The Longines League of Nations returns to CHIO Rotterdam next week for the third qualifying leg of the 2026 season. 

Karl Cook on Caracole de la Roque, shown here at the Olympics, will lead the U.S. teamAt the halfway point of the qualifying campaign, Germany is leading on 190 points, giving them a 35-point cushion over France with 155 points and a 40-point lead over Ireland with 150 points.

Anchored by reigning FEI Jumping European Champion Richard Vogel, Germany' team in Rotterdam includes Rene Dittmer, while Mario Stevens and Michael Jung make their series debuts.

Winners of the opening leg in Abu Dhabi, France's team of Antoine Ermann, Jeanne Sadran, Nina Mallevaey and Kevin Staut offer a blend of youth and experience.

Ireland's chef d'equipe Jessica Kürten has Shane Sweetnam, Jordan Coyle, Michael Duffy and Niamh McEvoy.

Back competing in the League of Nations for 2026 and currently fourth in the standings with 130 points, Brazil's team includes Rodrigo Pessoa, whose family has a remarkable connection with CHIO Rotterdam.

 

THIS YEAR marks 60 years since his father, Jumping legend Nelson Pessoa, won the Grand Prix of Rotterdam in 1966, and exactly 30 years later, Rodrigo claimed his own Grand Prix triumph in Rotterdam.

Now, 30 years on from that victory, , Pessoa is joined by Marlon Modolo Zanotelli, Yuri Mansur and Eduardo Pereira de Menezes in Rotterdam.

Great Britain, standing fifth with 125 points, has a team that includes siblings Harry and Sienna Charles, continuing a remarkable sporting legacy.

Their father, Peter Charles, won team gold for Great Britain alongside Ben Maher at London 2012, and now Harry and Sienna will ride on a team that includes their father’s former Olympic teammate, and Jessica Mendoza completes a formidable quartet.

Behind them, the fight for the remaining Final places is becoming increasingly fierce.

With only the top eight moving through to Barcelona, Belgium and Switzerland sit sixth and seventh respectively with 120 and 110 points, 

Belgium will have FEI Jumping European team gold medallist Pieter Devos, as well as Roy van Beek, Annelies Vorsselmans and Gregory Wathelet.

Switzerland's team is Gaëtan Joliat, Alain Jufer and Jason Smith joined by Martin Fuchs, who returns to the venue where he was won the FEI Jumping European Championship in 2019.

Netherlands, eighth on 95 points, is the defending Rotterdam winner, and ts team includes Willem Greve and Harrie Smolders back from last year’s victorious team and  Sanne Thijssen and Bas Moerings.

At the halfway point, Italy on 90 points  and the USA on 85 points are in the danger zone.

Piergiorgio Bucci, Emanuele Camilli, Giulia Martinengo Marquet and series first-timer Emanuele Gaudiano are on Italy's team.

For the U.S., Olympic silver medalist Karl Cook, Katie Dinan and Callie Schott are joined by debutante Marilyn Little. 

The Longines League of Nations returns to CHIO Rotterdam on Friday, June 19.