ARGENTINA - Javier de Ancizar: A dream came true!

Pilar Golf Club in Argentina

Argentina will host the second World Cup next winter (summer in Argentina). The president of the Argentinian FootGolf Association, Javier de Ancizar talked about the history, the potential and the development of the sport of FootGolf in the South American country.

Is it a privilege hosting the next World Cup?
Yes, a dream came true, I still don't believe it! When the first World Cup finished in 2012, I thought, I wanted to organise an event like this. I saw, what a great job Gábor Gelencsér did at that time in Hungary. I wanted the same. On the last day of the tournament I promised, the next one would be in Argentina. Now here is the possibility. I worked on that idea, and for last October I have seen, it could be real because of the public sponsorship. The government of the province of Buenos Aires confirmed, they are going to support us.

Where will be the World Cup?
Pilar Golf Club is hosting the event. It is one of the top courses in Argentina next to Buenos Aires.

How is the sport developing at international level?
There are more and more nations and players involved in this sport. The footgolfers play higher and higher level. For example, there will be qualification tournaments in the countries who send players to Argentina.

Where is FootGolf in Argentina, if we talk about sports in general?
It is a new one, but a lucky one. When we started it, it was so important to promote it, so a lot of ex-professional football players tried it. It was on a sport tv channel, we had a show called: ‘This is FootGolf. These famous football players showed everybody in the country, what it was. Now, FootGolf is a recognized by the Sport Federation of Argentina, so this sport is officially a real sport here.

What is your message to the players, who are playing this year to qualify for the World Cup?
Everyone, who is coming to play, will have their best moments of their life here.

Javier de Ancizar during the first World Cup