The United States defeated Brazil today 9-7 at the 10thFederation of International Polo (FIP) World Polo Championship, being held in Santiago, Chile. The United States has defeated both of its opponents, Argentina and Brazil, to win its bracket and advance to Tuesday’s semi-final round, where they will face England. The winner will play for the FIP World Championship on Wednesday, April 1 against the winner of the Chile versus Brazil semi-final. Taking the field today for the United States national polo team were Jesse Bray (5-goal), Remy Muller (2-goal), Patrick Uretz (3-goal), and Felipe Viana (4-goal).
The United States jumped out to a fast start, building a 5-1 lead by the end of the second chukker. Brazil narrowed the lead to 7-6 by the end of the fourth chukker and tied the match 7-7 at the beginning of the 5th. The United States did all the scoring after that, winning 9-7.
Jesse Bray had his second consecutive six goal performance at the FIP World Polo Championships, and Patrick Uretz contributed the United States other three goals. Team USPA’s Bray is the tournament’s leading goal scorer thus far.
“Argentina and Brazil have dominated the World Polo Championship since it began,” said Team USPA coach Joel Baker. “It is a really a big deal for United States polo to be in a difficult bracket and come out undefeated. Now it’s on to the semi-finals. We have a lot of work ahead of us.”
“After today’s game against Brazil and moving ahead to the semi-finals we feel that the team is going very well and has great chemistry, said Team USPA captain Mason Wroe. “The semi-final round will only get tougher but we feel very confident in our abilities and feel that more good things are still to come for Team USPA”
“Two years ago in the 24 goal Nation’s Cup, United States coach Joel Baker guided our team to defeat Argentina for the first time since 1936,” said United States Polo Association President Joe Meyer. “To be undefeated in such a strong bracket and going to the semi-finals is yet another indicator of how well Joel organizes a team to take on strong competition.”
“I could not be more proud of our United States team competing at the FIP World Polo Championship in Chile,” said Chief Executive Officer of the United States Polo Association Peter Rizzo. “It took a superlative national effort on so many levels to remain undefeated at this stage of the competition.”
Click here to watch the Team USPA FIP World Championship Sendoff Video
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Jesse Bray
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(5)
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Indio, CA
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Age 22
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Felipe Viana
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(4)
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Charlottesville, VA
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Age 25
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Patrick Uretz
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(3)
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Malibu, CA
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Age 23
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Will Tankard
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(3)
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Aiken, SC
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Age 30
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Remy Muller
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(2)
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Santa Barbara, CA
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Age 22
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Cody Ellis
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(2)
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Wellington, FL
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Age 19
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Mason Wroe
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(4)
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Midland, TX
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Age 30
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Joel Baker
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Coach
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Highlights and updates will be posted on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram so be sure to follow along using the hashtag – #GoTeamUSPA
FIP World Championship Semi-Finals Schedule
Tuesday, March 31
USA vs England
Chile vs. Brazil
This year’s field of six teams was divided by random draw into two brackets, one consisting of Chile, Pakistan, and England, and the other consisting of Argentina, USA and Brazil. In the FIP World Polo Championship, each team plays the other two in its bracket and the two teams with the best records from each bracket will advance to a single-elimination semi-final round, followed by the semi-final winners playing a single match for the world championship.
The FIP World Polo Championship is played every three or four years and was inaugurated in 1987. The United States has qualified for the final round of the tournament six out of the nine times it has been held, winning fourth place in 1992 and 1998 and winning the championship in 1989. The United States qualified for the 2015 final round in Chile by winning the FIP Zone A playoffs, going undefeated against regional rivals Canada, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.
