PUNTA DEL ESTE, Uruguay (Oct. 18, 2025) – The U.S. Men’s Cerebral Palsy (CP) National Team made history on Saturday, using a brace from Jonah Meyer-Crothers and goals from Jacob Crumbley and John Sullivan to beat Argentina 4-1 to win the 2025 IFCPF Copa América title, claiming the team’s first major trophy of the modern IFCPF era and second regional championship in the program’s 33-year history.
A rematch of a drama-filled 1-1 draw to end the group stage earlier this week, the championship match was set up after the USA defeated Canada 6-0 and Argentina upset Brazil 2-0 in Thursday’s semifinals. Playing the first-ever final in CP MNT history, the match was the latest chapter in a growing rivalry that has seen the two sides meet four times in the last three years and in each of the past three major international competitions.
The USA had the better of play through the early going, controlling possession in the attacking end. Stuart Sharp’s side threatened in the 11th minute, as Frankie Lowery did well to beat his mark down the right and penetrate to the endline before cutting back for Jonah Meyer-Crothers, whose powerful one-time effort was deflected out for a corner by a sliding Argentine defender. Just a minute later, a loose ball popped to Josh Brunais outside the box where the U.S. captain blasted a shot that glanced off the crossbar.
Argentina went on the front foot in the 13th minute as Germán Romussi made a clever play to spin past Jacob Crumbley and stroll toward the box. As Romussi beat two U.S. defenders into the area, Crumbley made a strong recovering run and slid through to clear the ball before the Argentine attacker could let loose on a shot.
They threatened again in the 21st minute as Rodrigo Lugrin’s corner from the right pinged in the area and back to Lugrin on the edge of the box where he hit a first-time low effort that forced Estrella into a diving save at the right post.
With jabs traded at both ends, it looked like the sides would go scoreless into halftime, but the USA had other ideas. Pushing the ball forward in stoppage time, Frankie Lowery rocketed a left-footed blast that knuckled before Argentina’s Facundo Godoy parried it away. The ball careened out to Jacob Crumbley whose low one-time shot scorched the grass before beating Godoy inside the lower right post, taking the U.S. into the break with a 1-0 lead.
The U.S. came out of halftime blazing and nearly grabbed a second just three minutes in as Meyer-Crothers beat a man at midfield and sped down the left into the box. Surveying his options, the attacker put a well-placed ball through the area where John Sullivan hit a one-time effort that was saved off the line by Mariano Morana.
Argentina bit back immediately, equalizing a minute later. Germán Romussi took advantage of a giveaway in the U.S. end and centered a ball for Morano and the striker – who had just saved a goal at the other end slotted his shot past Estrella to make it 1-1.
Sullivan came close again at the 40 minute mark. Brunais played a nice long ball for Meyer-Crothers who again broke free on the left before centering. Sullivan took a touch past an Argentine defender, but saw his initial shot blocked. It came right back to him and his rebound effort was well held by Godoy.
After continuous threats down the left, Meyer-Crothers finally broke through down the middle. Winning the ball in the center circle, he powered forward and let loose on a powerful, low blast with his left that beat Godoy inside the right post to restore the U.S. lead in the 43rd minute.
Meyer-Crothers continued as the catalyst for the U.S. attack, dribbling through midfield to the right side of the box before playing a centering pass at the top of the area for Lowery, whose first-time effort was pushed out for a corner kick in the 51st minute.
After sustaining some Argentine attacks, the USA shut the door with another stoppage-time goal. Catching the South Americans out in transition, Lowery took advantage of a two-on-one, finding Sullivan on the right who put a measured effort past Godoy to ice the match.
As Argentina continued to push forward, the USA grabbed another when Sullivan settled a ball and pushed Meyer-Crothers toward goal, where he bagged his second of the match on the final kick of the tournament.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
| Scoring Summary | 1 | 2 | F |
| USA | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| ARG | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| USA – Jacob Crumbley | 30+1st minute |
| ARG – Mariano Morana (Germán Romussi) | 35 |
| USA – Jonah Meyer-Crothers | 43 |
| USA – John Sullivan (Frankie Lowery) | 60+1 |
| USA – Jonah Meyer-Crothers (John Sullivan) | 60+5 |
Lineups:
USA: 1-Marc Estrella, 2-Frankie Lowery, 5-Jonah Meyer-Crothers, 8-John Sullivan, 10-Ben Lindau, 11-Jacob Crumbley, 13-Josh Brunais (Capt.)
Substitutes not used: 12-Bonner Rinn, 3-Kyle Montgomery, 4-Kevin McCandlish, 6-Jacob Kaplan, 7-Adam Ballou, 9-Gavin Kohner 14-Shea Hammond
Head coach: Stuart Sharp
ARG: 12-Facundo Godoy, 3-Germán Romussi, 4-Mariano Cortes, 5-Mariano Morana, 9-Bautista Suarez Caroboneti (Lucas Curio, 12), 11-Rodrigo Lugrin (Capt.), 14-Federico Ocantos
Substitutes not used: 1-Sergio Nahuel Gutiérrez, 2-Lucas Curio, 6-Matias Agustin Bassi, 7-Augusto Larrondo, 8-Renzo Alaniz, 10-Cristian Billordo, 13-Carlos Carrizo
Head coach: Marcelo Sánchez
Stats Summary: USA / ARG
N/A
Misconduct Summary:
ARG – Lucas Curio (Caution)16th minute
USA – John Sullivan (Caution)52
Officials:
Referee: Saori Jaimes
Second Official: Cesar Vieira
Third Official: Marcos Vargas