Team USA Takes First Place at 2026 ICO World Cup
The national team secured top honors in Thonon-les-Bains after athletes captured 322 gold medals and world titles.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Soccer
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Team USA finished in first place at the 2026 ICO World Cup in Thonon-les-Bains, France. The American contingent led the competition with a total of 322 gold medals and world titles.
Why it matters
The victory highlights the success of a rigorous training program for the roughly 280 American athletes involved. This performance establishes a high benchmark for U.S. martial arts competitors on the global stage.
Team USA featured approximately 280 athletes who competed against participants from 33 different nations. The team secured 322 gold medals and world titles during the five-day event.
The players
Team USA
The national squad consisted of roughly 280 athletes who represented the United States at the international martial arts competition.
Clayton Watkins
He served as the head coach for Team USA and is a sixth-degree black belt who co-owns ProComp Sport Martial Arts studios in Texas.
The details
Coached by sixth-degree black belt Clayton Watkins, the team prepared through a combination of weekly Zoom sessions and in-person training camps held in Los Angeles and Chicago. Watkins, a co-owner of ProComp Sport Martial Arts, oversaw the national team throughout the year.
Timeline
The ICO World Cup took place in France from October 14 to October 18, 2026.
Season Trajectory
This dominance at the 2026 ICO World Cup reinforces the status of the United States as a primary power within the International Combat Organization competitive framework. The result sets a new benchmark for future international cycles and influences the development trajectory of martial arts programs nationwide.
The success of the 280-athlete squad validates the effectiveness of the hybrid coaching model utilized by head coach Clayton Watkins. Aspiring competitors can note that this centralized approach to training, combining remote sessions with regional clinics, has yielded top-tier results.
The takeaway
The triumph of Team USA underscores the value of disciplined, long-term preparation for international competition. Athletes and coaches can emulate this model by balancing localized studio training with specialized national coaching oversight.
Further reading
Find more updates on national team performances on the Soccer page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Gilmer Mirror.
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