Youth FootGolf World Cup 2026 practice day opens in Gahlenz, Germany

Practice day opened the Gahlenz Golf Complex with a clear message from the Federation for International FootGolf: every player would start the Youth FootGolf World Cup 2026 with an official scorecard at the 1st tee, and every hole would be recorded by gross score. The course in Gahlenz, Germany was open before the championship rounds, giving youth players their first real look at what July 16-19, 2026 would demand.

That first walk matters in FootGolf, and FIFG leaned hard into the basics that separate a smooth opener from a messy one. Players were told to walk every hole and read the lies, a reminder that the format still rewards course management and precision even with a soccer ball in play. At youth level, that is the edge: see the slopes, judge the bounces, and decide where conservative golf and aggressive scoring actually meet.

The setup in Saxony also showed how far the event had already moved before a ball was kicked in competition. The tournament sits under the official framework of FIFG and is hosted by Deutscher Footgolf Verband e.V., with delivery handled by a dedicated organising committee supported by officials, volunteers and regional partners. FIFG’s earlier announcement said Germany won the bid after an initial bid round, with the Youth Committee and board involved in the selection.

The field has grown into a sizeable international test. FIFG first said 21 nations were confirmed for the Youth FootGolf World Cup Germany 2026, then later promotional posts put the competition at 22 nations and 84 players. The official draw was completed automatically through the tournament system and witnessed by representatives from participating nations, including Swedish and German officials, locking the brackets and giving teams a concrete route through the week.

FIFG’s own material described the opening in Gahlenz as a historic milestone, the first FIFG Youth World Cup officially opening there. Sunday, July 19 was set aside for the final round and victory ceremony, which means practice day was not a ceremonial warm-up but the first competitive read on a course that will decide how quickly young players adapt to Germany’s host-venue setup.