“Practice is practice, game is game.” That’s a saying that applies to any sport—and athletes usually have a favorite.
“I like playing. I think my favorite part of training is the scrimmage,” says athlete Lucas Dutra.
But the importance of training can’t be denied. “Training is essential. You have to work on the fundamentals, improve technique, and also the tactical side, which is very important—especially for team play.”
The Brazilian national Power Soccer team has been forced to focus more heavily on one of those elements: training. They narrowly missed qualifying for this year’s World Cup in Argentina. At the Copa América in November 2025, held in Phoenix, Brazil finished fourth—just outside the top three needed to qualify.So 2026 has become a year of rebuilding and improvement, centered on training.
“Brazil is evolving, and that’s what we’re pursuing. We want a stronger team. We now have more athletes, so the goal is to prepare Brazil to be there next time,” says head coach David Xavier.
That larger group includes new players. One of them is Daniel, who has been playing for 10 years but is new to the national team.
“I’m really excited to train with the national team for the first time. I’m happy for the experience,” he says.
The team has already completed two training camps this year, with another one planned to build chemistry.To make up for missing the World Cup, Brazil is also working behind the scenes to arrange international friendlies with teams that will be competing—like the United States, France, and Argentina.Training matters. Games matter too. One doesn’t replace the other.And for these athletes, the mission goes beyond sport.
Power Soccer is played by people with severe and rare disabilities, using specialized motorized wheelchairs. The sport is deeply connected to improving quality of life and creating opportunities.
“Power Soccer includes people that other sports don’t. It’s a chance for more people to see us. That’s what we fight for—not just in sports, but in everyday life. We want more opportunities for people who often don’t have them. The sport helps bring visibility to that cause,” says Vinicius Nascimento.
