Rain couldn’t dampen the celebration in Aachen, Germany, on Friday night as the host nation claimed team gold at the FEI Jumping World Championship. Under the lights of the main stadium, 40,000 spectators filled the stands, creating an electric atmosphere for the championship showdown.

Germany finished on 4.48 penalties to secure the team title, ahead of Belgium’s 11.69 for silver and Great Britain’s 12.98 for bronze. The Icon Global U.S. Jumping Team, sitting in second after Thursday’s jumping, held on for a fourth-placed finish with 16.85 penalties.

Marcus Ehning (Coolio 42), Sophie Hinners (Iron Dames Singclair), Daniel Deusser (Otello de Guldenboom) and Richard Vogel (United Touch S) completed both rounds of the team final without lowering a single rail, the only nation to do so.

“I have no words for this team,” German chef d’equipe Otto Becker said. “I’m really proud of what they did, especially today. To win at home in Aachen, when I see the crowd, and especially in the rain at the prizegiving, they were all there. This is something special.”

Welcome Home

The 10 nations that survived Thursday’s first-round cut returned in reverse order for the team medal decider, carrying their cumulative scores into a night where every penalty mattered.

Course designer Frank Rothenberger raised the degree of difficulty with a 14-obstacle, 17-effort track that introduced the open water for the first time at this championship, along with a tight 61-second time allowed. Fourteen combinations produced clear rounds, but with questions posed throughout the course, focus and precision were paramount.

Germany entered with the advantage and immediately strengthened its position. Ehning and Coolio 42 opened with a clear inside the time before Hinners and Iron Dames Singclair followed without lowering a pole, adding just one time penalty.

Then came Deusser and Otello de Guldenboom. As they cleared the last fence, the math was done, sealing gold for Germany before fourth-line rider Vogel even entered the arena.

“Simply said, I had goosebumps in the ring,” Deusser said. “It’s the result of a long journey this year. As Germans, it’s really unbelievable. You cannot describe it.”

Vogel and United Touch S followed their teammates’ example, leaving every rail in place and adding only two time penalties, which became Germany’s discard score.

Twenty years after Germany claimed team bronze at the 2006 World Equestrian Games—held at the same venue—the host nation returned to Aachen and this time left with gold. Grooms Melina Jobst, Valentine Hssein, Marine Renaudet and Felicia Wallin, who cared for Coolio 42, Iron Dames Singclair, Otello de Guldenboom and United Touch S throughout the week, stood behind the four riders at the prizegiving.

Belgium Takes Silver, Britain Bronze

The battle behind Germany remained alive until the closing stages.

Great Britain stayed in podium contention after clear rounds from Ben Maher (Point Break) and Harry Charles (LT Holst Freda), with Charles rebounding from a difficult Thursday.

“It’s a proper championship course, and the atmosphere is amazing,” Charles said. “Yesterday was a pretty low day. I’m very happy to get a clear finally. There was a lot of relief after the finish line, and the feeling was incredible.”

With Britain’s discard score set at 15 penalties by Adrian Whiteway and Chacco Volo, anchor Scott Brash and Hello Mango entered with silver and bronze still in play. A rail down for Brash opened the door for Belgium.

Abdel Saïd and Wathnan Quaker Brimbelles Z seized the opportunity with a clear round to secure silver, leaving Great Britain with bronze.

“We knew it was going to be very close and very tough,” Saïd said. “We said we would focus, try our best and be on the ball, and it worked out.”

A Fourth-Placed Finish for US

The U.S. squad was anchored by a clear round from six-time U.S. Olympian McLain Ward riding Michael Smith’s High Star Hero.

“McLain showed us tonight why he’s the anchor: He’s done it before, and that’s why he goes last,” said chef d’equipe Robert Ridland. “We had quite a few high points; Katie came through for us on the second day, which was great because she didn’t have a great first day, and Laura and Lillie were consistent throughout. It wasn’t our night for the podium, but we still pulled together a strong performance against the world’s best combinations to finish in the top five out of 31 international teams.”

“For him to come back so fresh today is a test of stamina, and I’m very pleased with him,” Ward added of High Star Hero. “I had to deliver a zero today and thank goodness for the ladies this week; they came through brilliantly and put us in a wonderful position.”

Laura Kraut and Baloutinue brought two clear rounds forward to the final. However, one rail fell in the triple combination for them on Friday. Lillie Keenan, on a clear slate with Fasther, pulled a rail at the first fence and then another later on course tonight.

Katie Dinan and Out of the Blue SCF also came to grief in the triple, and the rider elected to retire after that.

Individually, Kraut and Baloutinue are the highest-ranked U.S. combination, sitting 12th on 5.06 total penalties, while Ward and High Star Hero are slotted in 21st on 6.62 penalties. Both will advance to the individual final on Sunday, starting at 2:30 p.m. local time (8:30 a.m. Eastern).

Tickets Booked and History Made

Round 2 also confirmed the first seven team qualification places for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. With the United States already assured a place as host nation, Germany, Belgium, Great Britain, Italy, Switzerland, Ireland and France secured the remaining tickets.

Denmark had reason to celebrate as well, reaching the top-10 team final for the first time at an FEI Jumping World Championship. Caroline Rehoff Pedersen and Polonis L produced Denmark’s best round of the evening, finishing on just four faults.

“It’s a dream since I started riding, and now being here is actually hard to describe, because it’s such a crazy feeling,” Pedersen said. “I still need to process it, because it’s unbelievable that we made this come true. It feels very, very good.”

One Title Remains

Team gold has been awarded, but one world championship title remains.

Friday’s scores also shaped the individual standings, with Steve Guerdat (Dynamix de Belheme) level with Deusser and Otello de Guldenboom on 0.86 penalties, and Maher and Point Break sitting third on 1.01.

For More:

• See results, orders of go, and more.
• Read more of our coverage from the 2026 FEI World Championships held in Aachen, Germany, from Aug. 11–23, here.