OCTOBER 5 – 12, 2025
HOSTED BY
ROSELAND POLO CLUB – CROZET, VIRGINIA
VIRGINIA POLO INC. – CHARLOTTESVILLE, VIRGINIA
For the first time in its history, the Federation of International Polo (FIP) Arena World Polo Championship will take place in the United States. Scheduled for October 5-12, 2025, the United States Polo Association is pleased to announce the tournament will be co-hosted by Roseland Polo Club in Crozet, Virginia, and Virginia Polo Inc., home of the University of Virginia polo club, in Charlottesville, Virginia. Modeled after the FIP World Polo Championship, the second edition of the prestigious event will showcase top-tier international arena polo as teams from around the globe battle for the title.
The Federation of International Polo, founded by Marcos Uranga in 1982 to expand international polo and restore the sport’s Olympic status, is officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee. In 1987, Uranga and American polo player Glen Holden organized the inaugural FIP World Polo Championship in Argentina. After decades of success with the traditional format, FIP embraced the evolution of arena polo. In 2023, the inaugural FIP Arena Polo World Championship was held at La Carona Polo Club in Buenos Aires, Argentina, showcasing teams at the 10- to 12-goal level.
Prior to the tournament, all horses will undergo a pre-tournament veterinary inspection to ensure their health, soundness and condition. The Horse Master will assess and rank the horses as A, B or C based on abilities. Once graded, the horses will be placed into strings, ensuring teams are evenly matched. Teams will draw to select their polo ponies from these pooled groups.
The United States has long been a powerhouse in arena polo, with a rich history and a deep-rooted passion for the sport. From its early adoption of the discipline to the growth of dynamic arena polo programs across the country, the U.S. has fostered a thriving community of arena players at all levels. This strong foundation is supported by a network of programs that encourage participation, skill development and competition. The combination of a robust arena polo culture and access to first-rate facilities will provide the opportunity to showcase the breadth of the American arena polo tradition to the international community.
WHERE TO WATCH
All games in the II FIP Arena World Polo Championship will be livestreamed on the USPA Polo Network, providing fans from all over the world the opportunity to watch the international competition.
Six teams will compete with full coverage of each and every game, providing insight into the players and countries competing on the global stage.
FIP Arena Map
PARTICIPATING ZONES
To qualify to be one of the six teams selected to advance to the FIP Arena World Polo Championship, the road begins with four zone playoffs. The host country (United States) and defending champions (France) automatically qualify with the remaining teams (Zones A, B, C and E) qualifying by the end of August 2025.
THE FOUR ZONES ARE AS FOLLOWS:
• Zone A – North and Central America
• Zone B – South America
• Zone C – Europe
• Zone E – Pakistan, India and Iran
UVA Outdoor Arena
HOST SITES
ROSELAND POLO CLUB
Located in Crozet, Virginia, Roseland Polo Club is an organization of polo players and polo supporters working to increase the number and quality of polo players, clubs, schools and tournaments in Virginia. Aiming to create a sustainable polo community in the Charlottesville area with continuous growth in the number of participants and level of play, Roseland Polo Club supports all levels of polo for its members through polo schools, clinic and outreach programs. Additionally, Roseland Polo Club actively promotes and organizes tournaments to attract intrastate and inter-circuit play in accordance with the rules of the USPA.
VIRGINIA POLO INC.
Home of the distinguished University of Virginia (UVA) polo club, Virginia Polo’s training facility sits on 75 spacious acres just five miles from the historic University’s main campus. Equipped to support play year-round, top-notch facilities include a 300’ by 150’ indoor arena building, 400’ by 150’ outdoor arena and a regulation outdoor polo field.
Led by current coach and general manager, Lou Lopez, the Virginia Polo program at UVA is widely regarded as a powerhouse in intercollegiate polo. Some of their many illustrious achievements include 12 Men’s National Championships, 11 Women’s National Championships and 18 Polo Training Foundation (PTF) Intercollegiate Player of the Year Awards.
The Virginia Polo Center is host to numerous USPA interscholastic and intercollegiate tournaments, including the 2024 Division I National Intercollegiate Championships. Formed in the early 1950s, the polo club is a student-run organization which strives to instill core values including the merits of responsibility, hard work, dedication, rewards of fellowship, working as a team and the ability to compete in an intercollegiate sport on the national level. Throughout the year, the facility hosts USPA interscholastic and intercollegiate events for players of all ages and skill levels. During the summer months, Virginia Polo Inc. also serves as a premier destination for high school players to participate in renowned clinics.
INAUGURAL CHAMPION
2023 WINNER – FRANCE
The inaugural FIP Arena World Polo Championship took place at La Carona Polo Club in Buenos Aires, Argentina, featuring teams from Argentina, Austria, France, Morocco, the United States and Uruguay.