BARCELONA, Spain--McLain Ward has replaced Paris Sellon on the U.S. team for the Finals of the Leagueof Nations in Barcelona which runs Oct. 3-5.

McLain Ward on Jordon Molga M Robert Ridland’s American team came within just 0.07 seconds of victory in a dramatic three-way jump-off in Rotterdam, a result that proved crucial in securing their place in the Final.

Ward joins Laura Kraut, McKayla Langmeier and Kristen Vanderveen, who were on the team at St.Tropez, as the four that will represent the United States of America in Barcelona.

In Barcelona, the Real Club de Polo will set the stage for one team to be crowned Longines League of Nations 2026 champions.

Ten nations began the series, but four fiercely contested qualifiers across three continents narrowed the field to eight: France, Germany, Great Britain, Brazil, Ireland, Belgium, the United States of America and Italy. T

They will be joined in the Final by host nation Spain, completing the nine-team line-up.

 

FRANCE arrives in Barcelona as the only nation to have won twice during the qualifying season.

Edouard Couperie’s team struck early with victory in the opening qualifier in Abu Dhabi (UAE) before coming full circle with a home triumph at St Tropez-Gassin, where three clears in Round 2 sealed another impressive win for Les Bleus.

Julien Epaillard and Antoine Ermann return from that victorious squad and are joined in Barcelona by Olivier Perreau, Nicolas Sers and Kevin Staut.

Germany followed France in the standings at the end of the qualifying campaign, after a season that included second place in Abu Dhabi and victory in Ocala.

Otto Becker’s team then added another major honour to an exceptional year when Germany claimed Team gold at the FEI Jumping World Championship in Aachen (GER) in August.

Three members of that title-winning team, Marcus Ehning, Sophie Hinners and Richard Vogel, have been given the call-up alongside Jörne Sprehe and Longines League of Nations™ newcomer Kendra Claricia Brinkop.

Vogel also arrives as the current world number one, further strengthening an already decorated German selection.

Defending champions Great Britain return to the venue where they closed last season in triumph.

Di Lampard’s team claimed a qualifying victory in Rotterdam (NED), but it is Barcelona where their focus now lies.

After lifting the Longines League of Nations™ trophy last year, the British arrive intent on defending their title.

Scott Brash, Tim Gredley, Jessica Mendoza, Jack Whitaker and series debutant Jodie Hall McAteer have been nominated for Great Britain.

Brash returns with particularly fond memories of Barcelona, having produced the decisive clear in last year’s jump-off against Ireland to secure the win.

Brazil travel to Spain after coming agonisingly close to adding a victory of their own to the qualifying season in St Tropez-Gassin, where the penultimate fence ultimately proved their undoing.

After twice coming within touching distance of the top step, having also taken third place in Abu Dhabi, Pedro Paulo Luz Lacerda’s team will be determined to finally reach it in Barcelona.

João Victor Castro Aguiar Gomes de Lima, Stephan de Freitas Barcha and Pedro Junqueira Muylaert return from St Tropez-Gassin, joined by two of Brazil’s most experienced names, Rodrigo Pessoa and Pedro Veniss.

Ireland also secured their place in the Final after a consistent campaign, progressing to Round 2 at every qualifier and taking second place in Ocala.

Trevor Breen and Billy Twomey are joined by Jason Foley, Denis Lynch and Cian O’Connor as Ireland head back to the venue where they finished runners-up to Great Britain 12 months ago.

Last year’s Final came down to a jump-off between Twomey and Brash, with Great Britain ultimately prevailing.

Both will be in Barcelona again, and Ireland will be intent on reversing that result and going one place better when the title is decided.

Belgium will arrive with momentum of their own after a qualifying campaign that featured two podium finishes, taking third in Ocala before repeating that result in St Tropez-Gassin.

Niels Bruynseels, Abdel Saïd, Emilie Conter, Pieter Devos and Roy van Beek have been nominated for the Final, with Saïd and Devos arriving just weeks after helping Belgium claim Team silver at the FEI Jumping World Championship in Aachen.

Italy, meanwhile, continued to grow stronger as the qualifying season progressed, finishing fourth in Rotterdam before repeating that placing in St Tropez-Gassin to climb into the coveted top eight.

Piergiorgio Bucci, Emanuele Camilli, Giampiero Garofalo, Giacomo Casadei and Giulia Martinengo Marquet have been nominated, with Bucci, Camilli and Garofalo all returning from the final qualifying leg.

As host nation, Spain will have the crowd firmly behind them

Julio Arias Cueva, Carlos Bosch Cebrian, Luis Jesus Escobar, Imma Roquet Autonell and Armando Trapote, have been named to represent Spain.

The Longines League of Nations™ format has repeatedly delivered thrilling sport throughout the season, and Barcelona promises more of the same.

Four riders represent each nation in Round 1, with the best three scores counting.

Unlike the qualifiers, all nations return for Round 2, where only three Athletes compete and every score counts, leaving no room for error.

Abu Dhabi raised the curtain, Ocala, Rotterdam and St Tropez-Gassin shaped the season, and now Barcelona provides the final act.