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The United States and Canada have claimed the final two qualifying spots for the 2025 IWBF Men’s U23 World Championship, after an exciting week of action at the IWBF Americas U23 Qualifier in Bogotá, Colombia.
Held from 2 April to 5 April, the four-nation tournament featured hosts Colombia alongside Brazil, Canada, and the United States. In the end, it was the Americans who captured gold with a dominant 71-44 win over Canada in Saturday’s final, while both nations booked their place in June’s World Championship in São Paulo.
Unbeaten Run for the United States
The United States showcased their strength from the outset, sweeping through the preliminary round with convincing wins over Colombia (94-39), Canada (82-44), and Brazil (77-46). Their momentum carried through the semi-final, where they defeated Colombia once again, 89-50, to advance to the final.
In the gold medal match, the United States pulled away decisively in the second half, with a 26-8 third quarter proving too much for Canada to overcome. The result capped off a perfect tournament for the Americans, who now turn their focus to the global stage in June.
Canada Battles to Qualification
Canada’s road to qualification was marked by resilience. After opening the tournament with a narrow 56-57 loss to Brazil and a tough outing against the United States, they responded with a crucial 56-45 win over Colombia to stay in contention.
Their semi-final rematch with Brazil was a tense affair, going down to the wire again. Canada held their nerve in the closing minutes to secure a 55-54 victory and punch their ticket to the World Championship. Despite falling to the United States in the final, the Canadian side will take confidence from their battling performances throughout the week.
Brazil Earns Bronze, Hosts Colombia Finish Fourth
Brazil came into the tournament already holding a place at the U23 World Championship as hosts. Nevertheless, they competed strongly throughout the week, finishing second in the preliminary round and narrowly missing a place in the final after a one-point loss to Canada in the semi-final. They closed their campaign with a 66-44 win over Colombia to secure bronze.
The hosts showed determination and flashes of potential for the future but were unable to notch a win, placing fourth in the final standings.
Final Standings:
- United States – Qualified for 2025 IWBF U23 World Championship
- Canada – Qualified for 2025 IWBF U23 World Championship
- Brazil – Already qualified as hosts
- Colombia
This marked the first time an IWBF Americas U23 event was hosted in Bogotá by BSR Colombia. The tournament provided valuable experience for developing athletes and highlighted the continued growth of youth wheelchair basketball across the Americas.
Watch all games on BSR Colombia YouTube
Complete results and statistics are available on the IWBF Competition
