08/30/2025
Fistball is a sport in The World Games!!! How do sports make it into the Olympics?! They start in The World Games!!! 😉 👊🏻
Historic Milestone in Fistball - Gender Equality and Global Reach with 16 teams at The World Games 🥁💥
The 2025 edition of The World Games marks a major milestone in the sport of fistball. For the first time in the event's history, both the Men's and Women's competitions will feature eight teams each, achieving full gender equality. Teams from four continents - Europe, South America, Oceania, and North America - will participate, making it the most globally diverse fistball competition in World Games history.
The host city Chengdu, China, will welcome the world’s best fistball nations from 9th to 13th August, with the medal matches closing out the competition on the final day. All eyes will be on the Gold Group, where the traditional powerhouses of the sport reside—no nation outside this elite group has ever claimed a World Games medal.
Women’s Tournament:
Gold Group: Brazil, Germany, Switzerland, Austria
Silver Group: Chile, Argentina, New Zealand, USA
Can Germany defend their 2022 gold, or will Brazil confirm their status as world leaders?
The women's competition is entering its second edition after debuting in 2022. Germany won that inaugural title in a thrilling final against Switzerland. Brazil enters Chengdu as reigning World Champions, having claimed the crown in November 2024 by defeating Germany 4-0. Switzerland and Austria bring depth and experience. In the Silver group, debutants Argentina and Chile aim to gain experience. New Zealand finished 7th at the World Championships, while Team USA is seeking their first World Games victory.
Men’s Tournament:
Gold Group: Germany, Austria, Brazil, Switzerland
Silver Group: Chile, Argentina, Italy, New Zealand
Can Germany handle the pressure of defending their title? New Zealand makes its first-ever appearance at the World Games. Germany, the defending champions from 2022, bring a younger roster. Their generational shift will be tested against rivals Austria, Brazil, and Switzerland – all with gold medal aspirations. These four have consistently shared the podium. A semifinal spot for any Silver Group team would be a historic breakthrough.
📷: ©Sportaustria/Florian Rogner