2026 U17 Beach World Team positions still available; Interested athletes should apply now

USA Wrestling is finalizing the roster for the 2026 U.S. U17 Beach World Team, which will compete at the U17 Beach World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan on Thursday, August 27.

The deadline for those who competed in qualifying events for the team passed on June 30, meaning that anybody who meets U17 age requirements may apply for an open position on the team. Spots on the team exist for both boys and girls who are interested.

The USA can bring up to three athletes in each weight class to the U17 Beach World Championships. There is

only one weight class in which all three positions have been filled, U17 Women’s 75 kg.

Below are the number of open positions, based upon weight class:

• U17 Men’s 60 kg – 1 open position
• U17 Men’s 70 kg – 3 open positions
• U17 Men’s 80 kg – 1 open position
• U17 Men’s 90 kg – 3 open positions
• U17 Women’s 45 kg – 2 open positions
• U17 Women’s 55 kg – 3 open positions
• U17 Women’s 65 kg – 1 open position

Based upon the 2026 Beach Wrestling Teams Procedures, from this point on, if there is more interest than there are open positions, the following criteria will be used to determine who gets the berths:

1. Results at the 2025 U17 Beach World Championships

2. Results at the 2026 U17 Beach Pan American Championships

3. Results at the 2025 or 2026 Carolina Beach National Championships & World Team Qualifier, most recent

gets priority.

4. Results at the 2025 or 2026 California Beach Nationals, most recent gets priority.

5. Open to the general public to athletes that meet age-group and eligibility requirements on a first-come,

first-served basis.

Do not assume that somebody else will apply for each open position. Even if you do not have specific national-level beach achievements but still wish to attend, please apply.

Please note: The U17 Beach World Championships is a self-funded tour. All participants will be responsible for their expenses, including travel, room & board, UWW license fees and a visa fee. Each competing athlete will be provided a beach uniform once accepted on the team. All team members must be U.S. citizens, have a current U.S. passport and be a current USA Wrestling member.

It is very rare for an age-group athlete to qualify for a U.S. World Team. This U17 Beach World Team tour provides valuable international competitive experience, as well as life-changing opportunities to see another nation and experience its unique culture. USA Wrestling will provide a coach, a team leader, and a required referee for the tour at no cost to the athletes. Families of the athletes will be encouraged and welcomed to travel to the event to support their athlete.

The United States has been very successful at past U17 Beach World Championships, having won eight women’s Beach World medals and two men’s Beach World medals over the past seven years. The U.S. U17 Women’s World Team has won a World Team Trophy the last three years, claiming the first-place trophy in 2024, and the third-place trophy in both 2023 and 2025.

For those interested in competing for Team USA on the 2026 U17 Beach World Team, please immediately send your name, phone number, email, weight class and any Beach wrestling achievements via email to Jaimie McNab of USA Wrestling at jmcnab@usawrestling.org