The occasion is momentous, and the emotions are overwhelming for these young athletes, who have been called up to wear Italy’s blue jersey at the Powerchair Football World Cup in Argentina.

Welcome to the Powerchair Football World Championships in Buenos Aires, where Italy’s National Team is making its debut on the world stage.

The team got off with a flying start with two victories: a 1-0 win over Belgium in its opening game and a 2-0 victory over Japan. Italy went on to record three more wins and one defeat. It currently sits in second place behind unbeaten England.

Daniele Carapelle, a 20-year-old from Turin studying computer engineering, describes the experience with enthusiasm, still thrilled by the two goals he scored against Denmark.

“Playing here is incredibly exciting, especially when you score. But above all, it helps you grow mentally and psychologically, and that’s the most important thing, because playing for the national team is a whole different experience. You’re facing the best teams in the world, and they’re all very strong. Just like us, they had to fight hard to qualify for the World Cup.”

Daniele was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, a rare disease, when he was just one year old. The condition has left him dependent on a wheelchair.

At eight, he began playing powerchair hockey with Magic Torino before taking up football three years ago. His father, Franco, is also his coach.

“Being able to play sports is essential for young people with severe physical disabilities,” he says. “Daniele takes it very seriously. He prepares carefully, watching videos of other players, and his face lights up when he gets to see the stars in person. Being selected for the national team again and joining the team traveling to Argentina was an incredibly emotional moment for him — a reward for so much of what he has been through in his life.”

Powerchair football is played four-on-four on a court about the size of a basketball court. Players use modified wheelchairs fitted with a guard that allows them to strike a ball 13 inches in diameter. The objective, as in soccer, is to put the ball in the net.

“When you take the field, you feel the weight and pride of wearing the national team jersey. It’s every player’s dream,” Daniele says. “Playing in Argentina, where people are so passionate about soccer, makes the experience even more intense. It almost feels like being in a stadium.”

A lifelong Torino supporter, Daniele inherited his allegiance to the Turin club from his father. He knows Italy is facing the best teams in the sport, but he makes no secret of the squad’s ambitions.

“The greatest joy would be to win the World Cup. For now, we’re still dreaming…”

Training for this sport takes commitment and consistency.

“These are athletes in every sense of the word. They train with discipline and follow rigorous routines,” says Pietro Salvaderi, the father and chaperone of Lorenzo, a high school student from Paullo, near Milan. At 15, Lorenzo is the youngest member of Italy’s national team.

“Powerchair football is more complicated than soccer because there are more variables. You can’t get within three meters of a teammate, or the referee will call a foul, and every set piece can turn into a scoring opportunity,” Lorenzo explains.

Since taking up the sport in 2021, he has trained twice a week with the Snakes Milano team.

“I never imagined I would reach this milestone in such a short time. Representing the Italian National Team is a tremendous honor.”

A passionate soccer fan and Inter Milan supporter, Lorenzo grew up following his older brother’s games.

“He played for Paullese, the team in our hometown, and I used to go watch his games, both at home and away. My dad would take him, and I would go along, too.”

Before traveling to Argentina with Italy’s Powerchair Football Team, Lorenzo attended intensive training camps that involved several consecutive days of preparation.

“We would spend four or five days preparing, with six hours of training a day. Those camps, just like being here in Buenos Aires, are where friendships develop with the other players. We also have time to talk and get to know one another.”

In the coming days, Italy will face France, a longtime rival of the Azzurri.

“They’re the team to beat. They’re the strongest, and playing them is always a classic matchup. But the ball is round, and you never know how a game will end.”

Lorenzo’s father, Pietro, explains what playing the sport means to his son, who has type 2 spinal muscular atrophy.

“It has opened up a whole new world for him. For someone who loves soccer as much as he does, playing the game is nothing like watching it. And without a sport to practice, his only alternative would end up being video games.”

He adds that “it takes a great deal of courage for a teenager in his condition to go out in a wheelchair. In that sense, sports provide invaluable support.”

Financial support for families who want their children to participate in sports, however, is scarce, if not nonexistent.

“Three-quarters of the costs of playing sports falls on the families, and the remaining quarter is covered by sponsors. We also have to pay for the gym where my son trains with the Snakes. But these young people’s passions deserve to be nurtured.”

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