On August 23, 2026, the U.S. wheelchair rugby team celebrated a significant victory by winning the World Championship final in São Paulo, Brazil. This marks their first global title in 16 years as they defeated rival Australia, with a final score of 57-51.

The team, spearheaded by four-time Paralympian Chuck Aoki, managed to overcome Australia in a thrilling rematch. Previously, the Australians won against the U.S. with a score of 54-44 during pool play on Thursday.

In the semifinals on Saturday, the U.S. team clinched a narrow victory against Japan, edging out a 50-49 win. This matchup was a repeat of the 2024 Paralympic final, which saw Japan taking the gold.

As the reigning world champions, the U.S. team is poised for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, aiming to capture their first Paralympic gold since 2008. In the last four Paralympics, the U.S. team has consistently taken home silver or bronze medals.

The history of wheelchair rugby includes a notable achievement from the U.S., where they won the Paralympic tournament when they hosted it in 1996 during Atlanta Games, debuting as a demonstration sport.

Australia has been a dominant force in the sport, securing two of the last four Paralympic titles and two of the last four world championship titles.