Building the Future of Blind Baseball in the United States

The United States Blind Baseball Association (USBBA) is proud to announce that we have accepted an invitation to compete in the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Blind Baseball International Cup 2026, the premier international championship for Blind Baseball.

From September 30 through October 3, 2026, the United States will compete in Castiglione della Pescaia, Tuscany, Italy, against seven other national teams representing three continents.

2026 Player Delegation Announced

Participating nations include

• Cuba (Defending Champions)
• Czechia
• Great Britain
• Italy
• Netherlands
• Pakistan
• Chinese Taipei
• United States

While this international competition is an extraordinary honor, it represents something much greater than four days of baseball. It is the culmination of our ongoing efforts to build Blind Baseball throughout the United States and provide meaningful opportunities for blind and visually impaired athletes of all ages.

Our Vision

The United States Blind Baseball Association envisions a future in which every blind and visually impaired individual in America has the opportunity to experience the life-changing benefits of organized baseball.

Our long-term vision extends far beyond international competition. USBBA is working to build a sustainable foundation for the sport through athlete development, coach education, community partnerships, and organized competition.

Over the coming years, USBBA is committed to

• Establishing local and regional Blind Baseball programs throughout the United States.
• Expanding opportunities for both youth and adult athletes to participate in organized competition.
• Partnering with schools for the blind, rehabilitation agencies, veterans’ organizations, adaptive sports programs, and community organizations to introduce Blind Baseball to new participants.
• Developing certified coaches, officials, and volunteers to support the continued growth of the sport.
• Creating regional tournaments and a National Blind Baseball Championship.
• Identifying and developing elite athletes to represent the United States in international competition.
• Increasing public awareness of Blind Baseball and the abilities of blind and visually impaired athletes.
• Supporting the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and the international Blind Baseball community in advancing the long-term goal of Paralympic recognition.

Every new player, volunteer, coach, community partner, and supporter brings us one step closer to achieving this vision.

When you support USBBA, you are not simply helping fund a tournament—you are investing in a national movement that is creating opportunities, changing perceptions, and ensuring that Blind Baseball becomes a permanent part of America’s sporting landscape for generations to come.

Our Mission

The United States Blind Baseball Association (USBBA) is a charitable, nonprofit organization dedicated to the development, management, promotion, and governance of Blind Baseball in the United States.

Founded in 2023 by members of the Bronze Medal-winning United States delegation that competed in the inaugural WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup in 2022, USBBA was established with a vision of creating a sustainable national organization that provides opportunities for blind and visually impaired youth and adults to participate in organized baseball.

Today, USBBA is working to establish Blind Baseball programs throughout the country while developing athletes, coaches, volunteers, officials, and community partnerships that will ensure the continued growth of our sport for generations to come.

More Than an International Tournament

Participation in the 2026 WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup is an important milestone for our organization and our athletes. It provides an opportunity for our players to compete against the world’s finest Blind Baseball teams while proudly representing the United States on the international stage.

More importantly, this experience strengthens our domestic programs by providing our athletes and coaches with international competition, advanced training opportunities, and invaluable experience that they bring back to communities across the country.

Every international event helps inspire new players, strengthen local programs, and demonstrate that Blind Baseball belongs alongside every other competitive sport.

Your Investment Builds Opportunities

Your generous support does far more than help our athletes travel to Italy.

It allows USBBA to continue building Blind Baseball throughout the United States by supporting

• Development of youth and adult Blind Baseball programs
• Athlete recruitment and year-round player development
• Coaching education and certification
• Volunteer recruitment and training
• Adaptive equipment and playing resources
• Community outreach and public awareness
• Regional clinics, practices, and exhibition events
• National competitions and player development camps
• International competition representing the United States

By investing in USBBA, you are helping create opportunities for blind and visually impaired individuals to experience the confidence, independence, teamwork, leadership, and lifelong friendships that organized sports provide.

Why Blind Baseball Matters

Blind Baseball is much more than a game. For many athletes, it is their first opportunity to participate in a competitive team sport. It builds confidence, physical fitness, communication skills, independence, leadership, and social connections while challenging outdated perceptions about blindness and disability.

As Blind Baseball continues to expand internationally, USBBA is committed to ensuring that blind and visually impaired Americans have the same opportunities to compete, develop, and excel as athletes around the world. We also proudly support the ongoing international effort to secure future recognition of Blind Baseball as a Paralympic sport.

A 100% Volunteer Organization

USBBA is led entirely by dedicated volunteers who donate their time, experience, and expertise because they believe in the life-changing impact of adaptive sports. Every dollar contributed directly supports our athletes, programs, and mission. Whether funding a young athlete’s first experience with Blind Baseball, helping establish a new local program, providing adaptive equipment, educating coaches, or supporting our participation in international competition, your contribution creates lasting opportunities that extend well beyond a single tournament.

How You Can Help

We invite you to become a partner in the future of Blind Baseball in the United States. Your contribution will help USBBA continue expanding opportunities for blind and visually impaired athletes while supporting the continued growth of our national programs and our participation in the 2026 WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup.

Donate online. Donate with Venmo

Checks may be made payable to

United States Blind Baseball Association

and mailed to

United States Blind Baseball Association
P.O. Box 312
Lindenhurst, NY 11757

Together, we are building more than a baseball team—we are building a national movement that empowers blind and visually impaired individuals through sport. Our goal is not simply to send a team to Italy. Our goal is to build a future where every blind and visually impaired American who dreams of playing baseball has the opportunity to do so. With your support, that future is within reach.

On behalf of our athletes, coaches, volunteers, Board of Directors, and families, thank you for believing in our mission and investing in the future of Blind Baseball in America.

Your generosity is helping change lives, strengthen communities, and ensure that every blind or visually impaired individual who dreams of playing baseball has the opportunity to do so.

Donald F. Landolphi Edward J. Plumacher

Director Baseball Operations President & CEO
United States Blind Baseball Association United States Blind Baseball Association

Email – Don.Landolphi@Gmail.com Email – EdPlumacher@USBBA.us

The United States Blind Baseball Association Champions Adaptive Sports for All

The United States Blind Baseball Association (USBBA) is a charitable, non-profit corporation. USBBA is dedicated to the development, management, regulation  and promotion of our mixed gender adaptive sport of Blind Baseball in America. Blind Baseball originated in Italy in 1998 and continues to grow in popularity across the globe. 

Our adaptive sport of Blind Baseball is overseen by our international governing body, AIBXC of Bologna, Italy. In 2022, the World Baseball Softball Confederation sanctioned Blind baseball, and hosted the first WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup in Beek, Netherlands. An All-Star team of blind athletes and coaches traveled to Europe to represent the United States in August of that year, where they competed against teams from Italy, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. We were all excited and proud when they won the bronze medal for the United States.  

Building on their accomplishments, many of the coaches and players from that Bronze Medal winning team formed and joined the USBBA, to develop youth and adult Blind Baseball programs. In June of 2024, the USBBA accepted an invitation from the World Baseball Softball Confederation to participate in WBSC Blind Baseball International Cup, held in London, United Kingdom.  Our blind athletes, coaches and volunteers have worked very hard to develop their skills to present a Cohesive and competitive team to represent the United States at that biennial tournament.