About Worlds

The Roundnet World Championship unites the world’s top athletes to compete for the sport’s highest title. Taking place every 2 years since 2022, it has grown into a truly global event under the International Roundnet Federation. Check out the format and event scheduling below.

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Group of athletes celebrating after a sports event, holding a flag that says "I am from Austria," with a European Union flag in the background.

History

The 2022 Roundnet World Championship in Belgium marked the sport’s first official Worlds and showcased overwhelming U.S. dominance. In the open division, Hammon/Clark (“Assistive Touch”), a legendary defensive team, claimed gold after a dramatic three-set semifinal over canadian Dean/Cote (“Swamp Donkeys”) and a final win against USA teammates Abrams/Gross, while iconic team Graham/Rogers (USA) led the charge in Women’s. Hui/Gross captured the Mixed title, and both athletes also featured in the women’s and open finals. The U.S. swept the Open podium, while Germany and Switzerland battled for Women’s bronze, won by Walczak/Kunzelmann (SUI). In Squad competition, the U.S. won both Men’s and Women’s titles, with 29 men’s and 22 women’s nations represented.

In 2024, the championship moved to Guilford, UK, and the story shifted dramatically. While the U.S. retained both Squad titles (Men’s: USA, Canada, Germany; Women’s: USA, Germany, Austria), European teams captured all three individual crowns. Germany’s Eisentrager/Siemer won the men’s division against canadian team Bosak/Cote, Austria’s Leybourne/Kadlec topped an all-European Women’s podium, and Switzerland’s Kunzelmann/Felix secured the Mixed title against U.S.A finalists Kieran/Rose. The event marked a turning point in global balance, signaling Europe’s rise to the very top of international roundnet competition.

Event Format

Individual — Each country will have the opportunity to have 3 men’s teams, 3 women’s teams, and 1 mixed team. The individual championships will feature both pool and bracket (knockout) stages).

Squad — Each country may have up to 5 teams competing for their country in each division of the squad championship. In the same manner to previous championships, each country will seed their teams 1-5 and these seeds will play off against another country. Winning 3 of these games will result in a win for ones country. The squad championships will feature both pool and bracket (knockout) stages.

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Event Schedule

The overall tournament schedule, including a detailed day-by-day breakdown, is coming soon.