Mexico Arrives as NORCECA Tour Benchmark

for Fourth Stop in Tamaulipas

TAMAULIPAS, Mexico, May 21, 2026. – The preliminary inquiry officially confirmed the pool compositions for the fourth stop of the 2026 NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, scheduled from May 22 to 24 in Ciudad Madero, featuring 13 women’s teams and 14 men’s teams.

The tournament will include participation from 11 countries in the men’s division and 10 countries in the women’s division, once again establishing the Mexican stop as one of the most competitive events on the regional circuit.

The Tamaulipas stop is marked by Mexico’s recent dominance, but also by the consistency shown by Canada and the United States in the women’s division, as well as the United States and Costa Rica in the men’s division, positioning them as the main contenders on the circuit after the first three stages of the Tour.

In the women’s division, Mexico is led by Susana Torres and Abril Flores, who went from winning back-to-back bronze medals in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic to capturing gold in Nicaragua. Canada has also been a major contender thanks to Darby Dunn and Alison McKay, the most consistent pair on the circuit with two silver medals and one bronze, while the United States won the opening stop in Costa Rica and returned to the final in Nicaragua.

The Dominican Republic will also look to remain in contention after winning in Güibia the first women’s gold medal in its history on the NORCECA Tour, confirming the competitive growth of Caribbean beach volleyball.

In the men’s division, Mexico once again stands out as the benchmark after winning two of the three stages played in 2026. Carlos Andrés Ayala and Inés Lares claimed the title in the Dominican Republic, while Miguel Sarabia and Jorman Osuna won gold in Nicaragua, highlighting the depth of Mexican beach volleyball.

The United States also remains among the favorites after winning the opening stop in Costa Rica, while Costa Rica has shown consistency with Julián Araya and Stanley Grant, who recently earned the silver medal in Nicaragua and have stayed close to the podium throughout the season.

The first day of competition will begin at 8:30 a.m., opening the pool play phase in both genders.

MEN’S POOLS

POOL A: Jorman Osuna / Miguel Sarabia (MEX); Edgar Maldonado / José Izaguirre (GUA); Jared Brown / Zayden Turner (ISV)

POOL B: Julián Araya / Stanley Grant (CRC); Hayerling De Jesús / Oscar Martínez (DOM); Damián Gómez / Eblis Veranes (CUB) 

POOL C: Christopher Guardado / Yoel Guardado (ESA); Rouzbeh Rahnavard / Robert Kemp (CAN); Cristian Encarnación / William Rivera (PUR); Franklin Segura / Ramón De Jesús (DOM2)

POOL D: Rubén Mora / Dany López (NCA); Paul Lotman / Brian Miller (USA); Benjamin Barnett / Braedon Cooke (BER); Carlos Andrés Ayala / Inés Lares (MEX2)

WOMEN’S POOLS

POOL A: Susana Torres / Abril Flores (MEX); Karla Tovar / Daniela Vigil (ESA); Kinsley Taylor / Sophia Peifer (ISV)

POOL B: Paloma Bowman / Michelle Shaffer (USA); Paola Alvarado / Marisabel González (GUA); Kailin Garrido / Maykelin Drik (CUB)

POOL C:  Darby Dunn / Alison McKay (CAN); Socorro López / Lolette Rodríguez (NCA); Crismil Paniagua / Yari Cleto (DOM2)

POOL D: Julibeth Payano / Bethania Almanzar (DOM); Aliza Aguilar / Laura Molina (CRC); Anna Prokofieva / Claire Crossfield (CAN2); Anna Sofía Cepek / Ana Sofía Juárez (MEX2)