27 National Teams Compete in World Padel Cup Qualifiers in Kuwait

The Asian and African World Cup 2026 squash qualifying tournaments kicked off today, featuring 27 national teams—14 men’s teams and 13 women’s teams—to determine the qualifiers for the finals scheduled in the Qatari capital, Doha, from November 2 to 7. The qualifiers will run until October 30 and are organized by the Kuwait Squash Club in cooperation with the International Squash Federation (ISF) and BNK, with matches hosted at the courts of Oro Squash Club and Squash One, as part of the pathway to the World Championship that brings together elite national teams in the sport.

Participating Teams: The qualifiers feature 14 men’s teams divided into four groups, each competing for a single qualification spot. 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 features Japan, Bahrain, Morocco, and Tunisia. In the women’s category, 13 teams are split into four groups, competing for two qualification spots. 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 Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and Indonesia.

Competition Format: Abdelrahman Burhamah, manager of the national squash team, explained that the qualifiers follow a group stage format, where teams face each other within their groups before advancing to knockout rounds that determine the teams qualifying for the World Cup. Kuwait’s qualifiers aim to secure the last available men’s spot and two women’s spots. Burhamah called on sports fans to attend and support the Kuwaiti national team, which plays at home in front of its supporters on its journey to the World Championship, and thanked all sponsors and patrons supporting the national team across various events and tournaments.

Team Rankings: The men’s national team entered the qualifiers in the third tier, while the women’s team was placed in the fourth tier. Both teams held an internal training camp ahead of the qualifiers to prepare and strive for qualification to represent Kuwait at this global event.

Host Nation: Kuwait’s hosting of these continental qualifiers reflects the country’s standing and demonstrates the growth of squash in the nation, as well as the capability of local cadres to organize international tournaments.

World Cup Finals: The World Cup squash finals will be held in Doha from November 2 to 7, featuring 32 teams—16 men’s and 16 women’s—with the full list of participants to be finalized after the conclusion of the Asian and African qualifiers in Kuwait.