SANTIAGO, Chile — The United States men’s goalball team is Paris bound. 

Following a 11-4 win over Canada on Thursday in the semifinals at the Parapan American Games, the U.S secured one of the eight spots at the Paris 2024 Paralympics. On Friday, the United States earned a silver medal after falling to Brazil 12-2 in the gold medal match on Friday. 

Typically, the gold medalist of the Parapan American Games would’ve received a direct qualification. However, Brazil, the defending Paralympic champions, qualified by winning gold at the 2022 Goalball World Championship in Portugal. Therefore, the United States earned the direct berth to Paris. 

“Brazil is always tough,” said Zachary Buhler, who scored the United States’ two goals on Friday. “They always play us really well. They’re a really good team, really well coached (and) have a really good program down in Brazil. So they’re always usually our toughest competition. But it gives us a good standard of where we need to be at for next year for Paris.”

The United States kept it close in the first half, limiting the Brazilians to just two goals, though the Americans couldn’t get on the scoreboard in the half. The two sides hadn’t faced each other during the Parapan American Games until Friday and Brazil entered the gold medal match with an 8-2 win over neighboring Argentina while the U.S bested its neighbors to the north, Canada, 11-4. 

Brazil never trailed during the game and scored on its opening throw, the first of 106 throws on the night. Josemarcio Da Silva aimed right down the middle and after a deflection on the U.S block attempt, it trickled in. 

The United States had a couple chances to level it, missing a penalty shot wide left. On another penalty shot, the ball hit the right post, rolling back into play. Eventually, Andre Botelho added his first of five goals on the night, similarly going down the middle. 

“Just going off of that, really just kind of honing in on the mistakes that we made and just coming back for Paris next year, and really be ready for that,” Buhler said. “The team played great. We’re all super well connected. And it was a whole team effort to really qualify so we’re really happy about that. “

The U.S managed to score back-to-back goals in the second half, which reduced a 5-0 lead to 5-2. Afterward, Brazil scored several more, often aiming down the left sideline as the ball nestled into the corner. Still, the Americans could rest assured that they were going to Paris along with a silver medal in Santiago. Buhler said the team was ecstatic last night following the semifinal win, knowing it had qualified. 

“Medalling here is awesome, but the goal is Paris,” Buhler said. 

In other Team USA goalball action, the women’s team fell 4-3 in the gold medal match against Canada. After tying Canada at 2, two penalty shots in favor of Canada allowed them to jump to a 4-2 lead, which the U.S couldn’t comeback from. The U.S women’s team will miss the Paris 2024 Paralympics as Canada takes the direct qualification spot from the region. 

To see more photos from these events, click here.