Liberia’s hopes of competing at the 2026 Amputee Football World Cup in Mexico have been dashed after the team failed to secure Spanish transit visas, despite obtaining visas to enter the host country.

Published 8 Nov 2026, 12:25 GMT

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The Lone Star Amputees were preparing for their second consecutive appearance at the global tournament, having secured qualification through the 2024 African Amputee Football Cup of Nations in Egypt.

However, their journey has come to an abrupt end following difficulties obtaining the necessary transit documentation to travel through Spain en route to Mexico.

The setback comes despite efforts by Liberia's diplomatic missions to facilitate the process, leaving the players unable to honour their World Cup participation.

According to reports, the Liberian government fully funded the team's travel arrangements and could lose more than US$100,000 spent on air tickets.

The tickets were reportedly purchased at the request of the country's amputee football federation before the necessary transit visas had been secured. The non-refundable nature of the bookings has raised concerns over the financial implications of the team's withdrawal.

The players are reportedly expected to return to Liberia after their unsuccessful attempt to travel to Mexico.

Liberia's World Cup ambitions cut short

Liberia made their debut at the Amputee Football World Cup in 2022, recording victories over Spain, Ireland and France to finish 17th out of 24 participating countries.

Two years later, the Lone Star Amputees continued their progress at the 2024 African Amputee Football Cup of Nations in Egypt, where victories over Uganda and the host nation helped secure qualification for the 2026 World Cup.

Their absence from this year's competition means Liberia will miss the opportunity to build on their previous performances on the global stage.

Ghana secure French transit visas ahead of Mexico trip

Meanwhile, 3Sports can exclusively report that Ghana's national amputee football team, the Black Challenge, have secured the necessary transit visas from France ahead of their journey to Mexico.

The development represents a significant boost for the Ghanaian contingent, who are expected to make the competition after clearing the transit visa hurdle.

Unlike Liberia, whose travel plans were disrupted by the failure to obtain Spanish transit visas, Ghana have secured the French transit documentation required for their intended journey.

The Black Challenge will be hoping to make their mark at the tournament, scheduled for November 13–22, 2026, as they prepare to compete against some of the world's leading amputee football nations.

Liberia's unfortunate situation, meanwhile, highlights the importance of securing all necessary travel documentation before making international arrangements, particularly for competitions requiring transit through multiple countries.

For the Lone Star Amputees, it is a disappointing end to a World Cup campaign that had been earned through performances on the pitch but ultimately derailed by challenges off it.

2026 Amputee World Cup: Liberia withdraw over Spanish transit visa setback as Ghana secure French clearance

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