One year to go until 2018 Blind Football Worlds

It is exactly one year until the two best blind football teams in the world will battle it out to be crowned champions in the final of the 2018 International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) Blind Football World Championships, set to take place in Madrid, Spain.

Sixteen teams will compete in the tournament overall, and even though reigning Paralympic and world champions Brazil are the strong favourites, the rest of the teams are not just there to make up the numbers.

Three-time Paralympic medallists Argentina, Rio 2016 runner-up Iran and European champions Turkey are all in contention to dethrone the South American powerhouses.

Here are five things you should know before the competitions kicks off:

1. The 2018 IBSA Blind Football World Championships will take place in Madrid, Spain, between 5-18 June.

2. It will be the seventh edition of this event, with Spain organising the event for the first time since 2000.

3. The Worlds will have a 16-team expanded format. The first stage will feature four groups of four teams, with the top two in each group qualifying for the quarter-finals.

4. Brazil seek to win their fifth title after topping the podium in 1998, 2000, 2010 and 2014, but two-time world champions Argentina will be ready to cause an upset.

5. The ONCE Duques de Pastrana Sport and Culture Complex, located in the north-east of the city, will be the event’s venue. The complex features an indoor sports hall, a fully-equipped fitness area and two artificial grass blind football fields.