Porto welcomes the show. Carraro: “This is the dawn of tomorrow’s champions, investing in young players must always remain a priority”

International junior Padel takes centre stage in Porto with the official presentation of the 2026 FIP Junior Euro Padel Cup, the European team Padel championship. The event, which from Tuesday to Saturday will feature the elite of the European NextGen in the Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18 men’s and women’s categories, was presented today by International Padel Federation President Luigi Carraro together with Portuguese Padel Federation President Ricardo Oliveira, Vice-President Jean Paul Lares, councillor Rodrigo Passos and Mimosa Events Manager Maria José Patrício. The presentation, held just hours before the Final 8 draw, marks one of the key moments of the international Padel season, combining the ambitions of the federations competing in the men’s and women’s events with the showcase of Europe’s leading young talents, who in the coming years are expected to follow in the footsteps of the sport’s biggest stars.

 

CARRARO “I am happy to be here with these young players who represent the future of Padel,” said FIP President Luigi Carraro, who continued: “This is not, and cannot be, an event like any other, because it places at the centre of the court those who will carry forward the legacy of the great champions while also ensuring the future of Padel.” The head of the International Federation highlighted a concept of crucial importance in sport, and not only in Padel: “Not everyone fully understands the importance of investing decisively and with quality in young players, but one fact is fundamental: if we look at the great champions who today fill the arenas of the main circuit, as happened in the Premier Padel finals in Valladolid, we see that all of them, without exception, came through junior European or World Championships. These major tournaments represent the dawn of talent. That is why the organisational effort behind our continental tournaments is always at the highest level.”

 

From there came a key reflection on the global future of the sport: “To continue growing, we need to make the top level of Padel increasingly global, with the aim of seeing more and more flags on the podium beyond those of Spain and Argentina. The only way to achieve this is by investing in these junior competitions,” observed the FIP President, who concluded: “Organising major professional tournaments today is not difficult, as there is no shortage of interested promoters. When it comes to boys and girls, everything becomes more complex and requires a long-term vision, but the return for cities, host countries and the entire Padel movement is extremely significant.”

 

Portugal itself represents an example of this path of global growth: “If Portugal today plays a leading role in world Padel, the credit goes precisely to the work of its federation with young players. This championship will provide extraordinary momentum for the entire Portuguese movement, offering home athletes a major opportunity to show their value in front of their own crowd. I would like to thank the city of Porto and its municipality: we will host 500 athletes from 22 countries here, a figure that translates into exceptional visibility but also a major tourism impact for the region, considering the countries represented by players, staff and families.” Carraro concluded: “It is a great technical and sporting opportunity, but also an opportunity for cultural exchange, shared experiences, social connection and the desire to come together, while living an unforgettable experience wearing the shirt of of one’s country.”