CrossFit eliminates online qualification for teams in 2027

CrossFit has announced the structure for the 2027 season, and one change stands out immediately: teams will no longer be able to qualify for the CrossFit Games online. The familiar Online Semifinal for teams is disappearing from the calendar entirely.

Under the new system, teams will still enter through the CrossFit Open, but the path to the Games will run exclusively through physical, in-person competitions. A global leaderboard will be introduced, where teams can accumulate points.

The change is notable because online qualification was precisely what made the process accessible for teams outside the United States. For Dutch and Belgian team athletes, this means they will be required to compete at a live event to have any chance of reaching the Games.

CrossFit has not yet published the full details of the new qualification system. Dutch teams competing at a serious level would do well to keep a close eye on upcoming announcements from CrossFit.