SANTA CRUZ, Bolivia (AP) – From a distance, women could be mistaken for players preparing for a game as they sprinted, took corner kicks and dribbled past defenders on a soccer field in eastern Bolivia on Friday. Next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup. But while other players navigate the pitch using crutches, the goalkeeper is making saves with one arm.
This is South America’s first soccer training camp for female amputees who aim to represent their country in the 2027 Women’s Amputee Soccer World Cup. Nearly 30 women from 10 countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia, gathered on a field in the low-lying Bolivian city of Santa Cruz for five days of training that ended with a friendly on Friday. Most of the participants have lost limbs due to infection or trauma.
Rules for the Amputee Cup, a seven-a-side soccer tournament, require all prosthetic limbs to be removed before the match begins. Players can run with crutches, but cannot use them to touch the ball. Elite athletes from around the world, including the U.S. Women’s National Amputee Soccer Team, helped lead the camp, which was organized by the World Amputee Soccer Federation, the organization that manages the global tournament, as well as local governments and nonprofit organizations.
“Life as an amputee can be tough at times, but we adapt quickly,” said Amy Donathan, 21, a member of the U.S. team who was born with one leg. “Words can’t honestly describe how I feel about this camp.”
Women train while the world watches the FIFA World Cup
Training unfolds in Bolivia as the world is captivated by the final week 2026 FIFA World Cup, We covered everything from balance, coordination and crutch movement to ball control, tactics and the rules of amputee soccer.
Men’s players have been participating in international amputee football since the 1980s and currently compete in the World Cup every four years. The sport has grown steadily in recent decades, especially in war-scarred regions. like gaza and Rwanda.
However, the first World Cup for the women’s game will be held in 2024. Host country Colombia won the inaugural title. The next Women’s Amputee World Cup will be held in Poland in 2027, but specific dates and cities have not yet been announced, camp organizers told The Associated Press.
“This is to help amputee women achieve their dreams through sports and soccer,” said Lydia Mizer, president of the Santa Cruz Regional Sports Council. The region is working on creating a national federation and assembling a team to represent Bolivia at next year’s tournament.
For Filomena Luna, this training helped her find community and embrace a sport she never imagined she could play. The mother of six lost her leg at the age of 11 after an infection worsened when her parents first sought treatment from traditional healers rather than doctors. Now 50 years old, she hopes to one day represent Bolivia on the world stage.
“This practice and training helped me grow a lot,” she said. “Soccer is an escape for me.”
