On 22 August 2026, the international Urban Golf family took over Winterthur. From the historic Sulzer industrial district to the city centre, almost 100 players faced a creative, demanding fourteen-hole course built through streets, public spaces and raw urban architecture.

France retained the world title with 376 strokes, just two ahead of Germany. The Czech Republic finished third on 381, with host nation Switzerland only three strokes further back on 384. Just eight strokes separated the first four countries.
In other words, almost nothing separated the best teams in the world.

The result was one of the closest World Urban Golf Cups ever.

France wins by the smallest of margins

The suspense remained intact until the rankings were announced.

Pierre-Yves, assistant coach of Team France - © BACKSIDEPICTURES

“It was an incredibly close victory,” said Pierre-Yves “Oncle Mo”, assistant coach of Team France. “Only eight strokes separated the first four teams. I expected us to reach the podium, but I honestly thought the victory might slip away. That suspense is what creates the legend of this kind of event.”

According to Oncle Mo, France’s determination, patience and ability to remain calm under pressure were crucial. He also highlighted captain Vincent “Stoulk” Castel’s composed briefing and the complementary partnership between Castel and Benjamin Tiesler.

“Stoulk has an incredible touch. Ben is an outstanding attacking player. They play together regularly, know each other well, and that makes the difference.”

In the back Ben & Vincent of Team France - © BACKSIDEPICTURES

Ben Tiesler is World Champion

France did not only take the team trophy.

Benjamin Tiesler delivered the best individual performance of the day, completing the course in 53 strokes to become the 2026 Urban Golf World Champion. Switzerland’s Stephan Gaberdiel finished second with 55, while Flo Weisser of Germany, Radek Langr of the Czech Republic and France captain Vincent Castel shared third place on 58. The complete WUGC results and competition data show just how tight the battle was across the leading nations and players.
For Ben, the title is the culmination of years spent playing, training and refusing to give up. After becoming French Champion and now World Champion, he could hardly have imagined a better outcome.

“It is very difficult to be consistent in this sport. This title represents all those years of Streetgolf: the training, the defeats that were sometimes difficult to accept, the fun with friends, the concentration, the determination to hit a target, but also the doubts and the stress when your game is not there. Then comes the joy and satisfaction when the ball does exactly what you wanted. That is Streetgolf.”

Even after his final shot, Ben did not believe the title was his.

“At no point in this sport can you tell yourself that you are ahead. You hope, you hold on until the final hole, and then you wait for the results. Even five minutes before the announcement, I still did not believe it, because these competitions are often decided by only one or two strokes.”

There was no single turning point in his round, but the final five holes produced some of the pair’s best shots of the day, including a hole-in-one by his partner on Hole 13.
Changing winds, smooth surfaces and the distances between holes made the competition difficult, but Ben described the Winterthur course as magnificent and highly varied.
The individual crown remains his ultimate achievement, but making history with Team France mattered too.

“The individual title inevitably means more to me because it is the ultimate prize. But I also really wanted to win the team title and make France the first nation to become World Champion twice in a row. We did it, so congratulations to all my Frenchies!”

Where is the rooster?

The french federation has its logo. But Team France had something else: a badge, a story, a rooster. First worn by the French team in 2012, the original emblem has built a following far beyond France. For more than a decade, players from other international teams have recognized it, celebrated it and shown it love. One Team France player even has it tattooed. Because you don’t tattoo a rebrand. You tattoo something you belong to.
France is World Champion again. Bring back the rooster. 🇫🇷🐓

THE FRENCH STREETGOLF TEAM Hoodie

€49.00

Wearing this won’t get you on the French team for the next championship, but hey, it might score you a free beer at the after-party!. Designed by Sköyp for the French Streetgolf Team

• 100% cotton face
• 65% ring-spun cotton, 35% polyester
• Front pouch pocket
• Self-fabric patch on the back
• Matching flat drawstrings
• 3-panel hood
• Blank product sourced from Pakistan

This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!

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Winterthur understood the assignment

The sporting drama was only one part of the story. The WUGC 2026 was also a major achievement for the asXg, the Association Suisse de X-Golf, and its organizing team.
Winterthur was a natural host. It is currently the only city with two permanent Urban Golf courses, and that existing culture proved invaluable.

“Thanks to its two permanent courses, Winterthur already has expertise in this area and understands the specific requirements of the sport,” explained Jakob Bächtold, Managing Director and Head of Economic Affairs. “There is also a local community that actively participates in Urban Golf. This allowed us to build on existing structures and efficiently support the organization of the WUGC.”

For the city, the event went well beyond competition. It offered Winterthur an international stage, brought together people from different countries and created fresh energy in the streets. “We are proud to have been part of this event, and we look forward to welcoming the international Urban Golf family back to Winterthur one day.”

The people behind the World Cup

An event of this scale does not appear overnight. Behind the course, trophies, permits, volunteers, funding, communication and scoring platform was a small team whose different skills fitted together remarkably well.

Matthias “MAD” Wintsch, member of the asXg and the WUGC organizing team, handled media relations, organized the trophies and designed the course alongside Simon. Simon used his local network to obtain the necessary permits and coordinated the volunteers. Chris developed the digital tools, including the system used to transfer paper results and the detailed WUGC data platform. Didi Keller “The Dude” activated his network to secure the funding while also producing the shirts, promotional materials and social media content. “A true masterpiece,” MAD said of Didi’s contribution.

Preparations began in early 2026, with a preliminary route established around April. The final weeks were spent resolving permits, refining the course and balancing difficulty, maximum scores, flight sizes and timing.

Time, MAD explained, was the biggest challenge. Too many holes would make the event impossible to complete. Too few would make the competition less representative. With large flights, detailed marshal scoring and close to 100 players, there was almost no room for delay.

Player from the Netherlands Team at Hole 9, built around a children’s playground - © Backsidepictures

Behind the scenes, the team constantly monitored the progress of the competition while slowly realizing that the original schedule would be difficult to maintain. Hole 9, built around a children’s playground, proved more problematic than expected and even raised the question of whether it should remain in the final scoring. MAD did not hide from it: “I’d definitely set up Hole 9 differently. That was really bad, and we are sorry for it.”

That honesty matters. Successful events are not events without problems. They are events whose organizers recognize them, solve them and learn from them.

For MAD, the realization that they had made it arrived in several stages: a team huddle before the opening ceremony, another before the rankings while the room chanted “USA! USA!”, and finally, alone on his porch at 3 a.m. “That one was quite emotional, to be completely honest.”

Didi Keller “The Dude” and players from Team India - © Backsidepictures

Didi’s final milestone

For asXg president Didi Keller, the priority was simple: making sure everyone had a great time.
“Urban Golf needs no language, and we are all one family” he said. “A lot of Urban Golfers made new friends, and that’s what it is all about: having a good time with good people from all over the world.”

The new World Champion shared that gratitude.
“A huge congratulations to the Swiss organizers for their professionalism, the smooth running of the event, the magnificent course, the great atmosphere and the nine nations brought together for a World Cup worthy of the name. They made this WUGC unforgettable. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

The WUGC also marks the end of a chapter. After eleven years leading the asXg, Didi plans to step down at the end of 2026 and return to the scene simply as a player.

Looking back, Didi is especially proud of how far the Swiss scene has come.
“What a ride it has been! Hosting the WUGC 2026 in the same place where we held the first Swiss Championship feels like bringing the journey full circle. Eleven years ago, I could never have imagined we would come this far. Today, Switzerland has four active Urban Golf clubs and a national tour through which players can earn qualification points for the next EUGC or WUGC. Ten years ago, we were simply happy if we could find twelve players!”

“Urban Golf can now be played legally through tourism partners in many Swiss cities, and the sport is officially recognized by Swiss Golf.”

“I believe the scene will continue to grow. Not quickly, but slowly and steadily, like a good wine. Cheers!”

“I’ll now enjoy the scene from the players’ side. No more organizing or worrying about staff. Just having a blast. I can’t wait to simply play. Let’s Goooooooooooooooolf!” That sounds like Didi. But before he puts down the organizer’s clipboard, the WUGC 2026 stands as one hell of a final milestone.

Across the Atlantic, something is growing

Team USA crossed the Atlantic with more than scores in mind.

Aaron Koch and Flip McGuire had attended the 2024 WUGC in Košice, where they fell in love with the international community. This time, they returned with a full team, determined to help the American scene grow.

Urban Golf in the United States remains young but has real roots. Scott Mazariegos brought the Streetgolf concept back from Europe to Portland in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The MuniKids, Max and Drew Reinland, have since built consistent weekly meetups, while pop-up events have reached Detroit, Atlanta and Chicago.

Flip wants the American game to become more competitive without losing what makes it special.

“His words resonate deeply with me. I helped build the competitive side of Urban Golf in France and across Europe, but today I also believe we need to reclaim its freer spirit: going outside, finding a target, gathering a few friends and simply playing. Back to the roots of the game, just like when we started.” - Philippe “Sköyp” Missemer Co-founder of Le 19ème Trou Streetgolf Team and creator of the French City Pro Tour

“I really want to see it still be the fun, inclusive, welcoming party that it is. You don’t need permission. Just go to Goodwill and get a couple of cheap clubs, grab some practice foam balls or used tennis balls, get out and play. Just do it!” - Flip McGuire

Winterthur left the Americans inspired by the European style, the difficulty of the course and the professionalism of the event data.

So, what comes next?

An Urban Ryder Cup on American streets has already entered the conversation. Flip’s answer was immediate: “Let’s! It will take a lot of planning, of course, but we would love to have anyone from Europe and beyond come get some swings in with us on our home turf.” The challenge has been issued. Now let’s make it happen.

Slum Golf India: much more than fifth place

India finished fifth with 401 strokes, ahead of Luxembourg, the USA, the Netherlands and Poland. But a number alone cannot explain what their presence in Winterthur represented.

Slum Golf is a non-profit initiative founded and coached by Suresh R. Mehboobani. It uses golf to create opportunities for children from underprivileged communities in India.

“Our players come from slum and low-income families,” Suresh explained. “Through golf they learn discipline, confidence, education, respect and important life skills. Golf has given them hope, purpose and the opportunity to dream of a better future.”

The team reached Switzerland with limited sponsorship from a few golf club members, whose support helped cover part of the travel, food and accommodation costs. Without that support, representing India would not have been possible.

This was not Slum Golf’s first remarkable WUGC journey. In 2018, European teams collectively helped finance the Indian delegation’s travel to Paris, where it also finished fifth. Their story was later documented by The Guardian. Eight years later, they crossed continents again and proved that they still belong on the international stage.

Their ambition is now to develop a squad of twelve dedicated players capable of competing internationally. To do that, they need support for coaching, equipment, tournament fees, accommodation and international travel.

Want to support Slum Golf Team India?

Follow and contact @slum_golf to help the team reach future international competitions.

**Time to step up**

The WUGC has grown into something bigger than another tournament on the Urban Golf calendar. **For many players, representing their country is the highest level our sport currently offers.** For teams such as Slum Golf India, the opportunity to compete internationally can create exposure, connections and opportunities that reach far beyond the final ranking.

But most major Urban Golf events still take place in Europe. For teams travelling from India, the United States or other distant regions, flights, accommodation and equipment create barriers that passion alone cannot overcome.

Over the years, organizers of both European and World events have repeatedly shared a similar feeling with 19-News: local teams carry most of the workload, sometimes without the support they expected, yet once the event succeeds, their contribution can fade into the background while the Urban Golf Collective takes the spotlight. It is a perception, but one expressed often enough to deserve attention.

19-News is not here to judge who is right or wrong. But when similar concerns are expressed by different organizers over several years, they deserve to be heard and discussed. Giving them a voice is not about creating division. It is about encouraging dialogue, strengthening cooperation and helping the entire community move forward.

It is also important to remember that the Urban Golf Collective is currently driven by one person, Sascha Bien. Strengthening it cannot rest on his shoulders alone. If you believe in what the Collective could become, do not hesitate to reach out and offer your time, skills, contacts or ideas. Constructive criticism matters, but so does stepping forward to help.
A new Urban Golf Collective website is coming soon. Check it out, follow what comes next and, if you can contribute, get involved.

The magnificent 2026 edition has created energy, credibility and momentum. This could be the perfect opportunity for the Urban Golf Collective to consolidate and strengthen its international role, while bringing local organizers, national associations and players closer together. That role could go beyond preserving the WUGC and EUGC names or selecting the next host. The Collective could actively support local organizers, share knowledge and operational tools, coordinate the international calendar, seek global sponsors, help emerging teams reach competitions, bring new nations into the movement and work throughout the year to develop the sport.

The asXg proved what a committed local organization can achieve. The next step is to transform that success into shared progress for the entire international community.

Support the organizers. Support the players. Bring in new countries. Find partners. Build opportunities. Grow the game.

A World Cup worth building on

France left Winterthur with the trophies. Ben Tiesler left as World Champion. The asXg showed what passion, local knowledge and a small committed team can deliver. Winterthur confirmed that a city can do more than tolerate Urban Golf: it can understand it, support it and make it part of its identity.
The USA returned home ready to grow its scene. Slum Golf India returned with another fifth-place finish and a story that deserves international support.
Nine nations arrived from different realities, spoke different languages and shared the same streets.
That is the real legacy of the WUGC 2026. Not simply a ranking, but momentum. Now we have to use it.