Ireland Thrashes USA 110-10 in Wheelchair World Cup
Tom Martin scored a hat-trick as Ireland opened Group A with a 110-10 win over the United States.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Soccer
Ireland beat the USA 110-10 in their opening Group A match at the Wheelchair World Cup on Friday. Tom Martin scored a hat-trick for Ireland, and England beat Wales 98-18 in the other Group A game that day.
Why it matters
The result sets up a Group A race in which the top two sides from each group advance to the semi-finals. England and Ireland could both qualify and meet later in the tournament.
Ireland's 110-10 win over the USA and England's 98-18 win over Wales set the early scoring benchmarks in the group. Tom Martin's first try came after 65 minutes, and Rob Hawkins has scored 11 tries for England.
The players
Tom Martin
Tom Martin is a wheelchair rugby player who recently signed for the Bradford Bulls and scored a hat-trick for Ireland in the tournament opener.
Rob Hawkins
Rob Hawkins is the reigning World Wheelchair Player of the Year and scored 11 tries for England, while also playing club rugby in Halifax.
The details
Tom Martin, who recently signed for the Bradford Bulls wheelchair team mid-season, scored three tries for Ireland in the lopsided opener. Group A resumes on Tuesday, with England playing the USA and Ireland facing Wales.
Timeline
Friday: Ireland beat the USA 110-10 and England beat Wales 98-18 in Group A opening games.
Tuesday: Group A resumes with England vs. USA and Ireland vs. Wales.
Friday (following week): England and Ireland could meet if both advance.
Season Trajectory
The Wheelchair World Cup's Group A structure, in which the top two sides advance to the semi-finals, makes the opening results consequential for qualification. England and Ireland, both winning convincingly on Friday, are positioned as likely qualifiers.
The top two sides from each group advance, so the Tuesday fixtures and the scoring margins from Friday will matter for qualification. Fantasy and tournament followers should track how Tom Martin and Rob Hawkins perform in the coming matches.
The takeaway
Early margins in group play can carry weight when only the top two sides advance, so the Tuesday results will shape the picture heading into the semi-finals.
What happens next
Group A resumes on Tuesday with England vs. USA and Ireland vs. Wales, and the top two sides from each group advance to the semi-finals.
Further reading
For more on competitive tournament formats, see our Soccer coverage.
