FIS plans a limited-field World Cup Final from 2027/28, and a roller-ski stage is on the table

Analysis · Published · Updated

The way the Cross-Country World Cup ends is likely to change. At the FIS Autumn Meetings in Geneva, the Cross-Country World Cup subcommittee discussed a new World Cup Final concept, built around the Crystal Globes, from the 2027/28 season. It also received a proposal from Italy’s ski federation for a World Cup stage on roller skis. Neither idea is final, but both would change what fans watch at the end of a season and when the season can take place.

The World Cup Final concept

According to FIS, the plan is to tell one clear story around the big Crystal Globe for the Overall World Cup and to make the final a stage event with something to race for every day. The key points FIS has published:

  • The Overall title stays central. The Sprint and Distance World Cups could be decided and awarded before the closing weekend. The Overall World Cup might still be open going into the final.
  • A separate World Cup Final ranking, with Overall World Cup points and prize money.
  • A limited start field based on the Overall World Cup standings, with extra places for the reigning Junior and U23 world champions and for Continental Cup leaders or winners.
  • Possibly wild cards, which would let athletes who don’t race the World Cup take part.

FIS says it will present the details in spring 2027. It hasn’t yet said how big the field would be, which venue would host it or which formats it would use.

A World Cup stage on roller skis

Italy’s federation, FISI, has proposed a “summer stage” on roller skis for the World Cup calendar. FISI cites global warming and the difficulties organisers face in hosting races. It also points to the low cost and sustainability of an event that needs no technical snow and no ski wax. FISI wants a slot in the calendar that gives athletes, teams, media and other stakeholders enough time to prepare.

FIS says different ways of integrating roller skiing were already explored in summer 2026. The topic still needs to be assessed from a sporting, commercial and broadcasting point of view. The proposal has been passed to the Cross-Country Committee for further evaluation.

Also on the agenda

  • Race formats. Talks about how cross-country formats should develop will continue, with concrete proposals due in spring 2027. FIS lists the goals as better racing dynamics, more position changes, more unpredictability, more head-to-head racing and team events.
  • Rule changes. The Cross-Country Committee supported allowing the jury not to apply the overlapping rule in World Cup stage events, along with a more precise rank penalty. Both changes have been sent to the FIS Council for final approval.

What it would change

The last weekend would mean something different. This season still ends the traditional way. Ulricehamn (SWE) hosts the last three races on 19–21 March 2027: a 10 km Interval Start Free, a Sprint Free and a 20 km Mass Start Classic, with the usual World Cup field. A limited-field final would replace that with an event closer to the season finales other sports use. Alpine skiing has long run a World Cup Final with a reduced field.

Fewer starters, more at stake per start. A field based on the Overall standings rewards skiers who race the whole season. That favours all-rounders over specialists who skip races. The extra places for junior, U23 and Continental Cup athletes, and any wild cards, would give a few skiers from outside the World Cup a high-profile start. How many places, and how they are shared between nations, will decide how fair the field feels. FIS hasn’t published that yet.

Roller skiing is the bigger cultural step. Elite skiers already train on roller skis for much of the year, and roller-ski racing has its own FIS competitions. Putting World Cup points on a summer race would be new. The questions FIS itself lists (sport, commercial, broadcasting) are the right ones. For fans, the main one is whether a summer stage would count towards the same globes as the winter races. FIS hasn’t said.

We’ll report the details when FIS presents them in spring 2027.