WSL Finals 2025: Yago Dora and Italo Ferreira vie for world title in Fiji with rivalry and friendship strengthened
Yago Dora and Italo Ferreira, Brazil’s representatives in the WSL Finals 2025, are set to compete for the world surf title in Cloudbreak, Fiji, from August 27 to September 4. The event, which crowns the champion in a knockout format, marks the final year of the Finals model, in place since 2021. Yago, the ranking leader, needs just one win to claim his first world title, while Italo, ranked fifth, faces a tougher path, starting against Australian Jack Robinson. The rivalry between the two Brazilians, heightened by clashes like the Peniche final, has forged a strong friendship rooted in mutual respect. Broadcast live on sportv3 with real-time coverage by ge, the event promises high-performance waves and excitement until the final second.
The 2025 season saw Yago Dora’s consistency, taking the ranking lead after Jordy Smith’s early exit in Teahupoo. Italo Ferreira, with his finals experience, aims for a second world title, following his 2019 win and 2021 Olympic gold. Cloudbreak’s return, known for perfect tubes and maneuver sections, favors the Brazilian goofy-footers, who excel on left-hand waves.
- Season highlights: Yago won in Portugal and the USA, plus a runner-up in J-Bay.
- Italo’s path: Faces Jack Robinson, Griffin Colapinto, and potentially Jordy Smith before the final.
- Yago’s advantage: New rule allows him to win the title with a single victory.
Expectations are high for a potential all-Brazilian final, reinforcing Brazil’s dominance, with seven world titles since 2014.
Rivalry that unites in surfing
The bond between Yago Dora and Italo Ferreira has grown significantly in 2025. What started as a professional relationship turned into a solid friendship, fueled by healthy rivalry. Yago, speaking on Fiji’s shores, emphasized mutual respect: “The rivalry united us. I admire Italo as an athlete and person.” Italo praised Yago’s complete skill set, citing his versatility in tubes, aerials, and maneuvers.
This connection shone in the Peniche final in March, where Yago beat Italo in a close contest, 13.37 to 12.43, with standout aerials. Their warm embrace afterward symbolized the fair play defining Brazil’s new surfing generation. A similar moment occurred in 2024 in Saquarema, where Italo won.
The friendship doesn’t dull their competitiveness. Italo, known for his frenetic style and stamina, is determined to repeat his 2022 and 2024 Finals runs. Yago, with his consistency and ranking lead, is the favorite but respects his opponents.
Do Brasil para o mar: a história a gente já escrevemos juntos.
— WSL Brasil 🇧🇷 (@WSLBrasil) August 27, 2025
Agora, no WSL Finals, somos uma só voz, uma só torcida,
E a certeza de que, pra nós, vencer não é promessa; é costume. 🌊
🌊 Lexus WSL Finals Fiji apresentado por Corona Cero
🗓️ 26 de agosto a 04 de setembro
📺… pic.twitter.com/JOzxP6NVZD
Cloudbreak: the perfect stage
Cloudbreak’s selection as the WSL Finals 2025 venue raises expectations. Located in Tavarua, Fiji, the wave is a surfing icon, with long tubes and sections for radical maneuvers. After seven years off the Championship Tour, Cloudbreak returned in 2024 and now hosts the decisive event for the first time.
- Ideal conditions: Waves range from medium, ideal for aerials, to heavy, demanding precise tubes.
- Goofy advantage: Yago and Italo, with right foot forward, have a prime view on left-hand waves.
- Swell forecast: Best day expected on September 1 or 2, with a possible start in 24 hours.
- History: Brazilians dominated Cloudbreak in 2024, with Italo and Yago standing out.
The shift from Trestles, California, to Fiji reflects the WSL’s push for more challenging conditions. Experts note Cloudbreak’s versatility may favor the Brazilians, who blend explosive aerials with tube-riding skills.
Path to the final
Yago Dora, with 54,750 points, secured the ranking lead after a stellar season, with wins in Peniche and Trestles, plus a runner-up in J-Bay. His round-of-16 exit in Teahupoo didn’t jeopardize his position, as second-placed Jordy Smith fell early. Yago enters the final with the advantage of needing just one win, thanks to a new WSL rule.
Italo Ferreira, with 47,420 points, faces a tougher road. His first heat is against Jack Robinson, who won the Tahiti Pro and excels in tubular waves. If he advances, Italo will face Griffin Colapinto in the second round and potentially Jordy Smith in the third before the final.
- Italo’s challenges: Three consecutive heats demand physical and mental endurance.
- Head-to-head with Robinson: Italo leads 4-3 in Championship Tour matchups.
- Surfing style: Italo’s mix of aerials and fast tubes suits Cloudbreak.
- Experience factor: Italo reached the Finals’ final in two of the last three years but took second.
The prospect of an all-Brazilian final excites fans, especially after Brazil’s dominance, with titles from Gabriel Medina (2021) and Filipe Toledo (2022, 2023).
Brazil’s surfing legacy
Brazil arrives at the WSL Finals 2025 with an impressive legacy. Since 2014, Brazilian surfers have claimed seven of the last ten men’s world titles. Yago Dora, in his first Finals appearance, aims to join this elite list, while Italo Ferreira chases a second title.
The 2025 season marked Yago’s rise, overcoming injuries and past struggles to reach the ranking’s top. His Trestles win, where he’d never competed professionally, showcased his adaptability and versatility. Italo started strong, leading until the seventh event, but faced setbacks in Australia before rebounding.
- Brazilian titles: Gabriel Medina (2014, 2018, 2021), Adriano de Souza (2015), Filipe Toledo (2022, 2023), Italo Ferreira (2019).
- Yago’s consistency: Four fifth-place finishes, two wins, and a runner-up in 2025.
- Italo’s resilience: Reached the Finals’ final in two of the last three years.
- Cultural impact: The “Brazilian Storm” made surfing a national sport.
The Brazilians’ strength in Cloudbreak, paired with Yago and Italo’s friendly rivalry, sets the stage for a historic showdown.
Final edition of the Finals format
The WSL Finals 2025 will be the last in the knockout format, introduced in 2021. From 2026, the WSL returns to a points-based system, with the final event at Pipeline, Hawaii. The change addresses criticism of the single-day format but acknowledges its added excitement to competitive surfing.
Yago Dora benefits from a 2025-exclusive rule: as ranking leader, he can clinch the title with one final win. If he loses the first heat, the title will be decided in a best-of-three series, raising the stakes for his opponent.
Italo, familiar with the format, knows he needs consistency to defeat three opponents before facing Yago. His finals experience and skill in heavy waves make him a formidable contender, despite starting fifth.
- Format change: Points-based system returns in 2026, with Pipeline as the final event.
- Strategic advantage: Yago can seal the title with one final win.
- Format history: Brazil won three of the four Finals editions (2021, 2022, 2023).
- Expectations: Cloudbreak promises epic conditions to close the format’s cycle.
The waiting period, starting August 27, was delayed three days due to sea conditions, but forecasts predict a promising swell for early September. The world title decision promises to be a milestone for Brazilian and global surfing.
