USPA Celebrates Record-Breaking Season At U.S. Open Polo Championship

The Sport of Kings is more popular and exciting than ever as the action unfolds in Palm Beach.

The U.S. Open Polo Championship Final at the USPA National Polo Center in Palm Beach County recently wrapped up a record-breaking American high-goal polo season, bringing even more fans to the thrilling, fast-paced “sport of kings.” Supported by U.S. Polo Assn., the official brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), the tournament drew 11 elite teams and many of the sport’s top players to compete for the most coveted title in American polo.

When the final whistle sounded, Team Pilot defeated BTA, backed by Texas oilwoman Kelly Beal, 15-10 to claim the championship. The winning side featured team patron Curtis Pilot alongside top-ranked professionals Mackenzie Weisz, Camilo “Jeta” Castagnola, and Lorenzo Chavanne. The victory followed Team Pilot’s triumph in the 2026 USPA Gold Cup, giving them two of the season’s most important and prestigious trophies. 

Established in 1904, the U.S. Open Polo Championship remains most prestigious title in American polo and one of the most important tournaments on the international calendar. The event serves as the final leg of the Gauntlet of Polo, which also includes the C.V. Whitney Cup and the USPA Gold Cup. Together, the three tournaments attract the top teams, patrons, and professionals to the USPA National Polo Center in Wellington, just outside Palm Beach, each season.

Among the competitors during the 2026 campaign were some of polo’s biggest international stars, including 10-goal standouts Adolfo Cambiaso, Poroto Cambiaso, Hilario Ulloa, Tomas Panelo, and brothers Jeta and Barto Castagnola. They were joined by top professionals such as Jesse Bray, Lorenzo Chavanne, Mackenzie Weisz, Rufino Merlos, Nico Escobar, and Timmy Dutta, representing one of the strongest fields assembled during the American season.

Luxury sponsors also played a prominent role throughout the championship, including elite Swiss watchmaker Jaeger-LeCoultre. The company has maintained close ties to polo for nearly a century through its iconic Reverso wristwatch collection with its famous reversible case, originally developed in 1931 for polo players seeking a watch capable of withstanding the rigors of the sport.

For more than 135 years, the United States Polo Association has governed and promoted polo in the United States. Founded in 1890, the organization sanctions tournaments, supports clubs, develops players, and works to grow the sport nationwide. Its influence extends beyond the field through U.S. Polo Assn., the organization’s official brand and one of the world’s largest licensed sports brands. Believed to have originated in Persia more than 2,000 years ago as a training exercise for cavalry units, polo spread across Asia before being adopted by British officers in India during the 19th century and eventually developing into the modern international sport played today.

The U.S. Polo Assn. meanwhile has also expanded into a global lifestyle business with a presence in more than 190 countries and thousands of retail locations worldwide, and racked up a record $2.7 billion in retail sales last year. The brand’s product portfolio now includes apparel, footwear, watches, eyewear, handbags, luggage, accessories, and home furnishings, with everything from polo shirts to its own brand of rosé. Through a growing network of stores, retail partnerships, e-commerce platforms, and licensing agreements, U.S. Polo Assn. has “become one of the most visible names in sports-inspired fashion while maintaining a direct connection to the sport that inspired it.”

That connection is evident throughout the polo season. As the Official Sports Brand of the USPA, U.S. Polo Assn. supports tournaments, players, clubs, and charitable initiatives tied to the sport. During the 2026 season, the brand also contributed to polo and equine-focused charities selected by finalist teams competing in the sport’s leading events. Its gorgeous ad campaigns feature actual polo players rather than just masquerading models. During the championship the USPA’s brand shop attracted dozens of stylish spectators who also convened for the popular Sunday brunches. 

At the highest levels, polo is an impressive display of wealth, determination and skill. Each player often maintains a string of eight to twelve highly trained polo ponies during major tournaments, rotating horses throughout a match to maximize performance. Each match typically encompasses six “chukkers,” each lasting about 7½ minutes of play. Competing at this level requires substantial investment in breeding, training, transportation, veterinary care, facilities, and support staff, making high-goal polo one of the most demanding disciplines in equestrian sport.

Those efforts converge each winter and spring at the USPA National Polo Center in Wellington. The facility hosts the country’s most prominent polo tournaments and draws players, patrons, sponsors, and spectators from around the world. Its championship fields, stadium venue, hospitality facilities, and support infrastructure have helped establish Wellington as one of the sport’s major annual gathering places. A single regulation polo field is equals roughly seven football fields in area, and the Polo Center’s immaculate grounds are adjacent to the posh Palm Beach Polo & Country Club and surrounded by elite polo farms, private stables, and international equestrian venues that draw competitors and spectators from around the world. 

Beyond the competition, Championship Sunday combined sport, hospitality, and entertainment. Tennis legend Bob Bryan delivered the ceremonial coin toss, while Nashville recording artist Abbey Cone performed the National Anthem and entertained guests throughout the day. Fans participated in the traditional halftime divot stomp and explored a variety of retail and lifestyle activations, including the USPA Shop and various other polo-themed activities, with some patrons booking coveted tailgating spots.

“From a record-breaking season at the USPA National Polo Center to one of the most anticipated championship finals in the sport of polo, the U.S. Open Polo Championship continues to raise the bar for our sport in the United States and around the world,” says J. Michael Prince, President and CEO of USPA Global, the company that manages the U.S. Polo Assn. brand. With record attendance, international exposure, elite competition, and continued growth for U.S. Polo Assn., the 2026 U.S. Open Polo Championship Final reflected both the strength of American polo and the expanding reach of the sport’s official global brand.