2026 WCF GC World Championship in Cairo, Egypt - 21 to 29 November

[<<] [>>]

The WCF has recently announced that the 16^th GC World Singles Championship will take place in Cairo, Egypt, on 21 to 29 November 2026. The previous event was held in 2024 in the USA where 18 year old Blake Fields (pictured) became the youngest ever winner of this title.

The Opening Ceremony in Cairo and Practice Day is on 20 November.

The event capacity is 80 players and the entry fee is £189 per player.

There will also be a Qualifying Event which will be held immediately prior to the Championship at the same venues in Cairo, from the 14 to 18 November. The format and entry arrangements for this event will be published as details become available.

Any England Player who wishes to enter should make themselves available using the usual Croquet England Availability page at https://www.croquet.org.uk/?p=members/availability by 27 May. Players from other countries should notify their own National Governing Body. If a player is not affiliated to a WCF Member and is not eligible to represent any WCF Member, they should contact the WCF Secretary-General directly.

The WCF will announce the initial Ranking Places and any Wild Card Places by 30 June, based on the highest grades achieved by players in the 12 months ending on 16 June. Croquet England will announce our two Membership Places by 13 July, and the WCF will announce all the Member Places shortly after 31 July. Payment by players will be due by 31 August.

Please note that, given the current geopolitical situation, the WCF Management Committee has been reviewing a risk management position for events in 2026, and has acknowledged that the situation may make planning more difficult for everyone. However, the safety of players and officials is paramount, and events can be rescheduled if necessary.

The WCF Management Committee has advised they will provide a Risk Management Assessment to Players on 31 May and again on 16^th June, with a Go / No Go notification date of 30 June. Members and Players will be notified by email and an announcement will be posted on the WCF website on 30 June.

It is emphasised that players and officials are responsible for obtaining their own personal travel insurance. The WCF, Croquet England and the host country are not liable for any loss as a result of cancellation of the event, including accommodation, flights/travel and other associated costs. Players are therefore advised to be aware of the risks of incurring non-refundable costs.

It is noted that Egypt remains open to tourism and international travel. However, regional tensions in the Middle East create increased uncertainty for international sporting events. Key risks identified by the WCF include:

• Potential regional airspace disruption affecting flights.
• Government travel advisories restricting athlete travel.
• Increased insurance costs including political violence insurance.

Based on these considerations, the WCF has currently (6 April)) assessed the risk level for the event as "Moderate - Requires Monitoring".