2026 FISU World Cheerleading Championships

For many, cheerleading is what some call a family sport which for the most part is supported and followed by family members only, but it clearly goes beyond that.

Understanding that the sport of cheerleading actually originated in the US in the late 19th century ironically as an all-male pep activity. 

It eventually evolved from simple crowd-control chanting at Ivy League football games into a globally recognized, highly athletic sport featuring complex gymnastics, tumbling, and stunting noting that the First Cheer organized cheering began during the first intercollegiate football game between Princeton and Rutgers in 1869.

It is known that the official birth of the sport took place November 2, 1898 when the University of Minnesota student Johnny Campbell jumped out of the stands, grabbed a megaphone and led the crowd in a coordinated chant, officially making him the world’s first cheerleader.

• Yell Squads: Following Campbell’s lead, the University of Minnesota formed a six-man “Yell Squad”. For its first two decades, cheerleading was an exclusively male activity.

Given the success of the  sport it has grown to the point that Team Canada just wrapped up the 2026 FISU World Cheerleading Championships with two podium finishes, earning silver in the All Female Elite division and bronze in Coed Premier on Sunday.

Canada’s All Female Elite team, made up of student-athletes from the University of Alberta, entered as defending world champions after winning gold at the previous championships. 

The Albertans placed second with a final score of 61.82 after scoring 62.30 on Saturday and 61.50 on Sunday while Australia won the world title with a final score of 70.64.

The silver medal gives Canada a second straight podium finish in the All Female Elite category and adds to the University of Alberta program’s international success.

In the Coed Premier, Canada earned bronze in its first appearance in the division. Representing the country were student-athletes from the University of British Columbia, who finished with a final score of 66.08.

The UBC squad opened with a score of 68.60 before posting 64.40 in Sunday’s final performance to secure third place behind the United States (84.12) and Japan (78.28).

The results capped a successful championship for Canada in Gothenburg, with both entries reaching the podium against international competition.

The FISU World Cheerleading Championships bring together top university cheerleading programs from around the world, giving student-athletes the opportunity to represent their country while showcasing the growth of cheerleading in university sport.