England Powerchair team beaten in World Cup final

The England Powerchair squad were beaten by France in the FIPFA Powerchair Football World Cup 2026 Final in Buenos Aires.

The Para Lions arrived in South America with the ambition of going one further than their silver medal at the last world championship in Australia in 2023.

Adam McEvoy’s side faced an initial nine games against a variety of global opposition in the first phase of the competition, winning all of them, before the final two days saw placement matches and knockout matches ahead of the final.

England 1-2 France (AET)
Friday 23 October

The Para Lions were narrowly beaten in the World Cup Final, losing 2-1 after extra time to France.

England took the lead with 36 minutes played. Dylan Kelsall played his part in the opener, squeezing in the ball off an opposition player.

Just four minutes away from being crowned world champions, there was a twist in the tale as France were awarded a late penalty which they converted.

With the scores level, it went to extra time and France turned it around, coming from two goals down to take the crown.

Argentina 0-1 England
Thursday 22 October

England secured their place in the World Cup Final, after a narrow victory over the host nation in Buenos Aires on Thursday afternoon.

Having beaten Argentina by 3-1 earlier in the competition, the pressure was on Adam McEvoy's team to continue their winning run at the tournament.

And the Para Lions delivered with captain Jon Bolding scoring the winner to set up a meeting with either USA or France in Friday's Final, with the other semi-final taking place at 8pm BST.

Starting lineup: Chris Gordon (GK), Jon Bolding, Dan McLellan, Dylan Kelsall 

Goalscorer: Jon Bolding 31

USA 0-5 England
Wednesday 21 October

The Para Lions set up a World Cup semi-final with hosts Argentina in Buenos Aires, following an ninth win from nine games in the first phase of the tournament.

Adam McEvoy's team swept aside the USA thanks to another hat-trick from Dan McLellan and a double from Jon Bolding.

The semi-final will take place on Thursday, at 6.30pm BST.

Starting lineup: Chris Gordon (GK), Jon Bolding, Dan Mclellan, Dylan Kelsall 

Goalscorers: Dan Mclellan 9, 17, 26, Jon Bolding 23, 35

England 1-0 Denmark
Wednesday 21 October

England, already with a semi-final place secured following their seven wins from seven games, continued their winning form in their penultimate match of the group phase with a 1-0 win over Denmark.

The winning goal arrived from Dylan Kelsall in the first of two games on Wednesday, with USA to follow at 8pm (BST).

Starting lineup: Ethan Fisher (GK), Ed Common, Marcus Harrison, Tyler Reeve

Goalscorer: Dylan Kelsall 22

England 5-0 Italy
Tuesday 20 October

The Para Lions won their second game on Tuesday, with a convincing victory over Italy to continue their 100 per cent record at the competition so far.

A first half hat-trick from Dan McLellan, with all three of his goals coming in a five-minute spell was added to after the break by a brace from Marcus Harrison.

England will be back in action again on Wednesday with another double set of games, starting against Denmark (3.30pm BST) and then USA (8pm) before the competition heads into the semi-finals and placing games.

Starting lineup: Chris Gordon (GK), Jon Bolding, Dan McLellan, Dylan Kelsall

Goalscorers: Dan McLellan 8, 12, 13,, Marcus Harrison 38, 41

England 1-0 Belgium
Tuesday 20 October

Jon Bolding scored the only goal of the game as the Para Lions beat Belgium in the first of two games on Tuesday.

After winning the corner, Bolding followed up after his initial effort was blocked to make the breakthrough.

Starting lineup: Chris Gordon (GK), Jon Bolding, Dan McLellan, Dylan Kelsall

Goalscorers: Bolding 14'

Uruguay 0-7 England
Monday 19 October

The Para Lions put seven past their opponents in their second game of the day, making it five wins from five.

Dylan Kelsall - who had already found the back of the net against Japan earlier in the day - scored four.

Marcus Harrison also bagged a brace against Uruguay in England's biggest win at the tournament to date.

Starting lineup: Chris Gordon (GK), Marcus Harrison, Tyler Reeve, Dylan Kelsall

Goalscorers: Kelsall 6', 34', 36', 41', Harrison 10', 13'

England 3-0 Japan
Monday 19 October

England continued their impressive start to the tournament with a 3-0 win over Japan in the first of two games on Monday.

Ethan Fisher opened the scoring in the first half, set up by Dan McLellan - who now has nine assists and one goal - to finish a brilliant team move on Fisher's first start.

Ed Common doubled the Para Lions' lead in the second half and substitute Dylan Kelsall also got in on the act to make it three.

Starting lineup: Ethan Fisher (GK), Ed Common, Jon Bolding, Dan McLellan

Goalscorers: Fisher 20', Common 23', Kelsall 40'

Argentina 1-3 England
Sunday 18 October

England made it three wins from their first three games on Sunday evening, with a 3-1 win over the host nation Argentina.

The opening goal came after 15 minutes when Dan McLellan scored, before Dylan Kelsall added a quickfire second just a minute later.

Jon Bolding then completed the scoring to seal an impressive victory in front of a passionate home support for the home team.

Starting lineup: Chris Gordon (GK), Jon Bolding, Dan Mclellan, Dylan Kelsall

Goalscorers: Dan McLellan 15, Dylan Kelsall 16, Jon Bolding 21

England 3-0 Australia
Sunday 18 October

The Para Lions won the first of two games scheduled on Sunday, with a 3-0 victory over Australia.

England had a dream start when Dylan Kelsall put them ahead in the first minute of the game, before adding a second goal ten minutes later.

The win was wrapped up in the 38th minute, when Marcus Harrison added a third goal, in a game where Adam McEvoy was able to utilise his whole squad through various changes ahead of their second match of the day against the host nation Argentina.

Starting lineup: Chris Gordon (GK), Jon Bolding, Dan McLellan. Dylan Kelsall

Goalscorers: Dylan Kelsall 1, 11, Marcus Harrison 38

France 1-3 England
Saturday 17 October

England got off to a winning start on Saturday evening with victory over their old rivals France in the opening game.

Two goals from Dylan Kelsall and a further strike from Ed Common proved enough to secure the win to give the Para Lions a great start to the tournament.

Starting lineup: Chris Gordon (GK), Dan McLellan, Jon Bolding, Dylan Kelsall

Goalscorers: Dylan Kelsall 20+2, 28 and Ed Common, 31

Fixtures

Argentina v England
8.30pm, Thursday 22 October
Semi-finals  

Friday 23 October
The Final and 3/5/7/9 place games TBC

The Squad: 8 - Jon Bolding, 4 - Ed Common, 14 - Ethan Fisher, 7 - Chris Gordon, 9 - Marcus Harrison, 27 - Dylan Kelsall, 10 - Dan McLellan, 11 - Tyler Reeve