{"id":2710,"date":"2026-06-19T06:04:22","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T06:04:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southfloridamovingguides.com\/?p=2710"},"modified":"2026-06-19T06:04:22","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T06:04:22","slug":"fifa-world-cup-motivates-blind-and-visually-impaired-players-in-miami","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southfloridamovingguides.com\/?p=2710","title":{"rendered":"FIFA World Cup motivates blind and visually impaired players in Miami"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

MIAMI \u2014 During a recent match at the Miami Lighthouse Academy in the Little Havana neighborhood, as a blind player moved, he or she said in Spanish, \u201cVoy!\u201d or \u201cGoing!\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Florida Keys drivers report naked man along Overseas Highway<\/a><\/p>\n

Leer en espa\u00f1ol<\/p>\n

Blind and visually impaired soccer players rely on the sound of a ball that is filled with bells and on the voices of their teammates and coaches. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt looks hard at first, but once you get to learn it, it seems easier,\u201d said Arianna Taylor, a Miami Lighthouse Academy player. <\/p>\n

Virginia Jacko, the president and chief executive officer of the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Physically Impaired, said 145 students benefit from the soccer program. <\/p>\n

\u201cToo often, blind children are leftover of team sports, and team sports teach us so much,\u201d Jacko said. <\/p>\n

Oseas De Leon, the Miami Lighthouse\u2019s soccer coach, was a baby when a severe case of measles caused blindness. He has experience with . <\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that our children don\u2019t have the opportunity to do any physical activity, I think it\u2019s more than a reason to have blind soccer here with us,\u201d De Leon said. \u201cUnfortunately, we are the only ones in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

The International Blind Sports Federation, which included blind soccer in the 1990s, credits Spain as the pioneer of blind soccer in the 1920s and Brazil for increasing its popularity in the 1960s. <\/p>\n

De Leon has had big dreams for the national blind soccer movement, so he developed a curriculum for kids as young as one in collaboration with the U.S Association of Blind Athletes, or USABA. <\/p>\n

Aside from De Leon, the soccer program also includes eight other employees of the Miami Lighthouse.<\/p>\n

To support them, Roborock announced a $50,000 donation and equipped a new classroom \u201cto advance accessibility and independence through technology.\u201d<\/p>\n

Useful link<\/b>: Donate now to support blind soccer at Miami Lighthouse<\/p>\n

FIFA WORLD CUP<\/b><\/p>\n

Groups\u2019 stage progress <\/b><\/h3>\n

Group K<\/b>: Portugal and Congo each get 1 point<\/p>\n

Group J<\/b>: Austria and Argentina each get 3 points<\/p>\n

Group I<\/b>: France and Norway each get 3 points <\/p>\n

Group H: <\/b>Every team sits at 1 point<\/p>\n

Group G:<\/b>Every team sits at 1 point<\/p>\n

Group F<\/b>: Sweden gets 3 points<\/p>\n

Group E<\/b>: Germany and Ivory Coast each get 3 points <\/p>\n

Group D<\/b>: Australia and United States each get 3 points <\/p>\n

Group C<\/b>: Brazil and Morocco each get 1 point; Scotland gets 3 points<\/p>\n

Group B: <\/b>Qatar and Switzerland each get 1 point<\/p>\n

Group A: <\/b>Mexico and South Korea each get 3 points <\/p>\n

Tournament\u2019s schedule <\/b> <\/h3>\n

June 18<\/b>: There are four matches: The Group A match, The Czech Republic vs. South Africa, is at Noon. The Group B, Switzerland vs. Bosnia, game is at 3 p.m. The Group B, Canada vs. Qatar, game is at 6 p.m. The Group A match, Mexico vs. South Korea, is at 9 p.m.<\/p>\n

Miami watch parties<\/b>: The fan festival opens from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard. <\/p>\n

June 19<\/b>: There are four matches: The Group D, U.S. vs. Australia, game is at 3 p.m. The Group C, Scotland vs. Morocco, game is at 6 p.m. The Group C, Brazil vs. Haiti, game is at 8:30 p.m. The Group D, Turkey vs. Paraguay, game is at 11 p.m. <\/p>\n

Miami watch parties<\/b>: The fan festival opens from 2 p.m. to midnight at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard. <\/p>\n

June 20<\/b>: There are three matches: The Group F, Netherlands vs. Sweden, game is at 1 p.m. The Group E, Germany vs. Ivory Coast, game is at 4 p.m. The Group E, Ecuador vs. Cura\u00e7ao, game is at 8 p.m. <\/p>\n

Miami watch parties<\/b>: The fan festival opens from noon to 11 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard. <\/p>\n

Miami Beach fan party: <\/b>Doors open at 6 p.m. on June 20 at The Bandshell, at 7275 Collins Ave., for an event for Uruguayan fans co-hosted by the Consulate General of Uruguay.<\/p>\n

June 21<\/b>: There are five matches: The Group F, Tunisia vs. Japan, game is at midnight. The Group H, Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, game is at Noon. The Group G, Belgium vs. Iran, game is at 3 p.m. The Group H, Uruguay vs. Cape Verde, game is at 6 p.m. The Group G, New Zealand vs. Egypt, game is at 9 p.m. <\/p>\n

Miami watch parties<\/b>: The fan festival opens from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.<\/p>\n

June 22<\/b>: There are four matches: The Group J, Argentina vs. Austria, game is at 1 p.m. The Group I, France vs. Iraq, game is at 5 p.m. The Group I, Norway vs. Senegal, game is at 8 p.m. The Group J, Jordan vs. Algeria, game is at 11 p.m. <\/p>\n

Miami watch parties<\/b>: The fan festival opens from noon to 8 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.<\/p>\n

Miami Beach watch party: <\/b>Doors open at 11 a.m. on June 22 at The Bandshell, at 7275 Collins Ave., for the 1 p.m. Argentina vs. Austria match.<\/p>\n

June 23<\/b>: There are four matches: The Group K, Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, game is at 1 p.m. The Group L, England vs. Ghana, game is at 4 p.m. The Group L, Panama vs. Croatia, game is at 7 p.m. The Group K, Colombia vs. Congo, game is at 10 p.m. <\/p>\n

Miami watch parties<\/b>: The fan festival opens from noon to 1 a.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.<\/p>\n

June 24<\/b>: There are six matches: The Group B, Switzerland vs. Canada, game is at 3 p.m. The Group B, Bosnia vs. Qatar, game is at 3 p.m. The Group C, Morocco vs. Haiti, game is at 6 p.m. The Group C, Scotland vs. Brazil, game is at 6 p.m. The Group A, South Africa vs. South Korea, game is at 9 p.m. The Group A, Czech Republic vs. Mexico, game is at 9 p.m. <\/p>\n

Read more Woman, 91, accused of firing BB gun at neighbor in Margate hate crime<\/a><\/p>\n

Miami watch parties<\/b>: The fan festival opens from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.<\/p>\n

Miami Beach watch party: <\/b>Doors open at 4 p.m. on June 24 at The Bandshell, at 7275 Collins Ave., for the 6 p.m. Scotland vs. Brazil match.<\/p>\n

June 25<\/b>: There are six matches: The Group E, Cura\u00e7ao vs. Ivory Coast, game is at 4 p.m. The Group E, Ecuador vs. Germany, game is at 4 p.m. The Group F, Tunisia vs. Netherlands, game is at 7 p.m. The Group F, Japan vs. Sweden, game is at 7 p.m. The Group D, Turkey vs. U.S., game is at 10 p.m. The Group D, Paraguay vs. Australia, game is at 10 p.m. <\/p>\n

Miami watch parties<\/b>: The fan festival opens from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.<\/p>\n

June 26<\/b>: There are six matcuphes: The Group I, Norway vs. France, game is at 3 p.m. The Group I, Senegal vs. Iraq, game is at 3 p.m. The Group H, Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia, game is at 8 p.m. The Group H, Uruguay vs. Spain, game is at 8 p.m. The Group G, New Zealand vs. Belgium, game is at 11 p.m. The Group G, Egypt vs. Iran, game is at 11 p.m. <\/p>\n

Miami watch parties<\/b>: The fan festival opens from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.<\/p>\n

June 27<\/b>: There are six matches: The Group L, Panama vs. England, game is at 5 p.m. The Group L, Croatia vs. Ghana, game is at 5 p.m. The Group K, Colombia vs. Portugal, game is at 7:30 p.m. The Group K, Congo vs. Uzbekistan, game is at 7:30 p.m. The Group J, Algeria vs. Austria, game is at 10 p.m. The Group J, Jordan vs. Argentina, game is at 10 p.m. <\/p>\n

Miami watch parties<\/b>: The fan festival opens from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.<\/p>\n

Sunrise watch party<\/b>: The indoor Amerant Bank Arena is hosting a free watch party for ticket holders at 7:30 p.m. on June 27. Parking is free. Broward County is offering free Express bus transportation from the arena to the Miami Stadium, also known as Hard Rock, in Miami Gardens, to FIFA World Cup ticket holders.<\/p>\n

Round of 32 begins <\/b><\/h3>\n

June 28<\/b>: There is a match at 3 p.m. <\/p>\n

Miami watch party<\/b>: The fan festival opens from 1 p.m to 10 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.<\/p>\n

June 29<\/b>: There are three matches at 1 p.m., 4:30 p.m., and 9 p.m. <\/p>\n

Miami watch parties<\/b>: The fan festival opens from noon to midnight at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.<\/p>\n

June 30<\/b>: There are three matches at 1 p.m., 5 p.m., and 9 p.m.<\/p>\n

Miami watch parties<\/b>: The fan festival opens from noon to midnight at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.<\/p>\n

July 1<\/b>: There are three matches at noon, 4 p.m., and 9 p.m. <\/p>\n

Miami watch parties<\/b>: The fan festival opens from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.<\/p>\n

July 2<\/b>: There are three matches at 3 p.m., 7 p.m., and 11 p.m.<\/p>\n

Miami watch parties<\/b>: The fan festival opens from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.<\/p>\n

July 3<\/b>: There are three matches at 2 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9:30 p.m.<\/p>\n

Miami watch parties<\/b>: The fan festival opens from 1 p.m to 9 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.<\/p>\n

Round of 16 begins<\/b><\/h3>\n

July 4:<\/b> There are two matches at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.<\/p>\n

Miami watch parties<\/b>: The fan festival opens from noon to midnight at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.<\/p>\n

July 5<\/b>: There are two matches at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.<\/p>\n

Miami watch parties<\/b>: The fan festival opens for the last day from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Bayfront Park, at 301 Biscayne Boulevard.<\/p>\n

July 6<\/b>: There are two matches at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. <\/p>\n

July 7<\/b>: There are two matches at Noon and 4 p.m. <\/p>\n

Quarterfinals begin<\/b><\/h3>\n

July 9<\/b>: There is a quarter-final match at 4 p.m. <\/p>\n

July 10<\/b>: There is a quarter-final match at 3 p.m. <\/p>\n

July 11<\/b>: There are two quarter-final matches at 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.<\/p>\n

Sunrise watch party<\/b>: The indoor Amerant Bank Arena is hosting a free watch party for ticket holders at 5 p.m. on July 11. Parking is free. <\/p>\n

Semifinals begin<\/b><\/h3>\n

July 14<\/b>: The fan festival is closed. There is a semi-final match at 3 p.m. <\/p>\n

Miami Beach watch party: <\/b>Doors open at 3 p.m. on July 14 at The Bandshell, at 7275 Collins Ave., for the semifinal match.<\/p>\n

July 15<\/b>: There is a semi-final match at 3 p.m. <\/p>\n

Miami Beach watch party: <\/b>Doors open at 3 p.m. on July 15 at The Bandshell, at 7275 Collins Ave., for the semifinal match.<\/p>\n

Finals begin<\/b><\/h3>\n

July 18<\/b>: The third-place play-off match is at 5 p.m. <\/p>\n

Miami Beach watch party: <\/b>Doors open at 3 p.m. on July 18 at The Sandbowl, behind The Bandshell, at 7275 Collins Ave., for the 5 p.m. bronze final. <\/p>\n

Sunrise ride to stadium<\/b>: The Amerant Bank Arena has free parking for FIFA World Cup ticket holders who ride Broward County\u2019s free Express bus transportation to the Miami Stadium, also known as Hard Rock, in Miami Gardens. <\/p>\n

July 19<\/b>: The final match is at 3 p.m. <\/p>\n

Miami Beach watch party: <\/b>Doors open at 1 p.m. on July 19 at The Sandbowl, behind The Bandshell, at 7275 Collins Ave., for the 3 p.m. final.<\/p>\n

Sunrise watch party<\/b>: The indoor Amerant Bank Arena is hosting a free watch party for ticket holders for the final on July 19. Parking is free. <\/p>\n

Read more Video shows aftermath of plane crash injuring 2 in Pembroke Pines<\/a><\/p>\n

Related stories <\/b><\/p>\n