World Schools Chess Championship 2026 American Stage Set for Costa Rica

The American Continental Stage of the FIDE-ISCF World Schools Team Championship 2026 will take place from 11 to 16 August in San José, Costa Rica. The event is organised by FIDE and the International Schools Chess Federation together with the Costa Rican Chess Federation and the Confederation of Chess for the Americas, with Freedom Holding Corp., the parent company of Freedom24, serving as General Partner. It will be the first time Costa Rica, and Central America as a region, hosts this stage of the championship.

Leading school teams from across the Americas will compete for places in the WSTC 2026 Grand Final against the winners of the other continental stages. A central event of the week will be Smart Moves Americas: Governments That Think Ahead, taking place on 12 August. The ministerial conference will bring together government representatives, education authorities, curriculum specialists and international partners to discuss practical approaches to expanding Chess in Education across the Americas.

Held within the framework of the Year of Chess in Education 2026, the conference will focus on national policy, teacher development, curriculum integration and regional cooperation. Its programme will also include a memorandum-signing ceremony, the launch of the Beacons League School Certification Programme for Costa Rican schools and recognition of leadership in Chess in Education. The championship week will also feature masterclasses, classroom-focused sessions, girls’ leadership initiatives and interactive activities for students, teachers, parents and coaches. Freedom Holding Corp.’s support reflects the company’s continued commitment to chess development, youth education and creating long-term opportunities for future generations.