Germany takes the lead as Aachen 2026 Sets the Stage for Friday's Jumping Team Final

The FEI Jumping World Championship 2026 delivered another day of high drama in the Aachen Main Stadium on Thursday, as the second team qualifying competition narrowed the field to the ten nations who will contest Friday's Team Final, the session that will finally decide the World Championship team medals and the first seven tickets to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Wednesday's speed leg and Thursday's Table A round together determined which teams progress, but no medals have been awarded yet. The World Champion team will only be confirmed after Friday evening's floodlit second round in the Main Stadium.

Germany Sets the Pace on Home Soil
Host nation Germany goes into Friday's final on top of the leaderboard on a total of 3.48 penalties, having produced three clear rounds from Marcus Ehning and Coolio 42, Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Singclair, and anchor Daniel Deusser with Otello de Guldenboom. With three faultless scores already banked, Richard Vogel and United Touch S, the reigning European Champions,  were able to go forward today without any pressure on the scoreline.

Both Hinners and Vogel were part of the Young Riders Academy, having come through the academy in 2019 and 2020 respectively. Vogel is also a Member of the IJRC Board.

Deusser said

he was delighted with his horse's effort and that he had not wanted to add extra pressure onto teammate Vogel by delivering a strong round of his own. He added that the field remains extremely tight, making it essential for Germany to enter Friday as the leading team.

USA Second, France and Belgium in the Mix
The Icon Global USA team sits second overnight on 4.85, boosted by clear rounds from Laura Kraut and Baloutine and Lillie Keenan and Fasther.

Keenan spoke warmly about her partnership with Fasther after the round, describing

how the gelding's confidence and personality carry the pair through the biggest occasions, and reflecting on what it means to her to compete for her country as part of a team.

Belgium and France complete the leading group, though not without late alarm for the French: overnight individual leader Julien Epaillard, who had topped Wednesday's speed leg, had two rails down in Thursday's round, a costly mistake that dropped the French team down the order even as it left their place in Friday's final untouched.

Italy Fight Their Way into the Podium Picture
Giulia Martinengo Marquet and Delta dell'Isle, and Emanuele Camilli and Chacareno PS, both jumped clear in the morning session to keep Italy well placed. An afternoon setback then arrived when Giacomo Casadei and Marbella de Chabli had three fences down, putting real pressure on the final Italian combination.
Piergiorgio Bucci answered that pressure in style, producing a foot-perfect clear round with Hantano to secure Italy's place among the leading teams heading into Friday's final. With Casadei's score discarded as the team's permitted drop score, Italy's three clear rounds leave the Azzurri firmly in contention as the competition moves into its decisive phase.

A Nail-Biting Finish for the Final Qualification Places
As so often at championship level, it came down to the wire for the teams fighting to squeeze into the top ten. Ireland's place in Friday's final was only confirmed when anchor rider Shane Sweetnam produced a decisive clear round with James Kann Cruz, while the Netherlands slipped down the order after a late error from Harrie Smolders and Mr. Tac.

Great Britain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Spain and Switzerland all remain firmly in the mix as the ten qualified teams prepare for Friday's medal decider.

What's Next
Friday 21 August's Team Final (local time: 6:50 pm/10:50 pm) , held under floodlights in the Main Stadium, will bring the ten qualified nations back together over two further rounds to decide the World Championship team medals and confirm which seven countries (with hosts USA already assured of their Los Angeles 2028 berth) will punch their ticket to the Olympic Games. The individual World Championship title will then be decided on Sunday 23 August. IJRC will continue to follow every step of the competition from Aachen.