Info 2026 World Figure Skating Championships

[Kiki5375]

Max turned it down?!?! I was hoping Max would go if Jason didn't go. Oh well. I wonder how tired Jacob might be at Senior Worlds so soon after Junior Worlds. Jacob did pretty well at 4CC so we'll see what happens at Senior Worlds.

I am so sad Max doesn't go. I hope he is ok

 

[reader3]

He's probably fine but just hasn't been practicing. Perhaps he's just coaching.

 

[ladyjane]

If this is the end of Jason as competitor, well then what a legacy!!! And though he never won a medal at Worlds, he has influenced many skaters including Jacob (who stated that).

And he did win a small medal once (less prestigious maybe but still). I have forgotten the year.

 

[sisinka]

I am sad for all withdraws because of injuries. I hope recovering will go fast.

I am very sad for Jason Brown's withdrawal. I wished him to have a great ending of the season here at Worlds.

But I am very surprised with replacement for Jacob Sanchez. Is Maxim Naumov injured? Or was it US Federation decision?

Jacob is talented, but junior skater at the moment. Despite the fact that personal best goes higher for Jacob, comparing those two - Maxim is much stronger skater at the moment. His spins are stronger, Step Sequence, Skating Skills. He also has quad jump in both SP and FP, while Jacob is not attempting any quad jump at the moment.

If Maxim is injured, OK. But if this was US Federation pick, then I don't find this very tactical. Does somebody have any clear info about this?

For Jacob, it is demanding a lot. Season with multiple competitions in both Junior and Senior cathegory.
Junior Worlds and 3 weeks later Senior Worlds with longer version of Free Program. It will be difficult. I hope he will deal with it well. He is Ilia's friend, so I quess he will get some advices from him.

 

[icetug]

And he did win a small medal once (less prestigious maybe but still). I have forgotten the year.

At WC 2019, Jason won silver in SP. He placed behind future Olympic champion and above two-time Olympic champion

 

[cocteautwin]

I hoped to see Jason's Riverdance one more time but I totally understand his WD if he's not at his best form (injured or not). Considering his base value, if he's not fit and confident enough to nail all tech elements, there's no point for him to show up and underperform. Imo, he's done enough and more not to put himself through all this stress if he doesn't feel capable at the moment.
US has enough younger skaters to cover up, all should be happy to get this chance. Jacob was at junior worlds recently, so he still should be in his competitive shape, it's a great opportunity to him to show up at senior champs.
Max probably took some deserved break after olympics as he probably assumped it was the end of his season.

 

[skatingfan4ever]

We can only assume Max turned it down after Jason's WD. I checked the USFS World Team Announcement again. Max was 1st alternate. Tomoki was 2nd alternate, but he clearly didn't take it either. Jacob was 3rd alternate. I don't think USFS sent Jacob over anyone, but rather he was the last alternate left.

 

[cocteautwin]

We can only assume Max turned it down after Jason's WD. I checked the USFS World Team Announcement again. Max was 1st alternate. Tomoki was 2nd alternate, but he clearly didn't take it either Jacob was 3rd alternate. I don't think USFS sent Jacob over anyone, but rather he was the last alternate left.

I think so. I don't know how stricktly the rules work with the alts by I believe it's supposted to go with the order. However, it's not suprising both Max and Tomoki would turn it down considering their current training status. I guess feds are monitoring such things closely so Jacob probably was aware he can get a call.
It turned out the way it makes most sense imo.

 

[TontoK]

We can only assume Max turned it down after Jason's WD. I checked the USFS World Team Announcement again. Max was 1st alternate. Tomoki was 2nd alternate, but he clearly didn't take it either Jacob was 3rd alternate. I don't think USFS sent Jacob over anyone, but rather he was the last alternate left.

This is true. When USFSA names the teams, the list the alternates as well, and they are named as First Alternate, Second Alternate, Third Alternate. They step up to the competing team in the order that they were named,

If Jacob has been named to the team, then that means the First and Second Alternates declined. In this instance, there's nothing shady about Jacob's elevation to World Championship skater. As you say, he's all that was left.

This is a lucky opportunity for Jacob. Many say "he's not ready yet" but he's the only pick left, so I hope he makes the most of this chance. It's a good time for him to make his debut in the big leagues. It will be about as low-pressure as he could hope for - a sleepy worlds that most likely won't have the intense spotlight that a non-post-Olympics worlds would have. While I don't closely follow the social connections of skaters, my understanding is that he's a good friend of Ilia's, and making your big entrance with the back-up of a friend seems a good thing.

I hope he skates well and has an excellent unexpected start to his four-year run-up.

 

[Kiki5375]

Max said in interviews that he was hoping to get a chance for Prague so I think he is sick or injured.
Well...Jacob was in Milano although Jason was alternate for that. Maybe Jacob was planing to go to Prague anyway and was available but it was too short notice for Max to organize it? I just hope Max is ok. I would have been sooooo happy to get another chance to see him live there

 

[SmileHappy34]

I think tomoki retired.
I thought Audrey Shin and Nagy were 1st alternate in pairs and Chan and Howe 2nd.
Did S.N decline, retired, or break up?
So chan and howe got picked.

 

[Kiki5375]

Maybe USFS chose alternates as they wanted and not in the order they first set?

 

[NanaPat]

Maybe USFS chose alternates as they wanted and not in the order they first set?

The ordering of the alternates is a USFS thing. The ISU (and some? most?other federations) don't do that. In fact, the alternates appear on the ISU entry lists in alphabetical order, not the one announced by USFS.

Skate Canada does not announce its alternates, though usually it is pretty clear who they should/will be. We find out who they are by looking at the ISU entry lists!

I can see waiting until closer to the event to choose from among the alternates, especially in an Olympic year. Skate Canada didn't announce their Worlds team at all until after the Olympics.

Of course, USFS is welcome to do it their way. There is prestige and possibly funding attached to being officially named as an alternate.

 

[ramurphy2005]

Of course, USFS is welcome to do it their way. There is prestige and possibly funding attached to being officially named as an alternate.

There's definitely funding attached to be first alternates. https://usfigureskating.org/documents/2025/8/26/2026-27_Athlete_Support_Funding_Criteria__1_.pdf

 

[labgoat]

Well now that we have most (I hope) of the WD done, lets turn to who you are excited to watch.
I am excited to see the new faces and those returning to Worlds after a year or more away. I am looking forward to redemption skates from some of the Olympians who feel they have unfinished business for the season. I am looking forward to some of my favorite faces and programs such as Allison & Saul, my Michigan dancers, the entire ladies field especially Lara Naki & Nina P, Adam SHF and Kevin, and the entire pairs field.

I will be missing my grown up Madi & Evan - their dramatic themes and Evan providing a wonderful frame for his and Madi's creative, detailed programs that no other teams here match. I know they will be cheering and rooting for their former teammates as they takeover the mantle.

Also i am looking forward to seeing the mama's of the event Kaori & Amber!

 

[skylark]

If this is the end of Jason as competitor, well then what a legacy!!! And though he never won a medal at Worlds, he has influenced many skaters including Jacob (who stated that).

I didn't keep the reference, but I saw a wonderful video interview of Jason a few weeks ago when he was talking about being part of a team, not just an individual figure skater. He used the example of hockey or basketball teams, where not everyone was a star, but every team member made a contribution. For instance, there are players who are known for how many assists they perform.

That was a particularly appropriate example for Jason. Think how many times he's been the skater who made the difference on how many US skaters get to go to Worlds the next year.

Then there's inspiration. He keeps on being the skater he is, rather than trying for something he's not. That gives encouragement to all.

 

[Alex D]

Where to post our reviews?

Anyways,

First day done

While I was in town with my daughters we met some skaters, it was overall a great experience, with many great spots, that were not so crowded either.

If you ever need a guide to the most beautiful places in Prague, my girls are perfect for this, they had a full tour prepared for me

There are two things I noticed, the women here always smile at me and there is a lot of police in town. It's giving me Paris 2024 vibes.

Ofc I had to be checked while I was waiting for my kids at the bus hub, I just have the face of a criminal it happens each time

Bad boy image huh

Had a brief look at the O2 too, there are commercials in the metro stations and I am always amazed how good and cheap public transport is in Prague.

Tomorrow starts my work here, let's see how that goes and how different it will be to my last ISU event.

Grateful to have been given this opportunity.

 

[surimi]

There are two things I noticed, the women here always smile at me and there is a lot of police in town. It's giving me Paris 2024 vibes.

Yup, they announced it a while ago that there would be extra police units monitoring in the city this week to keep the peace during the biggest sporting event of the year. They'll apparently be checking the arena (ot rather the visitors?) for pyros, too, and they said the no bottle rule is to prevent rowdy fans from throwing them onto the ice... I guess the security teams don't make that much of a distinction between a skating WC and a local ice hockey event. :] There's also going to be a mobile unit in front of the arena to assist any unforntunate folk who might have bought fake tickets from scammers.

 

[meem]

I'm looking forward to seeing Zingas & Kolesnik, and Hudson Valley boy Jacob Sanchez, whose coaches are the Makarovs (parents of Ksenia who used to compete a few years ago).

 

[NanaPat]

There's definitely funding attached to be first alternates. https://usfigureskating.org/documents/2025/8/26/2026-27_Athlete_Support_Funding_Criteria__1_.pdf

Thanks for the reference!

The second and third alternates are mentioned as well, though the second and third alternates are (together) at a different level than the first alternates.