Italian archers Mauro Nespoli and Roberta Di Francesco have secured their qualifications for the 2026 World Cup Finals, earning their places among the top eight recurve competitors in the world following standout performances across the international circuit, according to official reports from the Federazione Italiana Tiro con l’Arco (FITARCO).
The season-ending tournament is scheduled to take place on September 12 and September 13, 2026, in Saltillo, Mexico, where only the top eight athletes in each individual weapon category and gender will compete for the crown.
Mauro Nespoli Makes Eighth World Cup Final Appearance in Men’s Recurve
For veteran Mauro Nespoli, booking a ticket to Saltillo marks his eighth career appearance in a World Cup Final. The Italian Air Force athlete secured his spot among the elite men’s field by capturing the individual silver medal during the final regular-season stop in Madrid, Spain, as OA Sport reported.
His remarkable career résumé features previous silver medals at World Cup Finals in Moscow (2019) and Hermosillo, alongside a bronze in Hermosillo and a mixed team silver earned in Rome in 2017. While managing a physical issue that sidelined him from preparations for the upcoming Mediterranean Games in Taranto, Nespoli is expected to return to peak form by September.
On the shooting line in Saltillo, Nespoli will face a formidable international field. According to FITARCO records, the men’s recurve lineup includes:
- Mete Gazoz (Turkey)
- Dhiraj Bommadevara (India)
- Brady Ellison (United States)
- Mathias Grande (Mexico)
- Jean Charles Valladont (France)
- Berkim Tumer (Turkey)
Roberta Di Francesco Breaks Through to First Career Final
At just 23 years old, Roberta Di Francesco has achieved a milestone by qualifying for her first-ever World Cup Final. The State Police athlete (“Fiamme Azzurre”) cemented her qualification through a consistent campaign highlighted by an individual bronze medal at the third World Cup stage in Antalya, Turkey.
Di Francesco’s success extended beyond individual competition. Alongside teammate Matteo Borsani, she claimed the bronze medal in the mixed team event at both the Antalya and Madrid legs of the circuit. In Saltillo, the young Italian will compete in the women’s recurve division against a stacked bracket of international opponents.
The women’s recurve field features:
- Ana Paula Vazquez Flores (Mexico)
- Alejandra Valencia (Mexico)
- Marie Horackova (Czech Republic)
- Elif Gokkir (Turkey)
- Elia Canales (Spain)
- Katharina Bauer (Germany)
- Zhong Qixuan (China)
Schedule and Compound Division Outlook
Competition in Saltillo runs across two days. Saturday, September 12, 2026, is dedicated entirely to the compound discipline. FITARCO confirmed that no Italian athletes qualified for the compound brackets this season. Sunday, September 13, 2026, marks the recurve showdown, with Nespoli and Di Francesco beginning their medal pursuits directly from the quarterfinal rounds.
Worth a look
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