Niels Feijen Takes Team Europe Helm for 2026 Mosconi Cup
Eight-time champion and record four-time MVP returns to lead Europe's bid for a seventh straight title in Orlando.
Niels Feijen will return to the Mosconi Cup this November — this time in the captain's chair — as Team Europe chase a seventh consecutive title at the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida from 27-30 November.
The Dutchman is one of the most decorated players in the event's history: an eight-time champion, a record four-time MVP, and a fixture of Europe's dominance since his 2001 debut.
From player to leader
Feijen steps up to guide the next generation of European stars through the unique pressure of race-to-five Mosconi Cup pool.
"I've lived every emotion the Mosconi Cup can give you as a player," he said. "Now I get the chance to use that experience to help the team. The quality in Europe is incredible right now; my job is to make sure the players are mentally ready."
He will face a familiar rival across the arena: longtime friend Johan Ruijsink, already confirmed as Team USA captain. "I've known Johan since I was 16. We're both incredibly competitive, so going up against each other as captains is going to be intense and fun."
Qualification race heats up
Newly crowned US Open champion Francisco Sanchez Ruiz currently leads the European qualification standings, with the cut-off confirmed after the Philippines Open on 20-24 October.
Matchroom Multi Sport CEO Emily Frazer called Feijen's appointment a fantastic moment: "He knows exactly what it takes to perform under Mosconi Cup pressure, and he understands what it means to wear the European shirt."
Europe have won the last six editions. Team USA will be desperate to reclaim the trophy on home soil, and the captaincy duel between Feijen and Ruijsink adds another layer to pool's greatest rivalry.
