A month ago, nobody was quite sure if this weekend’s Beach Pro Tour Challenge event in Veracruz, Mexico, was even going to be an event.
The city was yet to be confirmed, which is generally not a good thing that close to the tournament. Yet a city was found, and it is a wonderful thing, indeed, as the event that many didn’t think would happen now has an argument as the most intriguing stop of the 2025 Beach Pro Tour season.
Veracruz is the final qualifying event for this fall’s World Championships in Adelaide, Australia. The top 25 teams via points, using their six best finishes from the season-opening event in Yucatan, Mexico to this weekend’s Veracruz Challenge punch their ticket. The remaining 23 are decided via a handful of wild cards and continental berths that are not important when it comes to this weekend.
This weekend, all eyes are on a handful of teams either looking to solidify their spot in the top 25, or make the move into it. Here are the main teams to keep an eye on, and what they need to do.
Follow all results of the Veracruz Challenge over at Volleyball World.
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Men’s breakdown of the Veracruz Challenge
Joao Pedrosa, Hugo Campos, Portugal
Ranked No. 22 in the World Champs standings, Joao Pedrosa and Hugo Campos are mostly safe. They’ll need a fifth or better to improve upon their rankings, and would benefit from early exits from George Wanderley and Saymon Barbosa, Chaim Schalk and James Shaw, Marco Grimalt and Esteban Grimalt, Chris Dressler and Philipp Waller, and Jonathan Jordan and Adrian Heidrich.
George Wanderley, Saymon Barbosa, Brazil
These two were left for dead before surging in the last two weeks, taking consecutive ninths in Elites Joao Pessoa and Rio de Janeiro. Now they are No. 24, seeded No. 3 in the tournament, and need only a top-10 to add to their points total. They are well in control of their own destiny, playing their best beach volleyball at just the right time.
Chaim Schalk, James Shaw, USA Volleyball
These two have had a strange year, as detailed in the Rio Elite recap, and after a brilliant start have dropped seven straight matches and are now in need of a decent finish in the final event just to qualify for World Champs. Like George and Saymon, however, the top-heavy nature of their finishes is a positive, as they also only need a ninth to add to their points. They are 120 behind George and Saymon, 140 behind Portugal, and if they are to make a move into the qualifying position, a fifth is needed.
Marco Grimalt, Esteban Grimalt, Chile
Marco and Esteban Grimalt always seem to get it done. They’ve qualified for three straight Olympics and always seem to be in a streetfight for the final spot or two. Here they are again, looking to do the same for the World Championships. They’ll need a ninth or better to add points, and at least a fifth to have a chance at qualifying on points. A semifinal is essentially required.
Chris Dressler, Philipp Waller, Austria
Three-hundred and 40 points out of qualifying position, Chris Dressler and Philipp Waller are in a difficult position for more reasons than just being a few spots on the outside looking in. Their consistency has been something of a killer, as they are sitting on a trove of 460-point finishes that are solid but difficult to improve upon. A medal is required, and maybe even a little help after that from other teams losing early, if they are to qualify. The same applies to the other teams in the hunt, namely Jonathan Jordan and Adrian Heidrich, Matthew Immers and Ruben Penninga, Yves Haussener and Julian Freidli, and Jonas Sagstetter and Benedikt Sagstetter.
Khmil and Davidova during a break in the action in the Euros, where they reached the Round of 16 (photo Graham Hays).
Women’s breakdown of the Veracruz Challenge
Anhelina Khmil, Valentyna Davidova, Ukraine
Much has been made of the tremendous summer enjoyed by the Ukraine women thus far. There is still work to do yet. Khmil and Davidova sit at No. 25 in the rankings and skipped the Brazilian stretch in September. This puts them in a position in need of points. Fortunately for them, they will not be hard to come by, as they need only a ninth to improve their position. It won’t guarantee a berth, but a fifth or better just might.
Giuliana Poletti, Michelle Valiente, Paraguay
The 2024 Olympians are nearly 300 points out of a qualifying position, so a mighty finish is needed. A medal is likely required for Poletti and Valiente to squeak in — or a continental berth. The same could be said for Monika Paulikiene and Aine Raupelyte.
