2026 U20 worlds breakdowns and predictions

[zzs006]

Here is my annual breakdown of the upcoming U20 worlds. It’s my very favorite tournament of the year and it should be incredible with the USA, Iran, Russia, and Japan all sending tough teams. It will take me a bit to post every weight but I’ll have it done before the tournament starts

I hope everyone enjoys this thread and that it helps come tournament time. A lot of the names blur together for me looking at the brackets so it’s always helped me to go back and have this as a resource

There are a ton of US kids representing other countries and I’ll try to include them in my weight class breakdowns. I’m sure I’ll miss some so let me know and I’ll try to add them in

Enjoy!

 

[vhsalum]

 

[zzs006]

57kg

US rep-Isaiah Cortez
Freshman at Cornell, was #16 on FLO’s 2025 big board
2024-U20 worlds Greco-2nd
2025-U20 worlds Greco-9th
2026-U20 us open champion

Contenders-

Ulugbek Rashidov-UZB
2024-U17 Asians-1st, U17 worlds-1st
2025-U17 Asians-2nd, U17 worlds-2nd, Asian youth games-1st
2026-U20 Asians-1st

Magomed Ozdamirov-RUS
2025-U20 Euros-3rd, U20 worlds-1st
2026-U20 Euros-1st

Yamato Ogawa-JPN
2023-U17 worlds-1st
2025-Empores cup-1st

Darkhorse-

Arman Elahi-IRI
2024-U15 Asians-1st
2025-Asian youth games-2nd
2026-U17 Asians-1st, U17 worlds-3rd

or

Sina Boustani-IRI
2025-U17 worlds-2nd, Asian youth games-5th

Muhammad Ismayilov-AZE
2024-U17 euros-1st, U17 worlds-10th
2026-U20 Euros-3rd

Ebubekir Gur-TUR
2023-U17 Euros-3rd, U17 worlds-3rd
2026-U20 Euros-2nd

Depth-

Dunia Sibomana-CON
Freshman at UNC
3X NY state champ
2026-senior African championships-1st

Pretty weak weight overall. Not a ton of depth at all but some good high level talent. I’m not sure if Ozdamirov will be the Russian rep but he did win this tournament last year and Euros this year. Rashidov has won at every level he’s competed at. Ogawa is the guy I’m most interested in. Not many results but the ones he has are elite. Iran has 2 guys listed but whoever ends up going can compete for a medal. I think Cortez is very good but not great. I like his chances to medal but don’t see him getting on the top of the podium

Predictions-

Gold-Yamato Ogawa-JPN
Silver-Ulugbek Rashidov-UZB
Bronze-Magomed Ozdamirov-RUS
Bronze-Isaiah Cortez-USA

 

[zzs006]

61kg

US rep-Aaron Seidel
Sophomore at VaTech
2026-3rd at NCAA’s at 133
Fargo champ
3X PA state champ
206-4 overall hs record

Contenders-

Bekassyl Assambek-KAZ
2024-U17 Asians-2nd, U17 worlds-9th
2025-U17 Asians-1st, U17 worlds-3rd, Asian youth games-1st
2026-U20 Asians-1st

Ahora Khateri-IRI
2023-U17 asians-1st, U17 worlds-1st
2024-U17 worlds-8th
2025-U20 worlds-2nd (lost to Blaze 10-0), 1st ranking series-5th
2026-Ulaanbaater open-3rd

Darkhorse-

Itsuki Yonashiro-JPN
2024-U17 worlds-3rd

Frederick Bachmann-PUR
Iowa commit
#3 on 2028 Flo big board
2024-U17 pan-ams-1st, U17 worlds-2nd
2025-U17 pan-ams-1st, U17 worlds-16th
2026-U23 pan-and-5th

Jamal Abbasov-AZE
2023-U17 euros-1st, U17 worlds-3rd
2024-U20 euros-2nd, U20 worlds-8th
2026-U20 Euros-2nd

Gagik Ghazaryan-ARM
2024-U17 euros-1st, U17 worlds-5th
2026-U20 Euros-3rd


Zelimkhan Chaniev-RUS
No results on UWW
Only thing I found is that he won the U20 Russian tournament and is from Dagestan

Depth-

Moses Mendoza-MEX
Freshman at Michigan
#11 on FLO’s 2026 big board
CA state champ
2026-U20 pan-ams-2nd

The second straight weight without much depth but some good top level talent. I think Seidel is the favorite with Khateri and Assambek as his main challenger's. Abbasov can maybe get into the conversation as well. Bachmann is very good but I can’t see him putting together a complete tournament. Podium is definitely possible but I don’t see him on top. The wildcards are Yonashiro and Chaniev. Japan has been killing it at the lower weights at all the age levels and to make the team in Russia you have to be elite

Predictions-

Gold-Aaron Seidel-USA
Silver-Ahora Khateri-IRI
Bronze-Bekassyl Assambek-KAZ
Bronze-Itsuki Yonashiro-JPN

 

[Corby2]

61kg

US rep-Aaron Seidel
Sophomore at VaTech
2026-3rd at NCAA’s at 133
Fargo champ
3X PA state champ
206-4 overall hs record

Contenders-

Bekassyl Assambek-KAZ
2024-U17 Asians-2nd, U17 worlds-9th
2025-U17 Asians-1st, U17 worlds-3rd, Asian youth games-1st
2026-U20 Asians-1st

Ahora Khateri-IRI
2023-U17 asians-1st, U17 worlds-1st
2024-U17 worlds-8th
2025-U20 worlds-2nd (lost to Blaze 10-0), 1st ranking series-5th
2026-Ulaanbaater open-3rd

Darkhorse-

Itsuki Yonashiro-JPN
2024-U17 worlds-3rd

Frederick Bachmann-PUR
Iowa commit
#3 on 2028 Flo big board
2024-U17 pan-ams-1st, U17 worlds-2nd
2025-U17 pan-ams-1st, U17 worlds-16th
2026-U23 pan-and-5th

Jamal Abbasov-AZE
2023-U17 euros-1st, U17 worlds-3rd
2024-U20 euros-2nd, U20 worlds-8th
2026-U20 Euros-2nd

Gagik Ghazaryan-ARM
2024-U17 euros-1st, U17 worlds-5th
2026-U20 Euros-3rd


Zelimkhan Chaniev-RUS
No results on UWW
Only thing I found is that he won the U20 Russian tournament and is from Dagestan

Depth-

Moses Mendoza-MEX
Freshman at Michigan
#11 on FLO’s 2026 big board
CA state champ
2026-U20 pan-ams-2nd

The second straight weight without much depth but some good top level talent. I think Seidel is the favorite with Khateri and Assambek as his main challenger's. Abbasov can maybe get into the conversation as well. Bachmann is very good but I can’t see him putting together a complete tournament. Podium is definitely possible but I don’t see him on top. The wildcards are Yonashiro and Chaniev. Japan has been killing it at the lower weights at all the age levels and to make the team in Russia you have to be elite

Predictions-

Gold-Aaron Seidel-USA
Silver-Ahora Khateri-IRI
Bronze-Bekassyl Assambek-KAZ
Bronze-Itsuki Yonashiro-JPN

Agree I don't see anyone beating Seidel here. 57 kg is probably a 50/50 on getting a medal he will be draw dependent

 

[zzs006]

65kg

US rep- Bo Bassett
Freshman at VaTech
4X PA state champ
4X super 32 champ
2021-cadet worlds-1st
2024-U20 pan-ams-1st, U20 worlds-3rd
2026-U20 pan-ams-1st, in Final X to make the senior team

Darkhorse-

Ali Tathashtikeh-IRI
2025-U20 worlds-15th. Lost first match 10-9 to eventual 5th placer

Isa Isakov-KGZ
2026-U20 Asians-1st

Maxim Didov-MDA
2025-U17 euros-19th, U17 worlds-7th, U20 euros-3rd
2026-U20 euros-1st

Takuto Osedo-JPN
2022-U17 worlds-5th
2025-U20 worlds-12th

Bashir Verdiyev-AZE
2022-U17 worlds-2nd
2023-U17 euros-7th, U17 worlds-14th
2024-U20 worlds-10th
2025-U20 euros-5th
2026-U20 euros-3rd

Karson Brown-CAN
OhSt commit
4X OH state champ
#59 on mat scouts 2026 big board
2025-U20 pan-ams-3rd, U20 worlds-13th

Zalimkhan Umarov-RUS

Depth-

Khizir Dasiyev-FRA
2023-U17 euros-12th, U17 worlds-5th
2024-U20 euros-5th, U20 worlds-9th
2026-U20 euros-3rd

Sanjarbek Anvarbekov-UZB
2024-U17 Asians-5th
2026-U20 asians-3rd

Aren Hayrapetyan-ARM
2023-U17 worlds-14th
2026-U20 euros-2nd

Yeraly Askerbek-KAZ
2024-U17 Asians-3rd, U17 worlds-9th
2025-U17 worlds-5th, Asian youth games-3rd

Yandel Morales-PUR
Freshman at Mizzou
2023-U17 pan-ams-2nd, U17 worlds-9th
2026-U20 pan-ams-3rd

Zorab Aloiev-UKR
2025-U17 euros-1st, U17 worlds-7th
2026-U20 euros-12th. Was injured first match

65 kg is the complete opposite of the first 2 weights. Tons of depth but barely any truly top level talent. Bassett should cruise to a title. I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t win this weight. The next group of guys is huge so the draw will be super important. I could see Tathashtikeh, Osedo, Isakov, Dimov, Brown, and Umarov all making a run and getting on the podium. Aloiev is a guy that can go far if he’s healthy. Morales is a US kid who wrestled his senior year at Lake Highland Prep. He’s had pretty good results. Last year many on this board said look out for Karson Brown. He didn’t end up having a great tournament but I think he can get on the podium. Predicting this weight after Bassett I might as well just pick names out of a hat.

Predictions-

Gold-Bo Bassett-USA
Silver-Zalimkhan Umarov-RUS
Bronze-Isa Isakov-KGZ
Bronze-Ali Tathashtikeh-IRI
5th-Karson Brown-CAN
5th-Takuto Osedo-JPN

 

[zzs006]

70kg

US Rep-Landon Robideau
Sophomore at OkSt
2025 NCAA champion at 157
3X Minnesota state champ
283-6 hs record
Fargo champ
Super 32 champ
WNO winner

Contenders-

Sina Khalili-IRI
2023-U17 Asians-1st, U17 worlds-1st
2025-1st ranking series-2nd, senior Asians-3rd, U23 worlds-2nd
2026-Zagreb open-1st, senior Asians-3rd
Irans senior rep at 2026 worlds

Haji Karimov-AZE
2021-cadet worlds-9th
2023-U17 euros-1st
2025-U20 euros-9th
2026-U20 euros-1st

Sumit Bharaskar-IND
2026-U20 Asians-1st

Darkhorses-

Zalkarbek Tabaldiev-KGZ
2022-U17 worlds-8th
2024-U20 worlds-16th
2025-U20 Asians-3rd, U20 worlds-15th
2026-Muhamet Malo-3rd, U23 Asians-2nd

Bayssangour Bitzmurzaev-FRA
2025-U17 euros-5th
2026-U20 euros-2nd

Sungkar Seidakhmet-KAZ
2025-U20 Asians-7th, U20 worlds-7th
2026-U20 Asians-2nd

Ankh Altengerel-MGL
2023-U17 Asians-7th, U17 worlds-15th
2024-U20 Asians-5th, U20 worlds-7th
2025-Ulaabaatar open-7th, U20 Asians-5th
2026-U23 asians-3rd

Mairbek Merov-Russia
2026- Russian Junior champion

Depth-

Takuto Matsubara-JPN
2024-U20 Asians-3rd

Ionut Triboi-MDA
2023-U17 euros-9th
2026-U20 euros-3rd

Remzi Temur-TUR
2023-U17 euros-2nd, U17 worlds-18th
2025-U20 euros-5th
2026-senior euros-8th, U20 euros-8th

Victor Soto-PUR
2026-Senior pan-ams-2nd (lost to Lovett), U23 pan-ams-3rd (lost to Jordan Williams 5-3)

70kg is the best weight so far. It has good depth and truly top end guys as well. I think Khalili is the favorite but Robideau can absolutely win it all. Khalili has been successful at every age level and has some monster wins lately. At Zagreb he beat Abhimanyou, Ian Parker, and Kemertelidze. He has split with Tumur Ochir in their last 2 matches. He also has an 8-2 win over Gaidarli who Duke beat in the U20 finals last year. He has to be considered the favorite going in. He is also Irans 70kg rep for senior worlds.

Robideau continues to get better every time out. He wrestled Zain tough and has looked good on the senior level. At U20’s he dominated. I expected Melvin to give him a tougher go but Robideau owns that series.

After those 2 it’s a pretty big group of guys fighting to get on the podium. Karimov won U20 euros while Bharaskar won U20 Asians. Tabaldiev and Altengerel have both competed a ton with pretty good results. They have been wrestling up at U23’s and seniors so should be well prepared for this level of competition. Seidakhmet and Bitzmurzaev are capable of going on a run and wrestling for a medal. Merov is an unknown but will undoubtedly be tough and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Matsubara surprise as well.

Predictions-

Gold-Sina Khalili-IRI
Silver-Landon Robideau-USA
Bronze-Haji Karimov-AZE
Bronze-Zalkarbek Tabaldiev-KGZ