The FIP World Cup Qualifiers in Madrid have reached a critical juncture, with eight national teams competing for four coveted spots in the upcoming World Cup in Doha, Qatar. Following four days of intense competition, the stage is set for Saturday’s final matches, which will determine which squads earn their ticket to the November tournament.
The Path to Doha: Decisive Saturday Matchups
The tournament structure has favored top-seeded teams, with winners of Groups A and B receiving a bye into the final stage. As the competition concludes, the following matchups will decide the final qualifiers:
- Great Britain vs. Poland (Women’s): Poland advanced to this stage following a dominant 3-0 victory over Romania, featuring wins from the pairs Pacocha/Kiszczyńska, Nowakowska/Górczyńska, and Piórkowska/Rosolska. They now face a rested Great Britain side that earned a bye as a top seed.
- Denmark vs. Germany (Women’s): Denmark remains undefeated throughout the tournament, having secured a win against Greece on Day 4 behind the performances of Alipieva/Haxen and Wiese/Skov. They will challenge Germany, who also enters the tie with the advantage of a day of rest.
- Belgium vs. Netherlands (Men’s): Both teams secured their spots in this final round with strong performances on Day 4. The Netherlands defeated Poland behind wins from Richters/Roper and Meijer/Nolten, while Belgium earned their place by overcoming Bulgaria.
- Germany vs. Great Britain (Men’s): Germany advanced after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Denmark, clinched by the pair Böhnke/Merten. They face a formidable Great Britain team that has maintained a perfect record in Madrid, defeating Ukraine 3-0 on Day 4 with victories from the pairs Loughlan/Harris, Medina Murphy/Patacho, and Jones/Salisbury.
The women’s ties are scheduled to begin at 9:00 am local time, followed by the men’s matches no earlier than 12:00 pm. Fans can follow all the action from the final day of the FIP World Cup Qualifiers Europe via the official FIP YouTube channel.
