Rhine-Ruhr 2025 Heats Up with Team DrawS, Torch Arrival & Ticket Sales!
🇩🇪 Torch Arrives in North Rhine-Westphalia
The official Rhine-Ruhr 2025 torch has arrived in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), hand-delivered by NRW Minister-President Hendrik Wüst.
"The torch is here! It’s shining and spreading bright anticipation," Wüst said. "We are looking forward to a great sports festival here in North Rhine-Westphalia this summer. We welcome teams and delegations from every continent with open arms. We are delighted to have the world as our guests.”
The torch is now touring the region, with planned stops in Bochum, Duisburg, Essen, Mülheim an der Ruhr, and Hagen—building excitement in the host cities ahead of the Games.
🏀 Group Draw IN TEAM SPORTS Creates Early Buzz
More than 600 guests, including 60 international delegations from across the globe—from New Zealand to Tanzania, the Philippines to the United States—attended the official team draw for basketball, volleyball, and water polo.
The draw unveiled thrilling matchups, including several for the UniUSA Team:
Men’s Basketball will compete in Group B against Romania, India and Latvia.
Women’s Basketball will square off with the host Germany, Chinese Taipei and Poland (Group B).
Men’s Volleyball will compete against Germany, Italy and Korea in Group D.
Women’s Volleyball will face Germany, Italy and Korea in Group D.
Men’s Water Polo will compete in Group B and drew Hungary, New Zealand and host Germany.
Women’s Water Polo faces off with Italy, Japan and New Zealand in Group A
Representing the United States:
UCLA, led by USA National Coach of the Year Adam Wright, will represent the UniUSA Team in both men’s and women’s water polo at Rhine-Ruhr 2025. Wright, a decorated coach and former standout player, has secured seven NCAA titles—two as a player, four as head coach of the men’s team, and one as head coach of the women’s team. Now, he’ll aim to guide the UniUSA squads to gold on the international stage.
The UniUSA Men’s and Women’s Volleyball Teams will be represented by UC Irvine and the University of San Diego, respectively.
While California schools will anchor the UniUSA delegations in water polo and volleyball, it’s Texas that takes center stage in basketball—with Baylor University competing in the men’s tournament and Texas Tech University representing the women’s team.
“We are honored to represent the United States at the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games,” said Dan Guerrero, Head of Delegation for the UniUSA Team. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these student-athletes to compete at the highest international level while proudly wearing the red, white, and blue. Our teams are ready to showcase the excellence of American collegiate sports, and we look forward to being part of an unforgettable celebration of global unity and competition.”
👉 Click here for the full group draw details
🎟️ Sports Tickets Now on Sale!
Tickets for all competitions at Rhine-Ruhr 2025 are officially available! With sports tickets starting at just €18, fans can enjoy elite international competition in sports including basketball, athletics, judo, tennis, fencing, and more.
Additional ticket options include:
Ground Pass – Access to all sports for all 12 days: €79
Day Ticket – Access to all sports on a single day in Essen, Duisburg, or Berlin: €13
Group Discount – 20% off day/sports tickets for groups of 10 or more (valid through April 30, 2025)
Free public transportation across North Rhine-Westphalia on event days is included with every ticket
🎫 Get your tickets now at ticket.rhineruhr2025.com
🎉 A Summer Festival of Sport & Culture
The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games will be more than just a sports event—it’s a cultural celebration, promising 12 days of unforgettable moments both on and off the field.
🎤 Opening Ceremony: Featuring German pop star Ayliva
🎶 Closing Concert: Headlined by genre-bending group Deichkind at Duisburg’s Landschaftspark Nord
🎸 Performances from Ski Aggu and Querbeat in Bochum round out a vibrant entertainment lineup
The UniUSA Team, featuring standout programs in team sports like UCLA Men’s & Women’s Water Polo and Baylor Men’s Basketball, is ready to compete—and represent the U.S. with pride.
🎯 100 days to go—let the countdown begin! 🇺🇸🏅