The spotlight will fall on Qatar today as the FIP World Cup 2026 gets underway at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, bringing together the world’s leading padel nations for six days of high-level competition.
The prestigious championship, scheduled from November 2 to 7, will feature 32 national teams, comprising 16 men’s and 16 women’s sides, competing for global supremacy and a record prize fund of €1.2m.
Organised by the International Padel Federation (FIP) in collaboration with the Qatar Tennis Federation, the tournament further strengthens Doha’s growing reputation as a premier destination for major international sporting events.
Hosts Qatar will be hoping to capitalise on home advantage as they face Portugal, Chile and Germany in Group C of the men’s competition.
Defending champions Argentina and traditional powerhouse Spain are among the leading contenders for the men’s title, while Italy, France and Portugal are also expected to mount strong challenges.
In the women’s competition, reigning champions Spain will enter as favourites, with Argentina, Italy and Portugal among the nations seeking to challenge their dominance.
The tournament will begin with the group stage from November 2 to 4, with teams divided into four groups of four in each competition.
The top two teams from each group will progress to the quarter-finals on November 5, followed by the semi-finals on November 6.
The championship will reach its climax on November 7, when the men’s and women’s finals will crown the world champions.
With some of the sport’s biggest names expected to represent their countries, spectators can look forward to thrilling encounters, intense rivalries and world-class performances throughout the week.
The event also provides Qatar with another opportunity to showcase its organisational capabilities and commitment to promoting padel, one of the fastest-growing racket sports worldwide.
