One month before the final of the Fistball World Championship, the champions trophy arrived in the host city of Mannheim and landed safely. At 3:05 p.m., the helicopter carrying the valuable trophy touched down on the tarmac of Mann-heim Airport – on board were IFA President Jörn Verleger, Vice President Steve Schmutzler and CEO Director Sönke Spille, who were ceremoniously received. They were surrounded by children who stood guard for them on the way to the terminal with the flags of the 16 participating countries.

Until the very end, it was a secret who would bring the trophy to Mannheim alongside the president of the world governing body. With Schmutzler, one of Germany’s 2019 world champions in Winterthur, Switzerland, passed the trophy on to World Champion-ship ambassador Henning Fritz, who promised to have a keep the 48-centimeter-high, 5.2-kilogram glass trophy safe and secure until the opening ceremony of the event.

This marks the start of the countdown to the World Championship, which aims to pro-vide outstanding sporting moments in Mannheim from July 22 to 29. “It’s hard to believe that the final day of the Fistball World Championship is already a month away and that preparations are thus entering the home stretch. All 16 nations have nominated their squads in the meantime – and the entire fistball world can hardly wait for the start of the title bouts here in Mannheim,” said World Championship CEO Sönke Spille. “The rising anticipation can also be felt in the region. More than 22,000 tickets are now sold for the week.”

Jörn Verleger, President of the International Fistball Association (IFA), emphasized the importance of this world championship, which will be held in Germany for the fourth time after 1972, 1982 and 2007. “Germany has a long tradition and great experience in hosting Fistball events. But this World Championship will be something very special. It is not only a milestone, but can become a door opener for the sport of Fistball.”

The group matches will be played in the Rhein-Neckar Stadium, while the fistball players will move to the SAP Arena for the finals on July 28 and 29. Jörn Verleger pointed to the novelty of natural grass being laid for the first time in the 12,000-seat multi-sport arena. “This arena is very impressive. Spectators and players will experience goosebump mo-ments.” From a sporting perspective, the World Championship tournament is also im-portant because the first tickets for The World Games 2025 in Chengdu will be award-ed.

Starting on July 22, 16 teams from five continents will compete against each other to hold the trophy in their hands – on July 29, we will know whether Germany succeeds in defending its title. Hennig Fritz, who was named world handball player in 2004, knows what it’s like to become world champion in your own country. “A home World Champi-onship is something very special,” said Fritz: “From my own experience, I know how the support of one’s own fans can inspire the athletes and spur them on to very special per-formances.”

Moreover, the former Bundesliga goalkeeper, who played for the Rhein-Neckar Löwen between 2007 and 2012, knows the SAP Arena. “If the arena is sold out, then the atmos-phere will be great. I wish the guys can soak up the feeling in front of their own fans and turn that into positive energy for them.”

Attractive supporting program

Not only on, but also off the pitch, there will be a lot on offer for fans, visitors, but also for everyone in the Rhine-Neckar region during the entire World Championship. There will be a Kids Area in the Rhine-Neckar Stadium with a wide variety of games and sports activities, such as small Fistball challenges, but also a bouncy castle, can throwing, face painting for children or autograph sessions.

“To this end, we are offering childcare in our Kids Club on the first six days. There will be daily events in the marquee, including a live band, DJ and big World Championship closing party – and no admission charge. I am particularly looking forward to Schools Day, when we will be welcoming over 2,500 schoolchildren to the stadium on Monday morning, July 24, for the match between Germany and Italy, followed by a wide range of sports activities throughout the campus,” emphasized Sönke Spille.

Tickets for all eight World Championship days are available at tickets.faustballwm.de