The finalists of the Fistball U18 World Championships in Llanquihue (Chile) have been determined: Austria and Germany (U18 women) as well as Brazil and Germany (U18 men) will play for the world championship title on Sunday. And: The first places at the U18 World Championships have also already been decided.

U18 Men

It was a nerve-wracking battle between Germany and Austria in the semi-finals. Austria, who had lost just one set in seven matches in the preliminary round, went into the match against Germany as the favorites, as the defending champions had fallen short of expectations so far. However, the German team got off to the better start in the semi-final, taking a 2:0 lead. Austria managed to equalize the score at 2:2 in the meantime, but in a nerve-wracking deciding set, Germany celebrated victory and a place in the final (11:7, 11:0, 3:11, 8:11, 12:14). Brazil won the second semi-final against Switzerland. The sets were all hard-fought, but the South Americans took the points in the decisive phase (11:8, 11:9, 11:9).

The first placement matches went the full distance on Saturday evening. In the match for 7th place, hosts Chile beat Denmark 3:2 (12:10, 9:11, 11:6, 7:11, 11:9). Namibia turned a 1-2 deficit in the match for fifth place into a 3-2 (11-6, 14-15, 7-11, 14-12, 11-9) victory and ended a strong World Championship with a win. Austria and Switzerland will play the bronze medal match on Sunday (10.30 a.m. local time). Brazil and Germany will meet in the final at 13:30.

U18 Women

The two national teams from Austria and Germany put in commanding performances in their semi-finals. Austria defeated Brazil 3:0 (11:8, 11:6, 11:6), who had previously beaten hosts Chile in the quarter-finals (11:5, 6:11, 11:8, 11:7). Switzerland had also won their quarter-final (11:9, 7:11, 11:3, 11:4 against Argentina). However, the semi-final was a clear affair for Germany, who won in three sets (11:4, 11:8, 11:7).

This means that the 2021 World Cup final between Austria and Germany will be replayed on Sunday at 3 p.m. (local time). Brazil and Switzerland will play the bronze medal match (12 noon). Fifth place is already taken. This was secured by Chile – with a clear 3:0 (11:4, 11:5, 11:7) victory over Argentina.

Due to the expected weather forecast for Sunday, there has been an adjustment in the match schedule: three placement matches have been moved up to today, Saturday.

Affected matches are:

• Men’s: Match for 5th place (Namibia vs. Argentina) and match for 7th place (Chile vs. Denmark)
• Women’s: Match for 5th place (Argentina vs. Chile)

The matches will take place in Club Llanquihue on Saturday at 6 pm.

The tension is rising: At the Fistball World Championships U18 in Llanquihue (Chile), the first knockout duels are on the program on Saturday. Austria advanced to the semi-finals as group winners in both the female and male U18 categories. All semi-final matches will take place on Saturday afternoon.

U18 Women

Austria and Germany have come a good deal closer to a World Championship medal. On the second day of the preliminary round, the two nations made it through to the semi-finals. Austria remained unbeaten against Argentina (3:0) and Chile (3:1), while Germany beat Chile (3:0) and Brazil (3:1) to secure second place. Third place was secured by Switzerland, who not only beat Argentina 3-0, but also won the direct duel against Brazil – with the last possible point in the deciding set (3-2). The pairings for Saturday morning (11.30 a.m. local time) in the quarter-finals have now been decided: Brazil will face Chile in the South American clash. The winner of the match will face group winners Austria in the semi-finals. Germany’s semi-final opponent will be determined at the same time between Switzerland and Argentina.

U18 Men

The U18 men’s competition is on the home stretch of the preliminary round. However, the first decision has already been made: Austria remained unbeaten on the second day and thus secured group victory ahead of time. The decisive factor was the victory in the top duel with Brazil (3:1). The team had already beaten Argentina (3:0) and Namibia (3:0). Brazil are on course to secure second place, having won against Denmark (3:0) and Chile (3:0). Third place in the group goes to Switzerland, who remained unbeaten on Friday and also beat Namibia (3-0) and Argentina (3-0) after their furious 3-1 win over Germany. After Switzerland’s defeat against Denmark (3:0) and Namibia (3:1), Germany held their ground and would currently qualify for the semi-finals in fourth place. There was great jubilation for hosts Chile, who recorded their first win in the preliminary round against Denmark (3-0) and are in seventh place – behind Namibia and Argentina, who are level on points. Both teams will face each other in a direct duel on Saturday. There will also be such a direct clash between Brazil and Switzerland, who have already been confirmed as semi-finalists and will also meet in the semi-finals at 16:30 local time. The two other preliminary round matches will be between Germany and Chile and Austria and Denmark.

During the U18 World Championships we will hold elections for three U18 athletes to serve as representatives on the IFA Youth Commission and IFA Athletes’ Commission. The candidates were presented during the 6th Youth Congress.
The elected U18 representatives will serve for a term of 2 years or until the next IFA Fistball U18 World Championship in 2026.

The elected athletes will become active members of the IFA Youth Commission and as youth representative in the Athletes’ Commission, participating in various projects and decisions related to youth development in fistball. Their role is to ensure that the voice of young fistball players is heard and considered in the commission’s work, such as improving youth events and promoting the attractiveness of fistball among young athletes.

Election process:
The election will take place online during the World Championships. All athletes participating in the World Championships are invited to vote their representatives online. The voting link will be shared during the event.

These are the 7 candidates in alphabetical order:
Jonas Aigner, AUT
Daria Eckerstorfer, AUT
Lia Monteiro, BRA
Felix Rockenschaub, AUT
Kathrin Schmitz, GER
Anna Wagner, AUT
Torben Winterbach, NAM

Here are the videos of the nominees:

The U18 Fistball World Championships for men’s and women’s teams have officially kicked off with a stunning opening ceremony by Lake Llanquihue. By this beautiful lakeside backdrop, the eight participating nations were introduced to enthusiastic fans on Wednesday evening right on the beach. Following the ceremony, a welcome dinner was held for all competing teams.

A total of 14 teams will compete from Thursday to Sunday, October 30 to November 3, in the south of Chile, all fight for the prestigious world title. Every match will be streamed live on fistball.TV. The excitement is building – which team will rise as the new world champion?

The best youth fistball teams in the world with their eyes on the world championship title: After a three-year break, the Fistball World Championship for men and women U18 will take place from October 31 to November 3 in Llanquihue, Chile. After 2006 – about 18 years later – the U18 World Championships will once again be held in the south of Chile. 8 teams in the male U18 and 6 teams in the female U18 will take part in the World Championships.

Preparations are also in full flow and the countdown is on: From October 31 to November 3, the club grounds of Club Gimnástico Alemán Llanquihue will once again host the best U18 national teams. There could hardly be a more beautiful location for a U18 World Championship. The grounds, which are located directly on Lake Llanquihue with a view of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes, have earned a reputation in the past as one of the most beautiful fistball grounds in the world. The best young fistball teams are now visiting Chile for four days. “The joint staging of the 2nd World Championships for men’s U18 and 1st World Championships for women’s U18 in January 2006 was a great success,” says Jörn Verleger, President of the International Fistball Association (IFA): ”Club Llanquihue and the Fistball Association in Chile have already proven several times in the past what great fistball events they can organize. We are convinced that the next one is coming up in the next few days.”

14 national teams compete

Following India’s withdrawal, 14 teams – 8 in the men’s U18 and 6 in the women’s U18 – will compete for the title in Llanquihue. In the U18 men’s competition, defending champion Germany will be up against strong competition. From Europe, European champion Austria, Switzerland and Denmark will be competing at the World Championships, while the teams from South American champions Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Namibia (Africa) will be joining them from America. In addition to defending champion Germany, Austria, Switzerland (all Europe), Brazil, Chile and Argentina (America) will be competing in the women’s U18 competition.

The format is almost identical in both competitions. The national teams will first play matches against every other nation in a preliminary group before moving on to the other rounds. All matches will be played in a best-of-five format. “We want to give young fistball players the opportunity to play a match against every nation. Especially at a young age, we think it is important that as many matches as possible take place,” explains Gastao Englert, Chairman of the IFA Sports Commission: ”We are looking forward to many exciting matches.”

All matches in the livestream

Interested fans who are not traveling to Chile can still follow the matches. The organizers in Chile, in cooperation with the International Fistball Association, are planning to broadcast all matches – from Field 1, 2 and 3. “This has never happened before at a U18 Fistball World Championship,” says Sönke Spille, IFA Head of Events & TV Production: “We are pleased that fans at home will not miss any of the matches and will therefore be spoilt for choice as to which of the three streams, some of which will run simultaneously, they would like to watch.” Field 1 will be broadcast with live commentary in English.

Organizers plan program

Even before the first matches of the U18 World Championships, there are already a number of events planned. On Tuesday, October 29, the IFA Youth Congress will take place under the direction of the new chair of the IFA Youth Commission, Emma Dallinger. With the official opening and the Welcome Dinner on Wednesday, October 30, everything will be ready for the upcoming games. The organizing club Llanquihue will also be offering an extensive supporting program for fans from near and far during the four days of the competition. In addition to the matches in the preliminary and final rounds, there will be a big party on the club grounds. “We will do everything we can to ensure that the delegations and fans feel at home here,” announces Rodrigo Böttger from the World Championship organization team: ”We are looking forward to a great Fistball World Championship here in Llanquihue.”

IFA is a project partner of TAFISA in the Positive and Safe Coaching Pathway project in 2024. This project and the coaching sessions aim to address the gender inequality that hinders the participation of women and girls in sport at all levels. By focusing on the coaching of female coaches and coaches, the pathway to remove barriers and create a more equitable, accessible, accommodating and positive experience for girls in sport.

The head of the youth commission, Emma Dallinger, and project employee Hanna Einsiedler completed the program. Emma Dallinger organized a workshop for interested young people, athletes and coaches during the U18 World Championships in Chile. Within the framework of the IFA Youth Congress Emma welcomed many participants and could raise awareness for this important topic.
These workshops were primarily aimed at younger coaches aged between 16 and 25 years old in order to appeal to the next generation of Fistball coaches. By focusing on youth development, especially young women, the IFA fosters an environment that promotes inclusion, safety and the active participation of women in Fistball. A total of 90 people took part in the two workshops.

At the 2nd Competition Manager Meeting in Chengdu, the International Fistball Association accredited Sichuan Tianfu New Area YuanYin Primary & Middle School as the first fistball demonstration schools in China.

The Teacher Sharing Center of Sichuan Tianfu New Area is now an accredited Fistball Promotion Center in Chengdu. IFA Head of Events Sönke Spille and Xinmin Yan took the opportunity to hold the first guided training session. In the future, the teachers will receive further training and Tianfu New Area in Chengdu will become the first fistball center in China.

“During our first visit in April, the organizers of the World Games 2025 established contact. It is impressive what enthusiasm we were able to spark back then and the commitment with which those responsible are promoting the sport of fistball,” says Sönke Spille, IFA Head of Events: ”A big thank you goes to the LOC for their support as well as Sichuan Tianfu New Area YuanYin Primary & Middle School and The Teacher Sharing Center of Sichuan Tianfu New Area for their work. We are convinced that they will raise the sport of fistball to a grandiose level.”

A detailed report on the 2nd Competition Manager Meeting and the training session will be published after the U18 and Women’s Fistball World Championships.

On October 1, TAFISA, in collaboration with FISU, hosted the INTERACT+ Sport for All Conference to present the innovative Label Dashboard to international and national sport federations. IFA is part of the INTERACT+ project since its beginning in 2020. The Label Dashboard will enable sport federations to measure and evaluate their Sport for All offerings through a Sport for All Certification, allowing them to create a roadmap towards continual improvement.

This event also served as a platform to showcase the INTERACT+ project’s goals, foster dialogue, and encourage collaboration among various stakeholders in the global sports community. IFA Secretary General Christoph Oberlehner was also one of the panelists and discussed about the importance of the INTERACT+ project and how to establish Sport for all activities in international federations. The conference featured a round table discussion moderated by Patrik Perosa from the International Dance Organization with several panelists from different sport organizations.

The conversation delved into the foundational frameworks guiding each federation’s Sport for All initiatives, examining how these theoretical principles are translated into actionable programs and initiatives. Panellists shared insights into the key challenges they face in promoting inclusive participation, while discussing practical steps federations are taking to implement these strategies. They also addressed common obstacles in advancing widespread sports participation and explored how the INTERACT+ project could support federations in overcoming these barriers and achieving their goals.

Capacity Building Workshop
Following the conference, attendees participated in a capacity building workshop designed to provide practical tools and guidance. Held over two days, this workshop empowered representatives from international and national sport federations to align their existing activities with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and TAFISA’s Mission 2030 Themes. Participants worked on creating policy changes within their organizations, linking research findings from the INTERACT+ project to their strategies, and designing initiatives aimed at specific target groups. The workshop was facilitated by Jörg Benner from European Flying Disc Federation.

This was the fourth capacity building session of the INTERACT+ project, with at least two more trainings planned for the future. These sessions offer a valuable opportunity for federations to enhance their capacity for promoting inclusive and sustainable sport initiatives.

If your organisation is interested in hosting a similar capacity building session or would like more information, please reach out to us at info@tafisa.org.

INTERACT+ Partners Meeting
During our gathering in Lausanne, we also held a partners meeting for the INTERACT+ project. This meeting provided an opportunity to review updates on upcoming deliverables, plan the next steps for the Label Dashboard, and ensure the ongoing sustainability of the project. Additionally, we discussed future dates for partners meetings and upcoming capacity building trainings, outlining our roadmap for continued collaboration.

The INTERACT+ Sport for All Conference, capacity building workshop, and partners meeting in Lausanne marked a significant step forward in advancing global collaboration toward inclusive and sustainable sport initiatives. By bringing together experts, representatives, and key stakeholders from international and national sport federations, we fostered meaningful dialogue, shared innovative strategies, and strengthened our collective commitment to promoting Sport for All. As we look ahead, the momentum gained from these events will continue to drive the INTERACT+ project’s mission to support federations in creating impactful programs and initiatives. We are excited for the future and look forward to the next phases of our shared journey.

The IFA Youth Commission invites all interested participants, coaches and athletes to the 6th IFA Youth Congress 2024 (on-site event only) on Tuesday, 29th October 2024, 6:00 p.m. at Club Gimnástico Alemán de Llanquihue.

Please register for participation in the youth congress by 25 October at: REGISTRATION TO THE CONGRESS
You find all details and the agenda below (or download here: DOWNLOAD AGENDA)

Election of U18 Athlete Representatives
Together with this invitation I’ll send an information regarding election of Youth representatives in the IFA Youth Commission and Athletes’ Commission. We are still accepting nominations for the election of the IFA youth representative.
Please submit your nominations for the Youth Athlete Representative by October 25 using this online form: SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION
The election will be done online during the U18 World Championships.

We are looking forward meeting you at the Youth Congress and the U18 World Championships in Llanquihue. If you have any questions feel free to get in touch with me.