralympic Committee and the Romanian Football Federation.

In less than a decade, Romania has managed to rank among the top 20 teams in theworld—a remarkable achievement considering that football for the blind is still a young discipline at the national level.

On April 26, 2026, the National Football Team for the blind celebrated 12 years of existence. A period in which the team has shown that nothing is impossible if there is will, teamwork, and support.

From the first international matches to consistent appearances in major European competitions, Romania’s team has become a respected name in this sport.

The fourth qualification for the European Football Championship for the visually impaired clearly shows that we are on a good and hopeful path toward a ranking that will allow us to participate in the World Championship.

Record in numbers:

• 44 international tournaments
• 130 matches played
• 52 wins | 16 draws | 207 goals scored

Memorable highlights from recent history:

• Romania 0–0 Russia (2014) – first notable result in an official match
• Romania 2–0 Russia (2016) – historic victory
• Romania 3–1 Russia (2019) – confirmation of quality
• Draw with France at Euro 2017 – first point earned at a European Championship
• Romania 1-1 France – Friendly Tournament Buftea 2025

Since its foundation, on 1991, the Spanish National Team is one of the most recognised blind football teams, for its career and its force in the development of this sport.

Its display cases counts with a lot of trophys and medals, as 8 European Championships and 2 bronze medals on a Paralympic Games (Athens and London).

Currently they have achieved the promotion to the 1st division after some years of team changes. Actually the team combine the experience of the group of veterans players and the ambition of the group of youngest players.

The international journey of the Turkish National Blind Football Team began at the European Championship held in Greece in 2007. This tournament marked a significant milestone, providing the team with valuable international experience. Building on this foundation, the team qualified for the London 2012 Paralympic Games, establishing its place among the world’s top teams.

In 2013, the team secured its first major international medal by finishing third in Europe. This success was followed by an outstanding performance in 2015, when Türkiye became European Champions. Most recently, the team won the silver medal at the 2022 European Championship, once again demonstrating that it is among the leading teams in Europe.