There are just 10 days remaining before the 2018 IBSA Goalball World Championships get underway in Malmo, Sweden, on 3 June.

Here are five facts you should know about the current top 10 ranked men’s and women’s US goalball teams.

• Both the men’s and women’s teams have been a fixture of international goalball almost since the sport began. They made their joint international debuts at the 1982 World Championships at home in Indianapolis – and both won gold.
• The women have reached eight World Championships podiums since then, winning four titles including the last edition in Espoo, Finland, in 2014. Their only glitch came in 1994 when they finished eighth.
• The men have claimed medals at five World Championships with their best ever finish coming on their debut in 1982. They are the current bronze medal holders.
• At the Paralympic level, the USA women have won gold twice – at New York City 1982 and Beijing 2008 and they sit at the top of the all -time table with six medals in total. Like the women, the US men won gold in 1984 and went on to secure a further four podiums.
• Look out for Asya Miller in the women’s team – she was the top scorer with nine goals helping her team to bronze at the Rio 2016 Paralympics.

The 2018 IBSA Goalball World Championships run from 3-8 June. Featuring 28 of the world’s best teams, men and women will play in four groups.

The USA men will play in group B alongside Brazil, Canada, Germany, Iran, Egypt, Czech Republic and Japan. The women will take on China, Algeria, Canada, Greece and Brazil in group D.

Media accreditation, the full competition schedule and more information about Malmo 2018, is available here.

​Image credit: OIS Photos