The teams for the semifinals of the IFA Fistball World Tour Finals in Vöcklabruck are set. The group stage once again delivered thrilling duels on the way to the knockout rounds. Both defending champions — men and women — remain in the race for another title.

In the women’s competition, Faustball Kreuzlingen secured the final spot in the Top 4 and joins group winners TSV Dennach, SOGIPA/Cargo Way, and TV Jahn Schneverdingen in the semifinals. In the men’s competition, Union Tigers Vöcklabruck and DSG UKJ Froschberg won their groups and are joined by Faustball Wigoltingen and SG Novo Hamburgo. The Brazilians staged a remarkable comeback against FBC LINZ AG Urfahr — who, despite being reigning European Cup champions, are now out of the title race.

Men

The decisive match for the final men’s semifinal spot went all the way to the fifth set: both FBC LINZ AG Urfahr and SG Novo Hamburgo needed a win to stay in the title hunt. Linz initially led 2:0 (11:8, 12:10), but Novo Hamburgo turned things around and claimed the next three sets (11:9, 11:6, 11:8) to complete the comeback. Earlier, the Brazilians had also beaten TV Vaihingen/Enz 3:0 (11:8, 11:9, 11:7). Group victory, however, went to DSG UKJ Froschberg. After their strong opening win against Novo Hamburgo, Froschberg followed up with a second win in the Linz derby against Urfahr (11:6, 15:14, 9:11, 11:8), reaching the World Tour Final semifinals for the first time — after previously winning three President’s Cup titles. Despite losing 1:3 (8:11, 10:12, 11:9, 7:11) to Vaihingen/Enz, they remained at the top of the group.

Defending champions Union Tigers Vöcklabruck made short work of the group stage. After an opening 3:0 win over Faustball Wigoltingen, they followed up with further victories against South Jersey Fistball Club (11:5, 11:3, 11:6) and Clube Mercês (11:6, 11:7, 11:8), sealing first place in the group. Wigoltingen also progressed to the semifinals after wins over Mercês (11:2, 11:8, 11:9) and South Jersey (11:3, 11:4, 11:7).

The semifinals will see a rematch of last year’s clash in Mannheim: hosts Union Tigers Vöcklabruck face SG Novo Hamburgo at 17:00, followed by DSG UKJ Froschberg vs. Faustball Wigoltingen at 18:30. In the President’s Cup semifinals, Clube Mercês meets TV Vaihingen/Enz (17:00), while South Jersey Fistball Club takes on FBC LINZ AG Urfahr (18:30).

Women

Three semifinal spots were already confirmed before the second day of group play — the fourth was secured by Faustball Kreuzlingen. The Swiss side defeated TSV Calw in straight sets (11:9, 11:8, 11:6), bouncing back from their 0:3 loss to TSV Dennach the day before. The defending champions also won 3:0 (11:6, 11:7, 11:2) against Clube Duque de Caxias, claiming the top spot in their group.

TV Jahn Schneverdingen also secured group victory with a 3:2 win (11:13, 11:9, 7:11, 11:6, 11:6) over SOGIPA/Cargo Way in a dramatic match, overcoming two set deficits. Third place went to SVD Diepoldsau-Schmitter, who defeated Swiss rivals FG Elgg-Ettenhausen 3:0 (11:7, 11:8, 11:3).

In the semifinals, TV Jahn Schneverdingen will face Faustball Kreuzlingen at 14:00, while SOGIPA/Cargo Way and TSV Dennach meet at 15:30 in another exciting matchup. The President’s Cup semifinals will feature SVD Diepoldsau-Schmitter vs. Clube Duque de Caxias (10:00) and FG Elgg-Ettenhausen vs. TV Calw (15:30).

Tickets Available at the Venue

Tickets for the weekend and remaining tournament days are available at the box office. Around 1,000 covered seats are provided for spectators. Those unable to attend in person can follow all matches live online: All World Tour Finals games will be streamed free of charge at www.fistball.tv.

More information: https://wtf.faustball-tigers.at/

The opening day of the IFA Fistball World Tour Finals in Vöcklabruck already delivered key preliminary decisions for the semifinals. While the women’s competition has its first confirmed semifinalists, the men’s side promises even more excitement on day two.

Under changing weather conditions, the IFA Fistball World Tour Finals for men and women kicked off at the Volksbank Stadium in Vöcklabruck. In the women’s tournament, several teams secured early advancement to the semifinals. In the men’s tournament, a thrilling 3:2 victory by DSG UKJ Froschberg over SG Novo Hamburgo electrified the local crowd.

Women

Two matches, two victories – and a ticket to the semifinals: In Group “Harald Bayer”, the decisions have already been made. SOGIPA/Cargo Way (Brazil) and TV Jahn Schneverdingen (Germany) each celebrated two wins on the first day of group play and have secured their semifinal spots. SOGIPA defeated SVD Diepoldsau-Schmitter (11:7, 11:8, 11:7) and FG Elgg-Ettenhausen (14:12, 11:3, 11:9) without dropping a set and currently lead the standings. TV Jahn Schneverdingen also holds four points, with wins over Elgg-Ettenhausen (11:9, 11:8, 11:6) and Diepoldsau (11:7, 11:5, 11:13, 11:9), sitting in second place. On Friday at 3 p.m., SOGIPA and Schneverdingen will battle for the group win, while the two Swiss teams, still without a win, will face off to decide third place in the group.

TSV Dennach has also secured a semifinal ticket. The defending champions remained unbeaten in matches against TSV Calw (11:7, 11:9, 11:7) and Faustball Satus Kreuzlingen (11:8, 11:4, 11:6), topping Group “Franz Bakan.” Behind them, the final semifinal spot will be decided on Friday (4:30 p.m.) when Kreuzlingen and Calw meet. Both teams beat Clube Duque de Caxias Curitiba – Kreuzlingen (11:6, 11:5, 11:6) and Calw (11:2, 11:6, 11:4).

Men

It was a nerve-wracking encounter full of spectacular defensive plays: DSG UKJ Froschberg and SG Novo Hamburgo battled over five intense sets in their opening Group “Michael Feichtenschlager” match. The Brazilians, who won bronze last year, twice took the lead – but Froschberg answered each time (11:9, 10:12, 11:6, 8:11). In the decisive fifth set, both teams pushed to the limit, but the team from Linz sealed the 11:9 win to deliver a small opening-day upset. Austria’s second team, FBC LINZ AG Urfahr, also started strong. The newly crowned European Cup champion beat TV Vaihingen/Enz (Germany) 3:1 (11:9, 11:8, 4:11, 11:6) and now tops the standings after day one.

In Group “David Lorenz”, the matches were more straightforward. Host and defending champion Union Tigers Vöcklabruck opened with a 3:0 win (11:8, 11:5, 11:8) over STV Wigoltingen (Switzerland), followed by another dominant 3:0 victory (11:5, 11:8, 11:0) over South Jersey Fistball Club (USA).

On Friday, group play continues from 12 p.m. In the matchup between Clube Mercês and STV Wigoltingen, a direct battle for a semifinal spot could unfold, while the Tigers Vöcklabruck will face South Jersey. At 1:30 p.m., the Linz city derby between group leaders FBC LINZ AG Urfahr and DSG UKJ Froschberg promises high drama. Meanwhile, SG Novo Hamburgo and TV Vaihingen/Enz are already playing to keep their semifinal hopes alive. The final men’s group matches will be played at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Ideal Conditions at the Volksbank Stadium

The Volksbank Stadium in Vöcklabruck offers excellent infrastructure for hosting the World Tour Finals. Around 1,000 covered seats will ensure ideal viewing conditions for spectators in all weather conditions. On-site catering is also well arranged: A wine and cocktail lounge will be open on Friday and Saturday, while the official Players’ Party will take place on Sunday.

“The infrastructure is ready, and the Union Tigers Vöcklabruck are doing a fantastic job organizing this event,” says Sönke Spille, Head of Events at the International Fistball Association. “They are working with great passion – we are looking forward to four exciting days of fistball.”

Tickets Available at the Venue

Tickets for Friday and the remaining event days are available directly at the box office. Those unable to attend in person can still follow every match live online: All games of the World Tour Finals will be broadcast free of charge at www.fistball.tv.

More information: https://wtf.faustball-tigers.at/

IFA President Jörn Verleger is fulfilling a dream on Sunday by competing in the Challenge long-distance triathlon in Roth for the first time. He started training late due to a back injury. His motivation comes not least from special memories of the past.

IFA President Jörn Verleger will fulfill a dream on Sunday when he competes in the long-distance Challenge triathlon in Roth for the first time. He started training late due to a back injury. His motivation comes not least from special memories from the past. The newspapers Nürnberger Nachrichten reported on his trip: “Triathlon instead of Fistball: IFA President Jörn Verleger competes in the Roth Challenge“ (https://www.nn.de/region/roth/triathlon-statt-faustball-ifa-weltprasident-jorn-verleger-tritt-beim-rother-challenge-an-1.14731117) and the Münchner Merkur ”Fistball boss on new paths” (https://www.merkur.de/sport/lokalsport/muenchen-lk/faustball-boss-auf-neuen-wegen-93800192.html)

Soccer World Cup winner André Schürrle was supposed to make his long-distance debut at Challenge Roth this year. However, the world champion’s last-minute cancellation left many fans disappointed. But numerous other athletes from different sports will be taking to the starting line in Roth, including IFA President Jörn Verleger (53).

From the spectator stands to the track

Verleger has been following the triathlon in Roth for decades. “I was there in 1996 when Lothar Leder made his legendary finish, becoming the first person to break the eight-hour mark, and I’ve watched the last runners cross the finish line many times over the years,” recalls Verleger.

Time and again, he told himself during the triathlon night that he would “run across the finish line as a competitor one day.” Now, nearly 30 years later, the time has come.

Back problems and late preparation

Training was supposed to start in January, but back problems delayed the start until April. After eight weeks of physical therapy, Verleger traveled through Japan for three weeks in March, still not completely pain-free. The decision was made on the flight back: now or never.

Immediately after landing, he headed to Saxony-Anhalt to pick up a training bike from a triathlete friend. “Until then, I didn’t have a proper bike, nor had I ever done any road bike training,” says Verleger. Today, he is pain-free and convinced that “exercise is the best medicine.”

Training between the Isar Valley and Solarer Berg

In May, Verleger completed a full lap of the original route for the first time. At the beginning of the year, his idea was still met with ridicule among his friends. Today, the team, which calls itself “Rennschnecken” (racing snails), has its own logo on freshly printed shirts, the race schedule is set, and friends are scheduled to provide support along the route.

“If everything goes well, it will take us around twelve hours – maybe a little faster, but the main goal is to arrive at the Home of Triathlon healthy and together,” says Verleger, summarizing the team’s shared motivation.

Listen also to his mini podcast series entitled “Challenge Accepted – My Relay Triathlon Diary for the Roth 2025 project” on https://open.spotify.com/show/1XoMCZThdSrfOBuKH6kUmW  with four episodes about the journey to Roth.

The countdown is on: in just five weeks, the World Games 2025 will officially begin in Chengdu, China. Among the sports featured are the fistball competitions, scheduled to take place from August 9 to 13 in the heart of the city’s scenic Tianfu Park. With less than a month to go, preparations by the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) have reached the final stretch — and a key milestone was marked last week with a final venue inspection by International Fistball Association (IFA) Sports Director and Technical Delegate, Gastao Englert.

Englert visited the newly built fistball venue and met with various members of the Chinese organizing team to review all aspects of the tournament setup. The venue, which features specially adapted natural grass courts for both match play and warm-ups, is nearly complete. “Both the match and the practice/warm-up fields are in good condition and could be used today,” Englert noted. “We are now fine-tuning details such as grass density and bounce quality, but overall, we are in excellent shape.”

One of the event’s defining features will be its setting: the fistball matches will take place in the middle of a public park, offering spectators and passersby an opportunity to witness world-class sport in an open and accessible environment. With eight teams in both the men’s and women’s competitions – more than ever before – the sport is gaining unprecedented visibility at the World Games.

The venue will also include athlete and media zones, as well as individual team tents — highlighting the LOC’s commitment to both professionalism and comfort. As part of the local integration effort, a group of PE teachers from Chengdu, trained through a combination of webinars and hands-on sessions, will serve as line referees and recording clerks. A practical training session was recently held directly on-site, following earlier online instruction.

This engagement reflects a broader ambition: using the World Games as a launchpad for fistball development in China. According to Englert, the groundwork being laid today could soon lead to the formation of Chinese national youth teams — with the goal of fielding boys’ and girls’ squads at the 2026 U18 World Championship in Switzerland.

Interview with Gastão Englert

Last week, you visited Tianfu Park in Chengdu once again to do a final check of the newly constructed fistball courts. What is your impression of the current state of preparations one month before the start of the World Games?
My impression is the best possible. It has been a very positive surprise to see how professional, results-oriented, and available the Chinese team is — and most importantly, how willing they are to do everything necessary to solve any issue that arises. Both the match and the practice/warm-up fields are in good condition and could be used today. We are now working on the final details regarding the grass and bounce rebound, which are also in a good stage. Beyond the fields, the overall structure is impressive and already 95% complete. This includes a private tent for each team, as well as dedicated areas for athletes and media.

The fistball competitions will take place on specially adapted natural grass fields in the middle of a public park. What kind of atmosphere can teams expect?
The city of Chengdu is inclusive, democratic, and focused on community and well-being. Hosting the fistball event in the middle of a public park brings our sport closer to the local people, offering great visibility, atmosphere, and engagement. Often, venues are located far from the public eye — but this time, the Chinese LOC has chosen a truly special and integrated location.

How important are the fistball competitions in Chengdu for the international development of fistball—and what are your expectations for the 2025 World Games in terms of sports and organization?
It is always a special opportunity when we play in a new fistball country. It’s a chance to develop new members and create new fistball teams, players and fans. This time, the experience is even more meaningful. Since last year, we’ve been working closely with physical education teachers from Chengdu, who will serve as line referees and recording clerks during the competition. To prepare them, we organized a webinar and an on-site training session. In the future, these teachers could become the coaches and mentors of the next generation of fistball players in China. In this direction we already have some practical sessions with local players. Our goal is to have Chinese teams—both women’s and men’s—compete in next year’s U18 World Championship in Switzerland.

The women’s Fistball team from Union Haidlmair Schwingenschuh Nussbach and the men’s Fistball team from FBC LINZ AG Urfahr were crowned last weekend Austrian national champions in the presence of IFA Honorary President Karl Weiss, IFA President Jörn Verleger, and Secretary General Chris Oberlehner.

At the final event in Nußbach, Upper Austria, the two winners of the preliminary round won their finals in front of 700 spectators – and celebrated at the top of the podium again after a year’s absence. While the men from Urfahr delivered a real 4:3 thriller against defending champions Union Tigers Vöcklabruck, Nussbach won 4:1 against Union Compact Freistadt in front of their home crowd.

Verleger and Oberlehner also used the event, which was broadcast live on ORF, to talk to Bernhard Puchner and Peter Oberlehner from Faustball Austria.

Men: Urfahr comes back from 1:3 deficit against Vöcklabruck – and is crowned champion

The 700 spectators were treated to a spectacular comeback in the men’s final. After trailing 1:3, FBC LINZ AG Urfahr defeated defending champions Union Tigers Vöcklabruck 4:3 (7:11, 11:7, 8:11, 6:11, 11:7, 11:5, 11:7) to secure their first title since 2022.

Title dream fulfilled: Nussbach crowned national champions again in front of home crowd

Title on home turf: The women’s fistball team Union Haidlmair Schwingenschuh Nussbach won the Austrian national championship title in the home Final3. In the final, the team prevailed 4:1 (11:8, 8:11, 11:8, 11:6, 13:11) against indoor champions Union Compact Freistadt – and thus celebrated the eleventh championship title in the club’s history.

Photo credit: Wolfgang Benedikt, ÖFBB

Key decisions for the future of Fistball have been take in yesterday´s 9th IFA Board of Directors Meeting (2023–2027) including:

• IFA Strategic Plan 2025–2029
• IFA Standing Order 2025
• IFA Financial Regulations 2025 incl. appendix
• IFA Regulations World Championships 2025
• IFA Competition Rules 2025 (IFCR)

Further reports were give on the IFA Fistball World Tour review process, the upcoming events and the fight against Anti-Doping

Here are the approved minutes of the 8th Board of Directors meeting held on April 26, 2025.

Here are the approved minutes of the 9th Board of Directors meeting held on June 21, 2025.

The next IFA Board of Directors meeting is on Sunday 31 August at 1:30 p.m.

The International Fistball Association (IFA) is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has approved in its today´s meeting its full text version of the IFA Strategic Plan 2025 – 2029

This is already the IFA’s fifth completely revised Strategic Plan. The first IFA Strategic Plan was adopted for the period 2011–2015 and led to strong growth in IFA membership to 54 member associations.

IFA President Joern Verleger and Secretary General Chris Oberlehner thanked in the meeting everyone involved in drawing up the new Strategic Plan especially President-elect, 1st Vice President Gastao Englert, who was in charge of the draft.

“This is an important milestone for the IFA”, said Verleger. “But it is not about declaring guiding principles, but above all about authentic integration into all areas of the association. It is important that the declared values are noticeable in our daily interactions—whether in the way (volunteer) employees treat each other, in decision-making processes, or in the association’s external image. Only when values are truly authentic do they strengthen internal trust and are perceived externally as a credible promise.”

The 2025 International German Gymnastics Festival in Leipzig was not only one of the largest mass sporting events in Europe – it was also an impressive showcase for Fistball. The IFA was prominently represented by President Jörn Verleger and Secretary General Christoph Oberlehner and took the opportunity to engage in a wide-ranging exchange with national and international partners.

At the invitation of Leipzig’s mayor Burkhard Jung and the President of the German Gymnastics Federation (DTB), Alfons Hölzl, the IFA leadership took part in several official events at the gymnastics festival.

“The gymnastics festival has once again demonstrated the power of Fistball – as a cross-generational, fair, and dynamic sport with international potential,” emphasized IFA President Jörn Verleger during his visit.

The great response was particularly impressive: over 125 teams registered for the Fistball competitions, including 28 youth, 39 active, 19 senior, and 19 recreational teams. The games were played in the traditional Bruno Plache Stadium.

A special highlight was the 2×2 show match in the preliminary program of the big stadium gala on Saturday evening in the Red Bull Arena. Even though the arena was sparsely filled at the time of the performance, this was a welcome platform for Faustball Deutschland to showcase itself.

Sports for all were not neglected either: visitors were able to play themselves on the market square under the guidance of SC DHfK Leipzig, the largest Fistball club in Germany. Numerous hands-on activities and the voluntary commitment of many helpers made the Fistball appearance at the gymnastics festival a real success – both for the sport and for the community.

A special honor was bestowed upon Steffi Thomas, former vice president of Faustball Germany. Thomas received the Flatow Medal from the German Gymnastics Federation at the Paulinum of Leipzig University. This prestigious award recognizes not only her outstanding sporting achievements—including four world championship titles and the IFA 2021 World Fistball Player of the Year award—but above all her many years of selfless commitment to our sport.

In addition to the sporting events, discussions with representatives from politics, sports organizations, and the gymnastics community were the focus of the IFA’s presence.

“The IFA would like to thank the DTB, the city of Leipzig, Faustball Deutschland, and the numerous volunteers for their excellent organization and hospitality. The 2025 Gymnastics Festival was impressive proof of the vitality of the Fistball movement – in Germany and beyond,” said Verleger.