The event, taking place at the 2010 IBSA World Championship venue of the Royal National College for the Blind, will see home side England facing Paralympic and world champions Brazil, European champions and London 2012 bronze medallists Spain and rivals Italy during the competition.

"We are looking to test ourselves against the best players in the world," said Jeff Davis, the Football Association's national disability development manager.

"It won't be as glitzy as the event in 2010 but local people will still be able to come along."

The hosting of the tournament is seen as a welcome boost for the England blind football team, who had their funding of £1.3 million ($2.1 million/€1.6 million) for the four-year period leading up to the Rio 2016 Paralympics withdrawn by UK Sport earlier this year.

The British blind football squad's funding crisis has put its participation at the Rio 2016 Paralympics in jeopardy ©Getty Images


It was one of seven Olympic and Paralympic sports, along with basketball, synchronised swimming, water polo, goalball, weightlifting and wheelchair fencing, to lose its financial support - all appealed but only weightlifting was successful.

"We appealed against the decision by Sport England and they have turned down our appeal," Davis explained.

"They didn't think the blind squad would meet its performance target of a medal in Rio.

"We are looking to bridge the funding gap to allow the lads to continue on a full-time basis.

"Our first point of call will be the FA and we have to make a strong enough case to continue to fund the programme."

Concerns have been raised that the funding crisis could put the British squad's participation in Rio 2016 in jeopardy, but boss Jon Pugh is confident of notable success on the field, particularly with trips to Germany and France on the horizon.

"We want to prove to people that we are good enough and we are back to where we belong," he said.

"We are now unbeaten in five matches."

The IBSA Quad Nations Football Tournament is scheduled to take place between May 29 and June 1.

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