The IBSA Football Committee has launched the bid process for the 2018 Blind Football World Championships and 2017 Continental Championships ©IBSA

The International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) Football Committee has announced it has launched the bid process for the 2018 IBSA Blind Football World Championships as well as the various regional tournaments scheduled for 2017.

Interested nations are invited to express an interest by sending a letter to Ulrich Pfisterer, chair of the IBSA Football Committee, before formal bids should be submitted using the IBSA application form.

Countries have until March 31, 2016 to signal their intention to bid for the World Championships, held every four years, with the full deadline for applications coming on May 1.

The process is the same for the Continental Championships but nations must express an interest before November 30 this year ahead of the full bid cut-off point on February 29.

Regional events will take place in Africa, Oceania, Asia, Europe and the Americas in 2017.

IBSA claim by opening the bid process early, they offer countries the best possible chance to organise the events effectively.

Brazil will come into the event as defending champions and have won the previous two editions of the tournament
Brazil will come into the event as defending champions and have won the previous two editions of the tournament ©Twitter

Japanese capital Tokyo staged the 2014 World Championships, won by Brazil thanks to a 1-0 extra-time victory over South American counterparts Argentina.

Brazil also reigned supreme at the 2010 event, held in Hereford, England, by beating Spain 2-0 in the final.

The IBSA Football Committee has also announced the list of referees who will officiate during next year’s Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.

Led by referees co-ordinator Ilias Mastoras of Greece, a team of eight international technical officials will be joined by seven national technical officials, all from Brazil, and IBSA have thanked blind football referees for their contribution to the sport.

Frenchman Francois Carcouet, Lionel Fisdel, Germinal Lubrano and Mariano Travaglino of Argentina, Japan's Kenji Iguchi, Christian Jung of Germany, Belgium's Michael Piecq and Stuart Winton of Britain have been selected as the international technical officials.

Kleber Albuquerque, Mayara Crispim, Nelson Glock, Rafael Glock, Ieda Glock, Lucio Morgado and Germi Ribeiro will be the national technical officials.



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