Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico – June 1, 2026. After four rounds of intense competition across the two host venues, Turtle Dunes and Tres Vidas, where more than 700 players from over 50 nations showcased the highest level of FootGolf on the global stage, the month of June begins with the announcement of the new individual world champions of the Federation for International FootGolf (FIFG).
From May 29 to June 1, the Individual Competition was contested in the Men’s, Women’s, Senior, and Senior Plus divisions as part of the Mexico–Acapulco 2026 Cathoras World Championship presented by IZZI. The newly crowned world champions are:
- Lucia Cermakova (SVK) – Women’s Champion
- Christian Fernández (ARG) – Senior Champion
- Florian Warsemann (FRA) – Men’s Champion
- Sergio Toth (ARG) – Senior Plus Champion
MEN’S DIVISION
Following the cut after the second round, the Men’s field was reduced to just over 200 contenders. After the third round, another cut narrowed the competition to the top 103 players advancing to the final day.
Argentina’s Gonzalo Novosad entered the final round as one of the favorites from the lead group. Several players with strong past performances in Mexico were outside the top 20 heading into the final round, while notable names such as former French footballer Camel Meriem, fellow Frenchman Florian Warsemann, Spain’s Sandro Rodríguez, and Slovenia’s Jan Kozak remained in contention.
The surprise performance of the day came from England’s Ben Clark. Despite trailing during the earlier rounds, Clark posted the best score of the tournament in the final round with a remarkable 60 strokes, 12 under par. His impressive finish vaulted him more than 20 positions up the leaderboard and into a tie for third place at 26 under par alongside Jan Kozak, forcing a playoff.
At the top of the leaderboard, a late collapse by Camel Meriem opened the door for Warsemann and Novosad. Both players completed regulation play at 29 under par, requiring a playoff to determine the champion.
After the playoff holes (16, 17, and 18), Jan Kozak secured third place. Following a memorable battle throughout the championship, Florian Warsemann of France claimed the Men’s World Championship title, while Gonzalo Novosad finished as runner-up.
WOMEN’S DIVISION
The Women’s competition delivered one of the most dramatic finishes of the championship. Defending world champion Lucia Cermakova, who captured the title in Orlando, faced intense pressure from Hungary’s Izabella Ujvári, France’s Vilmercati, and Japan’s Rina Akutsu in a battle that kept spectators captivated until the final hole.
Rina Akutsu emerged as the highest-ranked Asian player, leading a strong Japanese contingent that featured six players in the Top 10 during earlier rounds, including Akutsu, Itakura, and Nao Miura.
After the third-round cut, the title race narrowed to competitors from Slovakia, Hungary, Japan, and France.
At the 18th hole, Cermakova appeared vulnerable after finding a bunker with her second shot. This forced both Ujvári and Akutsu to play aggressively in an attempt to force a tie. However, Cermakova delivered a brilliant third shot, perfectly reading the bunker, the slope of the FootGolf green, and the break toward the cup. The ball dropped, sealing her victory and making her a two-time Women’s World Champion.
Hungary’s Izabella Ujvári finished second at 25 under par, while Japan’s Rina Akutsu claimed third place at 24 under par.
SENIOR DIVISION
The Senior category followed a similarly dramatic storyline, culminating in a playoff among the leaders. As is often the case in international FootGolf competition, Argentina’s representatives were among the favorites, alongside strong contenders from Italy and Norway.
Argentina’s Marcos Damián Ghezzi secured third place at 27 under par. The championship itself required a playoff after both Christian Fernández and Norway’s Anders Liadal finished tied at 30 under par.
Fernández prevailed by winning all three playoff holes, earning the title of Senior World Champion, while Liadal claimed the runner-up position.
SENIOR PLUS DIVISION
The Senior Plus division was the first to conclude its final round and featured competitors from Norway, Hungary, Türkiye, Brazil, France, Italy, Slovakia, and Argentina.
Unlike the Men’s and Senior divisions, the Senior Plus competition did not require a playoff. Slovakia’s Mark Vittek and France’s José Guerra remained in contention until the closing holes but ultimately fell short of the podium.
Italy’s Sergio Zorniotti secured third place at 21 under par. Argentina’s Sergio Vázquez finished second at 30 under par, while Sergio Toth captured the Senior Plus World Championship title with an impressive score of 33 under par.
FINAL RESULTS
Men’s Division
- Florian Warsemann (FRA) – -29
- Gonzalo Novosad (ARG) – -29
- Jan Kozak (SVK) – -26
Women’s Division
- Lucia Čermáková (SVK) – -28
- Izabella Ujvári (HUN) – -25
- Rina Akutsu (JPN) – -24
Senior Division
- Christian Fernández (ARG) – -30
- Anders Liadal (NOR) – -30
- Marcos Ghezzi (ARG) – -27
Senior Plus Division
- Sergio Toth (ARG) – -33
- Sergio Vázquez (ARG) – -30
- Sergio Zorniotti (ITA) – -21
Mexico’s Organizing Committee
FIFG FootGolf World Championship Acapulco 2026
