Familiar compound names in frame for 2026 World Cup

Every year as the outdoor season begins, we take a look at how the reigning World Cup final champions are preparing for the season as well as who might be crowned at the end of this one. (You can catch up with the recurve predictions here). 

This year looks very different for one of those champions: Mexico’s Mariana Bernal, who has decided to take a leave of absence from archery this year after her shoot-off victory in a powerhouse all-Mexico final against Andrea Becerra in Nanjing. 

Most pundits had tipped Becerra to do the job, after an extraordinary season for the world number one and newly-crowned world champion. Yet there was no mistaking the energy and verve that Bernal had put into her victory, and she called 2025 "the best year of my life... I’m just feeling really happy that all the hard work I’ve put in has paid off,” as she said afterwards. 

Mariana took some time out this year to explain her decision: “This year, I’m approaching things with a more holistic focus. I’m in my final semester of my degree program in dentistry, so I’m also very involved in clinical work, seeing patients and performing treatments that require a lot of responsibility and precision.”

“At the same time, I’m using this time to work on my physical conditioning and technical skills, but also on a more personal journey. I think I’ve known ‘Mariana’ very well within the context of archery for a long time, but this year has allowed me to get to know her beyond the sport and grow in other ways,” she added. 

“The idea is to come back with a much stronger foundation, not just as an athlete, but also as a person.”

Many archers have taken time out from the grind of the peleton and international circuit – some by choice, some with that decision forced upon them. Many come back stronger and keener to re-engage with the sport that, while giving so much, can sometimes take a toll on mental health at the highest level. 

With Bernal not competing, much attention has gone back to Becerra, with some even suggesting the season is hers to lose. (Most of the World Archery pundits picked her to take the title in Puebla, and perhaps the rest of the season too).

Becerra, when asked about her approach to the season, played it characteristically calmly. “I think my approach is just completely the same. Just trying to have fun, trying to do my best shots and not worrying so much about the result,” she said. 

How would you handle the extra expectations that come with a home tournament and a home finals? “I mean, I just try not to think about it too much, just think about it as any other competition and just try to vibe with it. I'm just trying to be a little more confident, just believing in myself. And I'm having a hard time, but I will get there. Trusting everything will be okay and just trusting my shots,” she added. 

With two years to go before the LA28 Olympic Games, what are you thinking long-term? ”Of course, maybe just like a lot of hope, a lot of dreams. I would love to be there and I would love to medal there. But it's a long way and we're just getting started.”

There are many women in the frame to rival Becerra this year; not least the apparent return to full competition of Sara Lopez, who was absent from the World Cup circuit last year barring an anonymous appearance in Florida.

Ella Gibson, the world number two, is often seen as the biggest threat to Becerra, and with the indoor wind in her sails coming off the back of her maiden win at the Vegas Shoot last week.

Alejandra Usquiano has been showing consistent high-level form recently and won the World Cup final all the way back in 2013, and closer to home, Becerra’s teammate Dafne Quintero is showing signs of championship form too. 

On the men’s side, last year's winner Emircan Haney is very much in the picture and keen to make a mark on the outdoor season, after winning medals in two consecutive World Cups last year. 

"Last season was a very successful one for me. I had very good, very experienced competitors, and I had the opportunity to compete against all of them. Last year's success was one of my goals for 2025.”

A driven Haney, who was recently named best archer of 2025, achieved the World Cup Final victory in Nanjing by taking out the men ranked 1, 2, and 3 in the world: Mathias Fullerton, Mike Schloesser and Nicolas Girard, an emphatic demonstration. 

“I want to continue my 2025 success in 2026 as well in the competitions we will participate in and are currently participating in at World Cup One. I will collect points to participate in the finals. I want to win medals, I want to win medals for my country. I will work for this. My goals are in this direction, I am reaching my goals step by step.”

All three of the men Haney swatted aside in Nanjing – Fullerton, Schloesser and Girard – are back out competing this year, just a week after all three had a memorable year at the Vegas Shoot.

(Fullerton crashed out of the championship with a nine, Girard won one of the $10,000 daily shoot-offs, and Schloesser took his third title and the first for almost a decade.) 

All are more than capable of winning the big prize, but so is Haney. We might also see some new challengers appearing, such as Poles Przemyslaw Chmielewski and Lukasz Przybylski, Britain’s Ajay Scott, or some of India’s younger stars like Kushal Dalal or Ojas Pravin Deotale.