Alkass English
Doha, Qatar: Doha is set to host the FIP World Cup Qatar 2026 from November 2 to 7 at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, with preparations for the prestigious international padel tournament now complete, according to the Qatar Padel Federation.
The championship will bring together 32 national teams, with 16 competing in the men's category and 16 in the women's category, featuring some of the world's leading padel players.
Following successful editions in 2021 and 2024, Qatar is preparing to stage the tournament for a third time, further reinforcing its reputation as a leading destination for major international sporting events.
Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation (QTSBF) Secretary-General and Tournament Director Tariq Darwish Zainal confirmed that all organizational and logistical preparations had been finalized.
Zainal emphasized Qatar's extensive experience in hosting international competitions, highlighting the expertise gained by local organizing teams through previous editions and other major sporting events.
He also underlined Qatar's commitment to developing padel across the region and Asia, noting that the country's annual Premier Padel tournament continues to attract the world's top players and strengthen its presence on the international sporting calendar.
Turning to the host nation's prospects, Zainal expressed confidence in Qatar's national team, which ranks among the world's top 10. The team enters the championship following its historic gold-medal triumph at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games in Japan, where padel made its Asian Games debut.
Zainal acknowledged the strength of the participating nations but stressed Qatar's ambition to deliver a competitive performance and achieve a strong finish on home soil.
Meanwhile, QTSBF Executive Director Saad Al Mohannadi confirmed that the tournament courts had been fully prepared, with tickets available online through official platforms to accommodate local and international spectators.
Al Mohannadi also highlighted the International Padel Federation's (FIP) decision to award Qatar hosting rights for both the 2026 and 2028 editions, describing it as recognition of the country's world-class sporting infrastructure and organizational expertise.
A total of 15 national teams have qualified in each category, with the remaining places to be determined through the joint African and Asian qualifiers in Kuwait from October 26 to 30.
In the men's competition, the confirmed teams are Qatar, defending champions Argentina, Spain, Portugal, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, France, Chile, Sweden, the United States, Mexico, Paraguay, the Netherlands and Germany.
The women's competition will feature Qatar, Spain, Argentina, Italy, Portugal, the Netherlands, Sweden, France, Brazil, Belgium, the United States, Paraguay, Chile, Germany and Great Britain.
The official draw and group allocations will be announced following the conclusion of the qualifiers, which will determine the final team in each category.
With preparations complete and the world's leading national teams set to compete, Doha is ready to deliver another major international padel championship, further strengthening Qatar's position on the global sporting stage.