Agustín Codazzi, March 2, 2026. The second edition of the Parasuramerican Games Valledupar 2026 marks a milestone for the inclusion and development of Paralympic sport in the South American hemisphere. The municipality of Agustin Codazzi, one of the most representative of the department of Cesar, nestled in the heart of the Colombian Caribbean, is preparing to adapt technical, logistical and infrastructure conditions to receive blind soccer, one of the most vibrant competitions of the sports program of the Games.
The Paralympic Games will be held in Valledupar, one of the most representative of the department of Cesar, located in the heart of the Colombian Caribbean.
The hemispheric blind soccer tournament will feature a total of 60 athletes from six countries, players of high technical level and most of them with experience in high performance events. According to the regulations of this sport, each team must be composed of a total of 10 athletes, including 8 field players (with total visual impairment) and two goalkeepers (sighted or partially sighted).
For the Parasuramerican Games, the validation of this sport as a whole, requires at least the participation of 4 countries, which is exceeded in terms of the intention to participate in Valledupar 2026, since so far there are 7 teams on the list, being: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Paraguay and Panama, who showed interest in competing for the title in Agustin Codazzi, however, only 6 teams will definitely compete in Agustin Codazzi.
Modernization and infrastructure
.The venue of the event, the Olympic Village of Agustin Codazzi, is undergoing a comprehensive restructuring process. For the scenario is projected the adequacy of the current soccer field 8 to convert it into a scenario aligned to the regulations, specialized for blind soccer.
This adaptation includes compliance with specific technical regulations, such as the installation of side fences that guide the players and surfaces suitable for the sound displacement of the ball. The complex will have optimized dressing room logistics for the comfort of the athletes. A total of four dressing rooms will be available: two completely new structures located adjacent to the adapted pitch and two additional ones located in the existing soccer stadium.
Calendar and game system
.The official activity for all athletes and visitors to the championship officially begins on July 7 of this year, with the arrival of the teams to the Agustin Codazzi sub-site. The schedule for this discipline is designed in the following way:
- July 8: Official training day and sports classification processes (visual assessment).
- July 9 to 13: Group stage under the Round Robin or one (all vs. all) competition system.
- July 14: General rest day.
- July 15: Finals and medal contention.
The one-round round robin format will ensure that the teams with the highest points in the overall standings will define the places of honor. At the end of the fifth round of the ’round robin’, the top two teams will compete for the gold medal, while the third and fourth place will compete for the bronze medal, considering the rules in this collective sport that contemplates the dispute of only one medal per place.
Beyond the competition, the Parasuramerican Games in Valledupar and its sub-venue in Agustín Codazzi represent a bet for universal accessibility. With a capacity of 300 spectators in mobile bleachers, the Sports Village is expected to be the stage where talent overcomes visual barriers, consolidating the region as a benchmark for inclusive sport in the continent.
