Rising in the Dark: Blind Soccer's U.S. Surge
Charles Catherine, captain of the USA Blind Soccer Men's National Team, is deep into training for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles. A French native who has called New York home for fourteen years, Catherine balances his athletic ambitions with a life shaped by braille, education, and a growing advocacy for disabled athletes.
Blind soccer, born in Brazil in the 1960s, relies on eye shades that block all light and a symphony of auditory cues — guides, bells, and the thud of the ball — to level the playing field for sighted and visually impaired competitors alike. The sport made its Paralympic debut in 2004, but its expansion beyond Brazil has been uneven.
In the United States, the game has struggled to find a foothold. The U.S. Association of Blind Athletes launched a blind soccer program in 2018, yet the New York Association of Blind Athletes encountered a shortage of players when it tried to start a local league. Goalball, a related sport, remains the most popular activity among blind youth in New York City, where roughly 25,000 young people live with visual impairments.
Jorge Polanco, head coach of Blind Soccer USA, envisions a domestic league that mirrors Brazil’s structured competition. “I want to see a league developed in the U.S. like in Brazil,” he says, hoping the buzz around the upcoming World Cup will accelerate that vision.
Charles Catherine’s personal journey reflects the broader challenges and triumphs of disabled athletes. His parents emphasized academics and braille literacy over sports, a choice that left him without early opportunities to play. Through blind soccer, he discovered community, reclaimed confidence, and now uses the pitch as a platform to discuss disability in an engaging, friendly manner.
A recent CDC study underscores the stakes: people with disabilities report mental distress at 4.6 times the rate of those without. For Catherine, sport has become more than recreation — it is a conduit for mental well‑being and social connection.
Grassroots organizations are stepping in to fill gaps. The National Organization on Disability, the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes, and Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN) provide free programs and advocacy, aiming to give young athletes with disabilities the chance to compete and thrive.