CUPRA strengthens its commitment to the next generation with Gamechangers: an international padel contest aimed at discovering the sport’s future stars

• In collaboration with the world’s top padel players and the International Padel Federation (FIP), the contest seeks new talent aged 15 to 24
• The circuit kicks off in late June across eight cities, with four players from each stop advancing to the grand final in Barcelona at the end of 2025
• CUPRA will award a game-changing scholarship to two male and two female padel players to help boost their careers
• Registrations are now open via the CUPRA website for each of the eight international stops, starting in June with Bordeaux P2 (France)
• Following the success of The Dream Makers short film contest, Gamechangers reaffirms CUPRA’s commitment to the next generation by identifying and elevating young padel talent, while promoting a more global and diverse sport

Barcelona, 11.06.25. – CUPRA reinforces its commitment to young talent with the launch of Gamechangers, a global contest to boost young padel talent aged between 15 and 24. In collaboration with the CUPRA Padel Tribe —featuring some of the best players in the world— and the International Padel Federation (FIP), Gamechangers will tour eight international stops across six different countries, offering young athletes a unique opportunity to showcase their talent on the sport’s biggest stages. The journey will culminate in a grand final in Barcelona, where the selected participants will receive an exclusive scholarship to impulse their professional padel careers.

“Padel is part of CUPRA’s DNA: it’s unconventional, full of energy, and connected to a new generation that dares to do things differently. Six years ago, we didn’t just sponsor the sport — we embraced it, joining its epic matches, iconic events, and greatest players. With Gamechangers, we’re taking that commitment one step further: pushing padel to become more global and empowering the next generation to compete at the highest level. Because CUPRA is padel. And padel is CUPRA,” said Ignasi Prieto, Chief Brand Officer of CUPRA.

“At the International Padel Federation, we have a clear mission: to make padel a truly global sport and secure its inclusion in Olympic Games. We believe that this goal can only be achieved by supporting the next generation of players and thanks to committed partners like CUPRA, we are doing just that. With the Gamechangers project, we’re not only empowering young talent to thrive, but also opening new doors for padel to grow, connect and inspire worldwide,” added Luigi Carraro, President of the International Padel Federation.

A once in a lifetime opportunity

More than just a contestGamechangers is a journey of growth and discovery. Participants will be evaluated not just on competition, but on potential, creativity, and performance. The ultimate goal: to reach the grand final at the end of this year in Barcelona after an intense six-month circuit. This way, participants will have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to perform on the same stage as the sport’s biggest stars.

This first edition of Gamechangers features eight international stops integrated into the Premier Padel tournaments in Bordeaux, Malaga, Barcelona, Madrid, Germany (city to be confirmed), Rotterdam, Milan and Acapulco. At each stop, two male and two female players will be selected, forming a group of 32 finalists. The finalists will compete in Barcelona at the end of the year for the title of Gamechanger, with only four winners—two men and two women—ultimately selected.

Registrations are now open via the CUPRA website for each of the eight international stops, starting with Bordeaux P2 (France), scheduled from June 30 to July 6, 2025, via the CUPRA website:https://www.cupraofficial.com/brand/sports/gamechangers-padel-contest. Eligible players must be aged 15–24 and submit a completed form along with a video following specific guidelines to showcase their talent.

The selection process will be led by Manu Martín’s MM Academy and CUPRA, with support from the International Padel Federation and CUPRA Padel Tribe ambassadors. Full contest details and legal terms are available at: https://www.cupraofficial.com/legal-note/gamechangers-padel-contest-terms-and-conditions

A game-changing prize

The four selected participants —two female and two male— will receive a game-changing incentive to help them go pro. This includes training sessions with CUPRA Padel ambassadors, facilitating participation in the CUPRA FIP Tour, technical support from the certified Padel Coaches Association, a CUPRA car loan and a scholarship of up to €10,000 per player to cover sports development costs.

“We know what it means to be young. To dream. To need someone who believes in you. That’s why we’re proud to stand with the CUPRA Padel Tribe on Gamechangers —a project that gives back to the sport that shaped us. It’s a call to young players from around the world to step onto the court and show what they’re made of. Because talent alone isn’t enough — you need someone to help you take the next step. We’re here to identify and impulse the new generation of padel talent. Because there wouldn’t be magic without believers,” stated the CUPRA Padel Tribe.

Shaping the future of padel

Gamechangers is CUPRA’s most ambitious padel initiative to date. After inspiring young filmmakers with The Dream Makers short film contest in collaboration with ESCAC and J.A. Bayona, and expanding through the Berlinale and Studio Babelsberg, CUPRA now turns its spotlight to sport seeking the next generation of padel stars. Since 2019, CUPRA has been a driving force in padel, supporting official competitions, collaborating with the FIP and sponsoring over 150 tournaments in more than 25 countries. With a growing CUPRA Padel Tribe of 13 world-class players —composed of Agustín Tapia, Ale Galán, Ari Sánchez, Paula Josemaría, Bea González, Delfi Brea, Jon Sanz, Pablo Cardona, Andrea Ustero, Javi Garrido, Juan Tello, Edu Alonso, and Sofía Araújo—, the brand continues to shape a more global, inclusive, and dynamic future for the sport.

Change needs drivers — and CUPRA believes real progress comes through radical disruption, by defying expectations and challenging conventions. Since its launch in 2018, the brand has transformed the automotive industry as an instigator of creativity and an agitator for change.

In just seven years, CUPRA has launched seven models and sold over 800,000 vehicles globally. Every CUPRA model is restlessly expressive, design led, and performance driven. Its fully-fledged portfolio includes the CUPRA Ateca, the first car to ever feature the CUPRA badge; the CUPRA Leon, redesigned and enhanced as a standalone CUPRA model; the CUPRA Formentor, the first car to be developed exclusively by the brand and the company’s best-selling vehicle to date; the CUPRA Born, the brand’s first 100% electric vehicle; the CUPRA Tavascan, an all-electric SUV coupe; and the CUPRA Terramar, the brand’s sporty SUV. In 2026, the CUPRA Raval, the brand’s radical interpretation of the electric urban car, will join its lineup.

CUPRA is more than a car. It’s a conviction. The CUPRA Tribe is made up of a team of ambassadors who push back against convention and past the boundaries that hold others back, with members including Spain’s most decorated Olympian, Saúl Craviotto; film director J.A. Bayona; German goalkeeper Marc ter Stegen; and two-time Ballon d’Or and Best FIFA Award-winning footballer Alexia Putellas. Obsessive about elevating emotion on and off the road, CUPRA is also FC Barcelona’s official automotive and mobility partner, the Premier Padel Tour’s premium sponsor and is also proud to participate in the Formula E racing competition with Kiro Race Co.

www.cupraofficial.com

The International Padel Federation (FIP) is the world governing body of Padel, whose mission is to foster the growth and development of Padel at all levels and ages from grassroots to professional, govern the sport by affiliating national member federations and regional associations and make Padel become an Olympic sport and be part of the Olympic Games, the highest honour for any sport.

FIP currently counts on 87 affiliated National Federations from all five continents. FIP manages an international calendar comprising its two circuits (Premier Padel & Cupra FIP Tour), as well as its team competitions (World Championships and continental events) for young (FIP Promises) and senior players. Starting from January 2024, FIP also governs a single official unified international ranking for professional male and female players, counting the tournament points achieved in its two circuits: Premier Padel and Cupra FIP Tour.

www.padelfip.com

In the photo, from left: Sven Michael Schuwirth (Vice President Sales, Marketing & Aftersales SEAT S.A.), Luigi Carraro (FIP President), Ignacio Prieto Cardona (CBO CUPRA)