On January 30, the International Fistball Association (IFA) celebrates its birthday. It is now 64 years since the International Fistball Association was founded in 1960. For several years now, World Fistball Day has been celebrated to mark the anniversary – and in 2024 it will be bigger than ever before. In the days leading up to January 30, we will be taking a look at the sport of fistball, projects around the world and various activities to get involved in.

The festivities will conclude on January 30 with the IFA Awards ceremony. The fistball nations around the world will be presented here over the next few days.

Asia

Fistball is spreading constantly in Asia. Numerous new nations have taken up the sport of fistball in recent years. Japan has already participated in 8 world championships (6x men, 2x women), but Chinese Taipei, Pakistan, India and Nepal have also taken part in international events in the past.

And: In 2025, the fistball world will be looking to Asia. The World Games will take place in Chengdu (China) in August, and fistball will be represented in the men’s and women’s competitions.

Countries: Afghanistan, People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Japan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei

America

The fistball world will meet twice this year in South America. In the autumn, two Fistball World Championships will take place in Chile (U18) and Argentina (women). Fistball has been played in America for many decades. The most successful nation is Brazil (2x world champion men, 1x world champion women, 3x world champion male U18), but Chile, Argentina, the USA and Colombia have also taken part in international competitions in recent years.

The first PAFA Championships were held in the United States in 2015, the last edition was in Novo Hamburgo in 2022. Here, Brazil won the men’s and women’s competitions.

Countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, United States of America, Venezuela

Europe

On no other continent is fistball as widespread as in Europe: European nations generally provide the most teams at international events. Germany is the record world champion for men, women and the two U18 world championships. Austria and Switzerland are also among the top nations. However, Italy, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Serbia, Belgium and Poland also regularly take part in international competitions.

Fistball originated in Italy, and the International Fistball Association was founded in Europe in 1960. The very first Fistball World Championship took place in Austria in 1968.

Countries: Albania, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Spain, Great Britain, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, North Macedonia, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Switzerland, Sweden, Ukraine

Africa

For decades, fistball in Africa was only played in Namibia, which took part in its first Fistball World Championship in Germany in 1972. Fistball is now played in schools in many African countries, but only Namibia has taken part in international competitions in recent years.

The fistball world has also been a guest in Africa. Fistball World Championships were held in Namibia in 1995 (men) and 2009 (U18), and the Fistball World Cup was held 6 times (5x Namibia, 1x South Africa) in Africa.

Countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Sierra Leone, Swaziland, Togo, Uganda

Oceania

Within a very short space of time, a fistball community has developed in Oceania. Since Australia’s first participation in a World Championship in Argentina in 2015, there have been numerous other international participations, including the New Zealand women’s team at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham (USA). In recent years, they have also hosted the Trans-Tasman Championships, the Oceania Championships and the Asia-Pacific Championships.

Countries: Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Independent State of Samoa