Italy delivered one of the biggest results of the Ottawa 2026 IWBF World Championships, defeating the United States 66–59 in the final game of the men’s Group A stage.
The September 13 matchup at TD Place brought together an undefeated Italian team and an American squad that entered the tournament as one of international wheelchair basketball’s dominant forces. The USA had won gold at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games and came to Ottawa as the defending world champion.
The Americans appeared ready to take control early, racing to a 10–2 lead. Italy, however, responded with a major defensive adjustment. In the second quarter, the Azzurri held the USA to just seven points and went into halftime ahead 32–25.
The Americans mounted a comeback after the break and briefly regained the lead during the fourth quarter. Italy answered immediately and maintained its composure down the stretch, securing the seven-point victory.
Giulio Maria Papi led Italy with an outstanding all-around performance, scoring 19 points while adding seven rebounds and six assists. Andrea Giaretti contributed a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists.
For the United States, Jorge Salazar scored 19 points, while Brian Bell added 18.
The result completed a perfect group stage for Italy, which finished 3–0 and claimed first place in Group A. The USA finished second at 2–1.
Italy had already shown its strength earlier in the tournament, opening with a commanding 77–32 victory over Brazil. The win against the Americans confirmed the Azzurri’s impressive form on one of wheelchair basketball’s biggest international stages.
