MFS Worlds Team 2026

[Lucho]

US are fielding an interesting team this year. Whilst you guys have a lot of young guys coming through it looks like the old heads have kept their spots at least for this year. Iran's MFS is more or less the same as last year except Amir Mohammad Yazdani at 74kg and Hassan Yazdani at 97kg. Our 92kg rep is still Firouzpour as Azimi lost in the best of 3 at Takhti Cup. I'm quite surprised with Zahid Valencia not making the team and Dake beating him, that is a very surprising result given Valencia is the reigning world champ but that shows the depth of US wrestling. The match ups I'm very curious to see are Yazdani vs Snyder, Ghasempour vs Dake and Hidlay vs Firouzpour. I think these are the biggest matches in terms of US vs Iran for the team title. With Russia's results officially counting now I feel that the team title is coming down to who wins the Iran vs US vs Russia gauntlet at 86kg, 92kg and 97kg. The other weight classes don't have as big of a swing imo if particular results go a certain way for one of the 3 countries.  

[mspart]

Yes, those will be very interesting matches if it gets to those.   

Green had issues at at a non Olympic weight class at Worlds.   I don't think he will get far at 74.   I would be ecstatic to be proven wrong.  

I think Lee, Haines, Snyder, Hendrickson, Hidlay, Dake are competitive enough to get a medal.   I don't know about the others.   

I am surprised that we have what appears to be an old guard.   We had so many young up and comers last year that did well it seems and they did not make the team.   To Lucho's credit, it shows the depth of our internal competitiveness.   

I would love for all to do well, including Green.   It has been a long time for him so I hope the cobwebs can be shaken off and he proves me wrong.   I've always liked him.   I hope he is successful.  

mspart

Edited June 23 by mspart

[Le duke]

Yes, those will be very interesting matches if it gets to those.   
Green had issues at at a non Olympic weight class at Worlds.   I don't think he will get far at 74.   I would be ecstatic to be proven wrong.  
I think Lee, Haines, Snyder, Hendrickson, Hidlay, Dake are competitive enough to get a medal.   I don't know about the others.   
I am surprised that we have what appears to be an old guard.   We had so many young up and comers last year that did well it seems and they did not make the team.   To Lucho's credit, it shows the depth of our internal competitiveness.   
I would love for all to do well, including Green.   It has been a long time for him so I hope the cobwebs can be shaken off and he proves me wrong.   I've always liked him.   I hope he is successful.  
mspart

I won’t pretend to know the medical history of everyone that’s ever wrestled at worlds but I have to imagine James Green is one of very few that has undergone a hip replacement and come back to Worlds.

That alone is an insane achievement.


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[Tyler Perry]

6 hours ago, Truzzcat said:

Love the pics, Could see Uguev having a really hard time getting to that high C on Marcus with how far he keeps his hips back but he could win a pushout battle because I in turn have a hard time seeing marcus getting to more than 3-4 points against him. I feel like if Bo makes the team he could have some growing pains, A guy like Kiyooka feels like a horrid matchup in my brain for him. I am optimistic that Hidlay can beat azimi again and would love to see the Yaz vs Snyder match now that Yaz seems more comfortable at 97. 

Side note did anyone notice in the Marcus interview (that was fantastic I may add) that he was doing a match simulation with Ono and mentioned that he was winning late until getting head pinched? Its a match simulation so not trying to get overly excited but if Ono was in this field he would be far and away the pick so thought it was an interesting side note.

Thank you. Kiyooka is not at worlds this year. But I would take Kiyooka over Bo

[Truzzcat]

4 hours ago, Tyler Perry said:

Thank you. Kiyooka is not at worlds this year. But I would take Kiyooka over Bo

Do you know who happened to take the spot from him? was it Nishiuchi or tenabe?

[MPhillips]

8 hours ago, Le duke said:

James Green is one of very few that has undergone a hip replacement and come back to Worlds.

Around a long time. Entrants from the year Molinaro qualified after beating Pico.

Metcalf, Brent NYAC/HWC64.8
Oliver, JordanSunkist 64.7
Kennedy, Jimmy NYAC/MWC64.9
Green, James TMWC65.0
Stieber, Logan TMWC64.8
Humphrey, Reece NYAC/Ohio RTC64.8
Pico, Aaron TMWC64.8
Russell, Kellen NYAC/MWC64.9
Molinaro, Frank NLWC64.8
Ness, Jayson Minnesota Storm65.0
Chamberlain, Jason TMWC64.9
Futrell, Bernard TMWC/CKWC64.9
Retherford, Zain NLWC64.9
Heil, Dean Cowboy WC

[Yugdab]

On 6/20/2026 at 10:43 AM, SplitTheG said:

57 - Spencer Lee - Gold

61 - Marcus Blaze - DNP

65 - Bo Bassett (imo) - Bronze

70 - Zain Retherford - Bronze

74 - James Green - Bronze

79 - Levi Haines - Gold

86 - Kyle Dake - Silver

92 - Trent Hidlay - Bronze

97 - Kyle Snyder - Gold

125 - Wyatt Hendrickson - Silver

 

Would be surprised if Wyatt gets a silver 

Super happy for Green and he looks really good but my guess a DNP 

Bo is a bit sloppy on defense hopefully this doesnt hurt him and he loses to a non finalist there is a large path for him to DNP but Bo at his absolute best is a must watch 

Spencer can lay an egg as easily as he could be tagged as the favorite tough call 

Marcus he needs a good draw, but I could see a bronze his defense is insane 

[Yugdab]

On 6/20/2026 at 6:24 PM, ionel said:

... maths again?  Paging nhs.  

its Bo he is making the team LOL

Ill take Bo Woods hasn't impressed since worlds last year. and Bo is one crazy motivated dude 

[LJB]

Woods beat Biabani at pan ams last month, which, was a rematch of the senior bronze medal match Woods won at 2025 worlds... 

to think Woods has "regressed" because he lost a couple of criteria matches late to a JO that failed to make weight for either match is silly at best...

[Truzzcat]

6 hours ago, Yugdab said:

Would be surprised if Wyatt gets a silver 

Super happy for Green and he looks really good but my guess a DNP 

Bo is a bit sloppy on defense hopefully this doesnt hurt him and he loses to a non finalist there is a large path for him to DNP but Bo at his absolute best is a must watch 

Spencer can lay an egg as easily as he could be tagged as the favorite tough call 

Marcus he needs a good draw, but I could see a bronze his defense is insane 

good points! I think I would take Marcus against everyone that is not Uguev I feel good about him beating Hosogawa, Omuryakeb uulu is super tough but Jax beat him at u23's and while its a completely different matchup I think Marcus will be able to handle the hooks and power. Haryutunyan is always a wildcard but I like that matchup for Marcus, Haryutunyan leaves his legs open and struggles for 6 minutes it feels like a matchup where if Marcus can avoid one big takedown to a transition that he guts it out over 6 minutes. Similarly, with Abakarov I would just take the youth in a matchup that is more than likely going to come down to 1 or 2 exchanges.

[de4856]

Anyone have any information on when Woods Bassett matches are going to happen? 

[LJB]

September 

[SplitTheG]

On 6/20/2026 at 2:36 PM, Bulldozer Without Brakes said:

reasonable picks except for 65 and 97. Snyder to beat Sadulaev? In what universe? 

Just jumping back to this after today's result.

[LJB]

sadulaeuv blew his knee out in the third while ahead in the match and immediately conceded to his back...

[Bulldozer Without Brakes]

5 hours ago, SplitTheG said:

Just jumping back to this after today's result.

you class that as a real win for Snyder? OK, buddy. Enjoy. 

[JMill]

10 minutes ago, Bulldozer Without Brakes said:

you class that as a real win for Snyder? OK, buddy. Enjoy. 

Two match winning streak!

[Le duke]

On 7/11/2026 at 8:27 PM, Bulldozer Without Brakes said:

you class that as a real win for Snyder? OK, buddy. Enjoy. 

I think he's referring to the fact that Sadulaev likely blew out his knee shortly before getting pinned. 

[Bulldozer Without Brakes]

On 7/13/2026 at 6:57 PM, Le duke said:

I think he's referring to the fact that Sadulaev likely blew out his knee shortly before getting pinned. 

Fair enough. But Sadulaev's replacement is likely to be Khaniev, who just beat Snyder 10-4, so not sure that helps his chances much.

[Simpleman424]

4 minutes ago, Bulldozer Without Brakes said:

Fair enough. But Sadulaev's replacement is likely to be Khaniev, who just beat Snyder 10-4, so not sure that helps his chances much.

Not with that attitude…

[JMill]

5 minutes ago, Bulldozer Without Brakes said:

Fair enough. But Sadulaev's replacement is likely to be Khaniev, who just beat Snyder 10-4, so not sure that helps his chances much.

Sadulaev isn’t being replaced. He sprained his LCL. 3-4 weeks and back at it.

[Bulldozer Without Brakes]

21 hours ago, JMill said:

Sadulaev isn’t being replaced. He sprained his LCL. 3-4 weeks and back at it.

That's good. We'll see how the real match up goes at worlds, hopefully. I'll be there.

[bnwtwg]

On 7/18/2026 at 3:38 PM, JMill said:

Sadulaev isn’t being replaced. He sprained his LCL. 3-4 weeks and back at it.

The only thing scarier than facing Sadulaev is facing a fired up Sadulaev. John Snyder better enjoy the RAF win and hope 10ish weeks isn't enough time for him to get in shape

[Simpleman424]

46 minutes ago, bnwtwg said:

The only thing scarier than facing Sadulaev is facing a fired up Sadulaev. John Snyder better enjoy the RAF win and hope 10ish weeks isn't enough time for him to get in shape

John Snyder won’t have to worry but Kyle Snyder will…

[bnwtwg]

4 minutes ago, Simpleman424 said:

John Snyder won’t have to worry but Kyle Snyder will…

[MPhillips]

38 minutes ago, bnwtwg said: