Forget football, US just beat Belgium to win Quidditch World Cup 2018 as Harry caught the 'snitch'

United States may not be playing in the FIFA World Cup 2018, but they have just secured a world title of their own- in Quidditch. 

While football fans may be marvelling at the wizardry of players at the FIFA World Cup 2018 in Russia, the United States swept to victory on Sunday in a much more magical contest - the Quidditch World Cup. 

The final of the Quidditch World Cup, based on the game dreamt up in JK Rowling's Harry Potter books, took place in the in the Italian city of Florence, more than 6000 km away from Moscow. 

More than 800 players from as far afield as Iceland and Hong Kong took part in the tournament - the largest yet staged in the muggle (or nomaj) universe.

In the real-life game, two teams of seven players run around with broomsticks between their legs and engage in a full-contact, co-ed contest with elements of rugby, dodgeball and wrestling.

In the early rounds it was favourites USA and Australia who set the pace in the groups stages, played in sweltering temperatures.

In the first semi-finals USA beat Britain for a place in the final for the fourth time. Belgium became first-time finalists after beating Turkey.

The USA won the match 120 to 70, after Harry Greenhouse grabbed the 'snitch' within minutes of it coming onto the field, tied to the back of another player.

USA wins gold after defeating Belgium in the championship match @QuidditchWC2018. Read more at: https://t.co/8tQ7ypK1gS #RedeemTeam2018 #IQAWorldCup18 Photo by: Miguel Esparza pic.twitter.com/3NE8aTJXBM

— US National Quidditch Team (@USAQuidditch) July 2, 2018

The first World Cup was held in Oxford in England back in 2012, when the USA took top honours. The team took the title again in 2014, but Australia caught the snitch to snatch victory two years ago in Frankfurt, Germany. 

(With Reuters inputs)