Start of World Cup Padel Qualifiers with 27 National Teams Participating

The Asian and African World Padel Championship 2026 qualifiers kicked off yesterday in the country, featuring 27 national teams—14 men’s and 13 women’s—to determine the squads advancing to the finals scheduled in the Qatari capital, Doha, from November 2 to 7.

The qualifiers will run until next Friday and are organized by the Padel Club in collaboration with the International Padel Federation (FIP) and BNK. Matches will be held at the courts of the Oro Padel and Padel Inn clubs, as part of the qualification pathway for the global tournament that brings together elite national teams in the sport.

Abdulrahman Burhamah, manager of the national padel team, stated that 14 men’s teams are participating, divided into four groups. Group A includes Australia, Lebanon, and the Philippines; Group B comprises Egypt, Senegal, and Indonesia; Group C features the national team, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, and Pakistan; and Group D consists of Japan, Bahrain, Morocco, and Tunisia. The teams will compete for a single qualification spot.

Burhamah told KUNA that in the women’s category, 13 teams are participating, also divided into four groups. Group A includes Japan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia; Group B comprises Egypt, Lebanon, and Bahrain; Group C features the Philippines, Senegal, and Tunisia; and Group D consists of the national team, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. The teams will compete for two qualification spots.

He explained that the competition follows a group stage format, where teams face their group opponents before advancing to knockout rounds that will determine the qualifiers for the World Cup. The teams participating in Kuwait’s qualifiers are competing for the last available men’s spot and two women’s spots.

Burhamah noted that the men’s team entered the qualifiers ranked third, while the women’s team was ranked fourth. Both teams completed an internal training camp prior to the tournament in preparation for the qualifiers, aiming to qualify and represent the country at this global event.

He emphasized that hosting these continental qualifiers reflects the elevated status of padel and the capability of national cadres to organize international tournaments.

Burhamah called on sports fans to attend and support the national team, which is playing on home soil before its own supporters, in its journey toward the World Cup. He thanked all sponsors and supporters of the national team for their backing across various events and tournaments.

The World Padel Championship finals are scheduled to take place in Doha from November 2 to 7, featuring 32 teams—16 men’s and 16 women’s. The final list of participants will be completed following the conclusion of the Asian and African qualifiers in Kuwait.