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The International Fistball Association (IFA) and Faustball Deutschland have ended unsuccessfully their contract negotiations regarding the hosting of the 2027 Men’s Fistball World Championship. After intensive discussions, Faustball Deutschland has decided to withdraw from hosting the 2027 World Championship. As a result, the IFA Board of Directors has decided to reopen the bidding process for the tournament.
The negotiations between the International Fistball Association (IFA) and Faustball Deutschland over the past months were extensive. In numerous discussions, both sides worked to establish the best possible framework for the 2027 World Championship. Despite a promising bid, no final agreement was reached. “We were convinced that Germany could offer an outstanding stage for our sport,” says IFA Secretary General Christoph Oberlehner. During its meeting on April 26, the IFA Board of Directors thoroughly reviewed the proposal from Germany. The IFA further clarified its minimum requirements after already showing flexibility in several points during the negotiations. On Tuesday, May 14, Faustball Deutschland informed the IFA of its unanimous decision to withdraw from hosting the 2027 Men’s World Championship.
“We are always open to adapting to local circumstances at our events,” emphasizes Oberlehner, who led the discussions for IFA together with Head of Events Sönke Spille. “However, there were significant deviations from the original tender.” It is essential to adhere to the set requirements within a certain framework. This is crucial for ensuring fairness across past and future events. “All bidding federations were aware of the hosting requirements in advance, and there was an active application for this event,” Oberlehner adds. The IFA would like to express its sincere thanks to Faustball Deutschland for the constructive exchange during the time-consuming discussions.
In March 2024, the awarding of the 2027 Men’s World Championship was publicly announced during the German Indoor Championship in Hagen, following the IFA Board of Director’s approval of the bid in February. “At the time, we agreed to the request to announce the decision even before the formal contract was signed,” says Oberlehner.
The IFA will now reopen the bidding process for the 2027 Men’s World Championship. “Our goal remains to build on the success of the recent World Championships in Winterthur and Mannheim and to once again deliver an outstanding event for our sport,” says Sönke Spille, who will oversee the upcoming bidding process. “We look forward to engaging with interested applicants from around the world who want to partner with us to bring the 2027 Men’s World Championship to life.”