Alkass English
International Padel Federation (FIP) President Luigi Carraro has described Doha’s hosting of the 2026 Padel World Cup as a landmark moment for the sport, praising Qatar’s organizational excellence and its proven ability to stage major international sporting events.
Carraro highlighted the significance of the tournament, describing it as the biggest and most important event in the history of padel. He said the participation of national teams from all five continents reflected the sport’s rapid international growth and its expanding global following.
Carraro also praised Qatar’s contribution to the development of padel, describing the country as a home for the sport. He paid tribute to HE Nasser bin Ghanim Al Khelaifi, President of the Qatar Padel Federation, for his continued support and efforts in helping bring the tournament to life.
This year’s competition features 32 national teams representing 20 countries, bringing together some of the world's highest-ranked male and female players. The tournament also boasts a record €1.2 million prize fund, the largest in padel history, with the amount divided equally between the men's and women's competitions.
According to Carraro, the equal distribution of prize money underlines the FIP's commitment to gender equality and ensuring equal opportunities for athletes across both competitions.
Addressing the participating players, Carraro encouraged them to embrace the occasion, perform to the best of their abilities and demonstrate the highest standards of fair play and sportsmanship throughout the tournament.
He also reminded competitors of the significance of representing their respective countries, noting that they were among the top 256 players selected from a global community of more than 40 million padel participants.
Carraro described their presence at the World Cup as both a tremendous honour and an important responsibility, urging them to compete with passion, respect their opponents and match officials, and uphold the values that continue to drive the sport's growth worldwide.