Premier Spike at the 2026 Roundnet World Championships: 3,134 Matches, Zero Broken Rims
Premier Spike was the official equipment of the 2026 Roundnet World Championships, held September 2 to 6, 2026, at Parc du Tremblay near Paris, France. All 3,134 matches, played by 695 athletes from 37 countries, were played on Premier Spike sets and balls. Not a single rim broke all week.
Selected by the players, chosen by the IRF
The selection started with the athletes. Players recommended Premier Spike through the International Roundnet Federation (IRF) athlete committee. The IRF and the Worlds host committee then selected Premier Spike as official equipment, and the partnership was announced before the 2026 season began.
That order matters to us. We build roundnet equipment for competitive players, and the players competing at the highest level are the ones who put our name forward.
What we brought to Paris
A world championship is the hardest test roundnet equipment gets: five days, the best players in the world, and courts on both synthetic turf and grass.
Every court had the same set and the same ball, so athletes played in identical conditions from their first pool match to the final on Sunday.
On the main stage
Wednesday was the biggest day off the courts. Before the opening ceremony, the main stage hosted a full afternoon of panels, and we spoke on the current state of roundnet equipment. We shared the stage with world champions on what it takes to compete at the highest level, the IRF on the history of roundnet and where the sport is heading, and tournament organizers, club leaders and national federation representatives.
The full Worlds 2026 recap
Competition ran Thursday through Sunday across two championships. The individual championships came first, with every country entering seven pairs: three men's, three women's and one mixed. The squad championships followed, where each nation fielded five pairs and matched them against the opposing country seed for seed. Before a single match, athletes worked on their game at a two-day defensive camp led by Scott Beeks on August 29 and 30, plus coaching and observing clinics on Wednesday morning.
Mixed: Italy strikes first
The first title of the week went to Italy on Thursday. Elena Rossetto and Jacopo Dudine took down the USA's Tess Dolan and Kyle Fowler in the final, starting a run that brought Italy three medals in Paris. In the bronze match, Lauma Ernestsone and Aleksandrs Juška beat Canada's Maddy Morehouse and Nick Wideman to give the Netherlands its first-ever Worlds medal.
Women's individual: a new champion and a first for Kunzelmann
On Friday afternoon, Switzerland's Selina Amsler and Laura Kunzelmann ended Austria's reign, beating defending champions Megan Leybourne and Daniela Kadlec for gold. Kunzelmann also won mixed gold for Switzerland at Worlds 2024, so she now holds individual world titles from two separate championships. No other player has done that. Karah Hui and Elle Lowe earned bronze for the USA, edging Italy's Chiara Pernigo and Silvia Zanella.
Men's individual: Rose plays through, and the USA takes gold
A back injury had Kieran Rose's Worlds in question until right before play started. He made it onto the court, and he and Connor Nelson went on to beat Germany's Georg Seiffarth and Paul Siemer in the final. It was a turnaround for a US men's program that came up short in 2024. Nicola Bazzani and Andrea Borsotti won bronze for Italy over Germany's Tim Bichler and Kasimir Nerad.
Men's squads: Germany ends the US streak
Saturday's elimination rounds, played in front of the week's largest crowd of 1,022 spectators, settled the bronze: Italy beat Austria for its third medal of the championships. On Sunday, Germany beat the USA in the final. Until Paris, the USA had won every men's squad world title.
Women's squads: three in a row for the USA
France gave the home crowd a podium on Saturday, beating Austria for bronze. Sunday's final was another USA against Germany matchup, this time with much of the European crowd behind Germany. The USA handled the pressure and won its third straight women's squad world title.
Worlds 2026 by the numbers
- 695 athletes from 37 countries
- 1,279 spectators, the most in Worlds history
- 38.3 hours of live stream and 53,500 stream views
- 3.1 million social media views during the week
Final standings
The USA led the medal count with five (two gold, two silver, one bronze), followed by Germany and Italy with three each.
| Division | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed individual | Italy (Elena Rossetto / Jacopo Dudine) | USA (Tess Dolan / Kyle Fowler) | Netherlands (Lauma Ernestsone / Aleksandrs Juška) |
| Women's individual | Switzerland (Selina Amsler / Laura Kunzelmann) | Austria (Megan Leybourne / Daniela Kadlec) | USA (Karah Hui / Elle Lowe) |
| Men's individual | USA (Connor Nelson / Kieran Rose) | Germany (Georg Seiffarth / Paul Siemer) | Italy (Nicola Bazzani / Andrea Borsotti) |
| Women's squad | USA | Germany | France |
| Men's squad | Germany | USA | Italy |
Photos by Freddie Collard (@shiftfocusmedia)
Thank you, Paris
Thank you to the IRF, Roundnet France and the Worlds Organizing Committee for trusting us with the courts, and to every volunteer who set them up and kept them running.
Most of all, thank you to the athletes. You recommended us, and then you played 3,134 matches on our gear.
We can't wait to see where Worlds goes in 2028.
Taylor Sanford
Limited edition
Get the Worlds 2026 Limited Edition Kit
The 2026 Worlds Limited Edition Kit commemorates the championships in Paris.
$159.95
Frequently asked questions
What was the official equipment of the 2026 Roundnet World Championships?
Premier Spike was the official equipment of the 2026 Roundnet World Championships, held September 2 to 6, 2026, at Parc du Tremblay near Paris, France. Every match was played on Premier Spike sets and balls.
Who selected Premier Spike for Worlds 2026?
Players recommended Premier Spike through the International Roundnet Federation (IRF) athlete committee. The IRF and the Worlds host committee then selected Premier Spike as the official equipment.
How much Premier Spike equipment was used at Worlds 2026?
Premier Spike supplied 200 sets and 1,000 balls. All 3,134 matches at the championships were played on Premier Spike equipment.
Did any rims break at the 2026 Roundnet World Championships?
No. Not a single Premier Spike rim broke across all 3,134 matches at the 2026 Roundnet World Championships.
Who won the 2026 Roundnet World Championships?
Italy won mixed individual gold, Switzerland won women's individual gold, the USA won men's individual gold and the women's squad title, and Germany won the men's squad title.
Can I buy the Worlds 2026 edition of Premier Spike?
Yes. The 2026 Worlds Limited Edition Kit is available at premierspike.com.
Is roundnet the same as Spikeball™?
Yes and no. Roundnet is the official name of the sport many people refer to as Spikeball™, but Spikeball™ is a specific and different brand of roundnet equipment. Premier Spike makes roundnet equipment and is not affiliated with Spikeball™. Every match at the 2026 Roundnet World Championships was played with Premier Spike balls and sets.
