Start of 'World Padel' Qualifiers

The Asian and African World Padel Cup 2026 qualifiers kicked off yesterday in the country, featuring 27 national teams—14 men’s and 13 women’s—to determine which squads will advance to the finals scheduled in the Qatari capital, Doha, from November 2 to 7. The qualifying tournament runs until October 30 and is organized by the Padel Club in collaboration with the International Padel Federation (FIP) and BNK, with matches hosted at the courts of the Oro Padel and Padle IN clubs, as part of the qualification pathway to the global championship that brings together the elite national teams in the sport.

Abdulrahman Burhamah, manager of the Kuwaiti national padel team, said the men’s competition features 14 teams divided into four groups: Group A includes Australia, Lebanon, and the Philippines; Group B comprises Egypt, Senegal, and Indonesia; Group C consists of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, and Pakistan; and Group D includes Japan, Bahrain, Morocco, and Tunisia, with each group competing for a single qualification spot.

He added that the women’s competition involves 13 teams spread across four groups: Group A features Japan, Oman, and Saudi Arabia; Group B includes Egypt, Lebanon, and Bahrain; Group C comprises the Philippines, Senegal, and Tunisia; and Group D consists of Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and Indonesia, with two qualification spots at stake.

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

He noted that the Kuwaiti men’s team entered the qualifiers ranked third, while the women’s team was ranked fourth. Both teams completed an internal training camp ahead of the qualifiers, aiming to qualify and represent Kuwait at this global event.

Emphasizing that Kuwait’s hosting of these continental qualifiers reflects the growing stature of padel in the country and the capability of local organizers to host international tournaments, Burhamah called on sports fans to attend and support the Kuwaiti national team as it plays on home soil before its home crowd in its quest to reach the world championship. He thanked all sponsors and supporters of the Kuwaiti national team for their backing across various international events and tournaments.