Wisconsin Foosball State Championships Brings Tabletop Classic Superstars to Appleton

The four-day tournament at Mad Apple Billiards features competitive foosball players, including world champions, looking to earn cash and have fun.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 8:19pm

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The 2026 Wisconsin Foosball State Championships, a four-day tournament held at Mad Apple Billiards in Appleton, Wisconsin, brought together competitive foosball players of all skill levels, including several world champions, to compete for cash prizes and enjoy the tabletop classic game.

Why it matters

Foosball, a game that can unite people of all ages and skill levels, is gaining popularity as a competitive sport, with tournaments like the Wisconsin Foosball State Championships showcasing the game's potential to build community, promote inclusivity, and provide opportunities for personal growth, especially for young people.

The details

The tournament featured numerous events, from beginner to expert levels, allowing players with varying experience to compete. One of the notable competitors was Sullivan Rue, a legendary women's foosball player with five straight Women's Open Doubles titles and the reigning Women's Open Champion for Singles and Doubles play. Michael Stahl, the Executive Director of Foosball Clubs USA, a nationwide non-profit, also attended the event, praising the tournament's inclusivity and efforts to encourage the creation of foosball clubs in schools.

  • The 2026 Wisconsin Foosball State Championships kicked off on March 19 and ran until March 22.
  • The tournament was held on the third day, Saturday, March 21.

The players

Sullivan Rue

A legendary women's foosball player with five straight Women's Open Doubles titles and the reigning Women's Open Champion for Singles and Doubles play.

Michael Stahl

The Executive Director of Foosball Clubs USA, a nationwide non-profit that donates foosball tables to schools and provides programming to promote the sport.

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What they’re saying

“There's a huge player base and they're super kind. It's a good thing for the sport. Everybody's been so welcoming. I came here and people came up to me and said, 'Welcome to Wisconsin!'”

— Sullivan Rue

“I love this tournament, the promoters do a great job with junior events. They're inclusive with women and young people, so it's a really great and well-run event that's been intentional from the beginning.”

— Michael Stahl, Executive Director of Foosball Clubs USA

What’s next

The 2026 Wisconsin Foosball State Championships will conclude on Sunday, March 22, with the final events and the crowning of the champions.

The takeaway

The Wisconsin Foosball State Championships showcases the growing popularity of foosball as a competitive sport that can bring together people of all ages and skill levels, promoting inclusivity, community, and personal growth, especially for young people, through the unique combination of socialization and physicality that the game offers.