U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team Finishes in Program-best Fourth Place at 2025 Deaflympics Following 1-0 Loss to France

FUKUSHIMA, Japan (Nov. 24, 2025) - The U.S. Men’s Deaf National Team’s run at the 2025 Deaflympics concluded in bittersweet fashion. While team lost a hard-fought Bronze Medal match to France 1-0 on a second half penalty kick Monday evening, the fourth-place finish is the program’s highest ever at this 100-year old competition, surpassing the previous high of eighth place at the 2019 Games in Taiwan.

The U.S. made several changes from XI that started the Semifinal against Japan. Midfielder Raul Silva and left back JJ Waterman returned from suspension, and coach Everett Palache introduced fresh legs in veteran midfielder JP Kanashiro, midfielder Jacob Contreras, and forward Bennett Hass.

Facing a strong French team that fell to Türkiye in the other semifinal, the match was even for most of the first half, with both teams having solid opportunities.

Silva was especially threatening on at least two freekicks. His strike from six yards outside the box from the right side cleared the wall but was saved by France goalkeeper Lucas Alexandre

Contreras then had a good opportunity, bringing down a difficult ball in the left corner of box and quickly getting off a shot that went narrowly wide.

France countered, often thru Paul Recobier ….At the 25 minute mark, he got an open look from the top of the box but put his shot wide right. Later, he tested USA goalkeeper Sam Lang, who made a nice low stop.

Perhaps the best chance of the opening half came on a long throw from Waterman from the left that USA captain Tate Lancaster got to, before heading it over the crossbar at the back post.

Even coming off the break, Silva again tested France from a set piece, and again cleared the wall, but his curling left-footed free kick was just over the crossbar.

France then started connecting and possessing more of the ball. Antoine Le Bigaut forced another nice diving save from Lang, Kevin Juliano hit a hard shot over Lang but off the crossbar, and Recobier made a slalom run down the right side before hitting a shot at the near post that Lang again was their to deny.

However the break came in the 67th, as France pressured and drew a penalty kick when Lang went low and clipped a forward on attack. Leopold Berthier took the well-hit penalty hit to give France the lead which they would not surrender.

The U.S. had challenges getting behind the staunch defense, though nearly leveled late in stoppage time after Waterman whipped in a cross from the left side across the box that midfielder Joey Kennedy attempted to first time but could not put on goal.

The fourth place finish also matches the best placement at a global tournament, as the Deaf MNT took fourth place at the 2008 Deaf World Football Championships in Greece.

-U.S. MEN’S DEAF NATIONAL TEAM MATCH REPORT-

Match: United States Men’s Deaf National Team vs. France

Date: Nov. 24, 2025

Competition: Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics – Bronze Medal Match

Venue: J-Village National Training Center - Fukushima, Japan

Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. local (2:30 a.m. ET)

Weather: 41 degrees, dark

Attendance: 221

Lineups:

USA: 1–Sam Lang; 8–Philip Cruz, 16–Kevin Fitzpatrick, 17–Tate Lancaster–Capt., 20–JJ Waterman; 3–Raul Silva, 10–Braden Anderson, 11–JP Kanashiro (13–Joseph Kennedy, Jr., 58); 2–Samson Abraham, 9–Jacob Contreras (6–Dawson Anderson, 84), 14–Bennett Haas (22–Michael Schmid, 58)

Subs not used: 12-Andrew Lenert, 21–Ethan Sullivan. 4-Luke Haubruge, 5-Kevin Oladimeji, 15-Eddie Perry, 18-Aidan Burns, 19-Daniel De Moura,

Suspended: 7-Chris Bourdon

Head Coach: Everett Palache

FRA: 1-Lucas Alexandre, 3-Joffrey Tavares, 18-Fabien Kruker, 5-Leopold Berthier, 21-Sewati Guyon; 6-Jonathan Machu, 7-Kevin Juliano, 17-Loris DeBrito (9-Benjamin Brunetta, 69), 19-Paul Recobier; 10-Antoine Le Bigaut, 8-Nello Carre (15-Rafaelli Kuzehgaran, 69)

Subs not used: 2-Timothe Gueho, 4-Satya Mendy, 11-Issa Koita, 12-Theo Bardin, 13-Theophile Recobier, 14-Maxim Breneliere, 22-Matthias Leroy

Head Coach: Romain Mathieu

Stats Summary: USA / FRA

Shots: 6 / 14

SOG: 3 / 7

Saves: 6 / 3

Corners: 1 / 10

Fouls: 10 / 10

Offside: 5 / 1

Officials:

Referee: Tomohiro Tuskada

Assistant Referee 1: Ali-Reza Shiripour

Assistant Referee 2: Takahiro Nagano

Fourth Official: Shota Murkami