Day 3: Spain, Palmeiras and VASI Celebrate World Championship Glory in Budapest
The third day of the X. ITFC World Table Football Championship in Budapest delivered spectacular finals, dramatic finishes and the crowning of new world champions. With the competition entering its decisive stage, players from across the world battled for national, individual and club honours at the Ludovika Arena.
Spain Win a Dramatic Chapas Team Final
The day began with one of the most exciting matches of the championship so far. Spain and Portugal faced each other in the Chapas Team World Championship final, producing a thrilling encounter that went down to the very last moments.
With the score finely balanced, Spain found the decisive goal in the closing moments to secure a 3–2 victory over Portugal and claim the world title.
The Spanish celebrations reflected the importance of the achievement, as the team enjoyed a memorable triumph after an intense battle against their Portuguese rivals.
Final standings – Chapas Team World Championship
- Spain 🇪🇸
- Portugal 🇵🇹
- Hungary 🇭🇺
Congratulations to Spain on becoming world champions, and to Portugal and Hungary for their outstanding performances!
LFC Madrid Crowned Chapas Club World Champions
Spain continued their success in Chapas with victory in the Club World Championship.
LFC Madrid faced Portugal’s Olivais Coimbra in the final and produced a commanding performance, winning 3–0 to take the club world title.
Brazilian side Palmeiras completed the podium in third place.
Final standings – Chapas Club World Championship
- LFC Madrid 🇪🇸
- Olivais Coimbra 🇵🇹
- Palmeiras 🇧🇷
The Madrid-based club can now celebrate being crowned the best Chapas club in the world.
Sectorball Individual Competition Delivers High Drama
The Sectorball Individual World Championship also began on Saturday, immediately providing close matches, unexpected results and intense competition.
As the field narrowed to the final eight, the battle for the title became increasingly unpredictable. Hungary’s leading players faced challenges from both domestic rivals and international competitors.
Among the standout quarter-finalists were current Hungarian ranking leader Károly Szathmáry, Zoltán Bottyán, Gábor Farkas Jr. and reigning world champion Viktor Lukács. János Koczor, the 2015 world champion, also remained in contention, while Serbia’s Norbert Rákos and Romania’s Ervin Varga sought to challenge Hungarian dominance.
One particularly intriguing quarter-final pairing brought Hungarian clubmates Károly Szathmáry and Péter Kovács face to face.
With several former champions and ambitious challengers still in the running, the stage was set for an exciting conclusion on Sunday.
Hungary in Contention in the Sectorball Team Event
The Sectorball Team competition also got underway on Saturday. Hungary performed strongly in the opening stages and remained among the leading contenders heading into the final day.
With the world title at stake, the team competition promised another important chapter in Hungary’s bid for success on home soil.
Two More Club World Champions Crowned
Saturday also saw the conclusion of two major club competitions, with Brazilian and Hungarian teams celebrating world championship titles.
Palmeiras Triumph in 12 Touch
Brazilian club Palmeiras won the 12 Touch Club World Championship, defeating fellow Brazilian side Vasco in the final.
Hungary’s DSC-ALE secured third place, finishing ahead of Academica USA.
Final standings – 12 Touch Club World Championship
- Palmeiras 🇧🇷
- Vasco 🇧🇷
- DSC-ALE 🇭🇺
- Academica USA 🇺🇸
The victory added another major achievement to Palmeiras’ impressive championship campaign.
VASI Claim Historic Sectorball Club Title
Hungary’s VASI Gombfoci Egyesület won the Sectorball Club World Championship, defeating Energofish from Târgu Mureș in the final.
The triumph was particularly significant for the Szombathely-based club, as it marked VASI’s first-ever Sectorball Club World Championship title.
Brazilian side Vasco finished third.
Final standings – Sectorball Club World Championship
- VASI Gombfoci Egyesület 🇭🇺
- Energofish 🇷🇴
- Vasco 🇧🇷
Congratulations to VASI on a historic victory and to all the medal-winning clubs!
The Final Day Awaits
After three days of intense competition, the championship now heads into its final day, with more major titles still to be decided.
Sunday’s programme includes the conclusion of the Sectorball Individual and Team competitions, alongside the final celebrations and awards ceremony.
With world champions crowned in Chapas and two club competitions already decided, the final day promises one last opportunity for players to make history at the Ludovika Arena.
Three days completed, champions celebrated and more glory still to come — the X. ITFC World Table Football Championship is heading towards a spectacular finish in Budapest.