The World Surf League (WSL) released, on the night of August 18, 2026, the complete heats for the eighth stop of the World Tour, which will be held in Cloudbreak, Fiji. Italo Ferreira, the new leader of the rankings, will make his debut in the championship facing the winner of the heat between Luke Thompson, from South Africa, and Matthew McGillivray, also from South Africa. Brazil will have a strong representation at the event, with ten surfers in total: nine in the men’s category and Luana Silva in the women’s category.
With the exception of Mateus Herdy, who will compete in round 1, the other Brazilian athletes will begin their competitions in round 2 of the stage. The competition window in Fiji is set to begin on August 25th and run until September 4th. Surfing fans will be able to follow the event through the sportv, getv, GloboPlay and ge.globo channels.
Cloudbreak beach made its debut on the Championship Tour (CT) calendar in 1999 and, from 2001, it also hosted the women’s stage. Despite its importance, the event was removed from the World Tour in 2017. The return of this historic stage in 2024, especially after hosting the WSL Finals that crowned the 2025 champion, amplifies expectations, serving as a pivotal point in the season.
Fiji’s return to the CT in 2024 marked a new era for the competition. In 2025, the venue became the stage for the WSL Finals, the decisive stage in the knockout format that defines the season’s champion.
Historically, only two Brazilian surfers have achieved victories at Cloudbreak: Gabriel Medina, who took the title in 2014 and again in 2016, and Yago Dora, who won during the 2025 WSL Finals.
Fiji men’s opening matches
- Luke Thompson (AFS) vs Matthew McGillivray (AFS)
- Eli Hanneman (HAV) x Teo Degei (FIJ)
- Mateus Herdy (BRA) x Jarvis Earle (AUS)
- Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) x Oscar Berry (AUS)
Second matches of the men’s tournament
- Marco Mignot (FRA) x Seth Moniz (HAV)
- Ethan Ewing (AUS) x Cole Houshmand (USA)
- Yago Dora (BRA) x winner of heat 3 of round 1
- Kanoa Igarashi (JAP) x Alan Cleland (MEX)
- João Chianca (BRA) x Morgan Cibilic (AUS)
- Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) x winner of heat 2 of round 1
- Liam O’Brien (AUS) x Callum Robinson (AUS)
- George Pittar (AUS) x Jake Marshall (USA)
- Italo Ferreira (BRA) x winner of heat 1 of round 1
- Connor O’Leary (JAP) x Filipe Toledo (BRA)
- Samuel Pupo (BRA) x Alejo Muniz (BRA)
- Griffin Colapinto (USA) x Rio Waida (IND)
- Miguel Pupo (BRA) x winner of heat 4 of round 1
- Kauli Vaast (FRA) x Crosby Colapinto (USA)
- Jack Robinson (AUS) x Barron Mamiya (HAV)
- Gabriel Medina (BRA) x Joel Vaughan (AUS)
Start of the women’s competition at Cloudbreak
- Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) x Yolanda Hopkins (POR)
- Alyssa Spencer (USA) x Tya Zebrowski (FRA)
- Anat Lelior (ISR) x Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
- Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAV) x Vahine Fierro (FRA)
- Tyler Wright (AUS) x Brisa Hennessy (CRC)
- Erin Brooks (CAN) x Bella Kenworthy (USA)
- Isabella Nichols (AUS) x Francisca Veselko (POR)
- Nadia Erostarbe (ESP) x Te’a Kurop (IFJ)
Next phases of the women’s event
- Carissa Moore (HAV) x winner of heat 2 of round 1
- Luana Silva (BRA) x winner of heat 5 of round 1
- Sawyer Lindblad (USA) x winner of heat 3 of round 1
- Lakey Peterson (USA) x winner of heat 7 of round 1
- Gabriela Bryan (HAV) x winner of heat 1 of round 1
- Caroline Marks (USA) x winner of heat 8 of round 1
- Molly Picklum (AUS) x round 1 heat 4 winner
- Caitlin Simmers (USA) x winner of heat 6 of round 1
