Teams & Athletes
This section provides a complete overview of participating nations and team structures, including official national rosters, country presentations, and individual athlete profiles. You’ll also find the team composition rules, and eligibility requirements, alternates policy to ensure clarity and competitive integrity for all teams.
Romania ✳︎
Australia ✳︎
France ✳︎
Brazil ✳︎
U.S.A. ✳︎
Denmark ✳︎
Japan ✳︎
Norway ✳︎
Austria ✳︎
Italy ✳︎
Lithuania ✳︎
Hungary ✳︎
Chile ✳︎
Czech Republic ✳︎
Colombia ✳︎
Taiwan ✳︎
Canada ✳︎
Hong Kong ✳︎
Luxembourg ✳︎
Netherlands ✳︎
Finland ✳︎
Germany ✳︎
Mexico ✳︎
Argentina ✳︎
Belgium ✳︎
Spain ✳︎
Sweden ✳︎
Switzerland ✳︎
Romania ✳︎ Australia ✳︎ France ✳︎ Brazil ✳︎ U.S.A. ✳︎ Denmark ✳︎ Japan ✳︎ Norway ✳︎ Austria ✳︎ Italy ✳︎ Lithuania ✳︎ Hungary ✳︎ Chile ✳︎ Czech Republic ✳︎ Colombia ✳︎ Taiwan ✳︎ Canada ✳︎ Hong Kong ✳︎ Luxembourg ✳︎ Netherlands ✳︎ Finland ✳︎ Germany ✳︎ Mexico ✳︎ Argentina ✳︎ Belgium ✳︎ Spain ✳︎ Sweden ✳︎ Switzerland ✳︎
National Team Member Roles
Captains
NGBs must select one player on each squad to act as that squad’s captain. NGBs should designate the captain’s honor to players that they feel best represent their country both on and off the field. Captains should be a team leader that will help make decisions, communicate with observers and officials, and guide the words, actions, and character of the squad as a whole.
One captain per squad (i.e. a Men’s Squad Captain and a Women’s Squad Captain)
Captains must be active players on the squad’s roster.
If an NGB desires they can designate more captains, however, for official purposes we will require notification of just one captain per squad.
Team Managers
NGBs must select two team managers per country. NGBs should designate the team manager roles to people that are organized, responsible, and great communicators. The team managers will be the main point of contact between the event organizers and the NGBs. They will disseminate information to their teams, communicate with tournament directors/staff, and make sure their teams follow the schedule and guidelines to keep everything running smoothly. During the event, a team manager would be responsible for attending any event briefings and sharing information with their teams.
The team manager represents the whole NGB. There does not need to be separate team managers for Men’s and Women’s squads.
The team manager can be a player, captain, coach, or any one associated with the NGB (i.e. they can be an active player, but don’t have to be).
If an NGB desires they can designate more team managers, however, for official purposes we will require notification of two team managers per NGB.
Seeding Rules
Squad Division
Teams within a squad should be ranked according to their combined points or ranking within the primary points/ranking system used within their country/region. If a points system is not available or certain players are over/under represented in your ranking system, it should be readily apparent to surrounding countries and the IRF that your teams are in the proper order.
A substitution team, if available, should be seeded as a 6 seed team and have corresponding ELO and ranking relative to the 1-5 seeds.
The IRF may request justification, and has the right to deny specific team orders. Teams will published prior to the event for final review.
Individual Division
Similarly, teams submitted for the individual division should be ranked according to their combined points/positions with the primary points/ranking system used in their country/region. This is purely for seeding purposes.
Team Composition Rules
Eligibility Requirements
In order to be part of a country’s National Team, one must fulfill a minimum of one of the following requirements:
- Be a citizen of the country
- Be a permanent resident of the country*
- Hold a valid immigrant visa for the country**
- Have lived permanently in the country before the start of 2026
Additionally any player who has represented a country at an international event in the last 36 months is ineligible to represent a different country at worlds. If an individual has represented two countries in the last 36 months (prior to the introduction of this rule) then their most recent representation is considered to be their country of representation.*
*Permanent Residency (PR) is defined as a person’s resident status in a country of which they are not citizens. PR is given by the government of a country to a person who is allowed to stay in the country indefinitely.
**Immigrant visa is a blanket term that refers to visa’s which are long term, or visa’s that are a part of the process of becoming a citizen.
***In very rare circumstances, at the joint request of both a player AND the NGB with who they want to represent, the IRF may, at their discretion, grant an exception.
We understand that the new clause in the eligibility for Worlds may cause some issues for players who have played for multiple countries in the last 36 months. For countries and players seeking an exemption the rule, the following questions must be addressed, saved as a PDF, and attached to an email sent to info@roundnetfederation.org. Please title the email ‘exception application - (country name) (player name)’. Please CC the player and provide the following information:
Your name, country, and role within your NGB.
Name of the player you wish to represent your country.
Eligibility criteria the player meets for all relevant countries.
Summary of the player’s international competitions in the last 36 months, including which countries they represented.
Reason for requesting this player: any status changes, relocation, or team needs.
Confirmation that you have spoken with the player and they intend to play for your country.
Confirmation the player has not tried out for or expressed interest in another country.
The IRF Board will then consider the application. Please note that while receipt of the email will be acknowledged within a week, it may take 6-8 weeks for a decision to come from the IRF.
Please note that if a player has tried out for one country, failed to make the team, and is now seeking an exception to play for another country, this application will be unlikely to succeed. Additionally, this is an ‘exception’ process - you need to prove why it is important. The decision by the IRF will be final.
Alternates & Substitutions Rules
Summary of Key Rules:
Substitution Teams:
Up to 6 teams per men’s/women’s squad (5 starters + 1 substitute team of 2 alternates)
Substitute team may swap for any starting team before starting a round, if opponent also has one (higher seed declares first; within time limit)
Countries may choose to play their substitute team or not regardless of opposing team choice
No starting team may sit out consecutive rounds
Substitute team is always the 5th seed when played; other teams move up accordingly
Each country may have up to 2 alternates, used as a substitute team or strictly injury replacements
Injury Replacements:
Alternates may be used as injury replacements during the squad competition only
No mid-round replacements → round that injury occurs is forfeited
Replaced players cannot return same day, but may return the following day of squad competition provided they start (only permitted one time)
Using an alternate to replace an injured player eliminates the country’s substitute team option (squad retains substitute-status for entire event)
Injury Replacements Before Worlds:
July 20th - August 26th: Roster changes permitted with sufficient medical proof (sent to info@roundnetfederation.org by NGB leader). The injured player may only be replaced by an alternate. The country may obtain an additional alternate to complete their roster.
Squad Pairings may be adjusted and Squad may be reseeded pending additional IRF approval.
Individual Pairings may not be changed. Alternate replaces injured player’s exact roster spot.
Squad pairings and seeds may only be adjusted in the event of complete replacement of an injured player. They will not be changed due to injuries that permit the injured player to still participate.
August 27th - September 1st:
Squad & Individual: Must use an alternate to fill the injured player's exact roster spot. Pairings and seeds may not be adjusted. The country may not obtain a new alternate player.