Malaga set to welcome the FISU World University Championship Padel 2026 from 6 to 11 July

The Spanish city will welcome student-athletes from all over the world, competing in three categories: men’s, women’s and mixed. The world championship is organised by the University of Málaga in collaboration with the FIP – International Padel Federation, and comes one year after the historic recognition of padel as an official sport by FISU, the International University Sports Federation.

International university padel will gather in Spain from 6 to 11 July, when Málaga will become the world capital of the sport by hosting the first FISU World University Championship Padel. Organised by the University of Málaga together with the FIP – International Padel Federation – the event is positioned within the university sports movement not only as a top-level sporting competition, but also as a true celebration of sports culture, social interaction, exchange of experiences and inclusion. A major festival of sport and padel, featuring student-athletes from universities in 32 countries, ready to compete on the glass and metal courts in the men’s, women’s and mixed categories.

The official announcement of the FISU World University Championship Padel 2026 comes exactly one year after a historic milestone: the official recognition of padel by the International University Sports Federation. The world championship marks another key step in the global growth of padel and is the result of the collaboration between FISU and the International Padel Federation, driven by a shared vision that has highlighted the inclusive and dynamic nature of a sport capable of connecting young people from all backgrounds.

Among the teams ready to compete for the world title are some of the leading nations in international padel, already prominent in FIP World and European Championships, such as Spain, Argentina, Italy, France and the Netherlands, alongside other countries — from Poland and Hungary to Moldova, Egypt, Lebanon and the United States — which not only reflect the rapid national development of padel, but also further demonstrate the sport’s global expansion at youth and university level.

The World University Championship Padel 2026 embodies the core values of FISU, fully shared with the FIP: excellence, passion and team spirit. Beyond the competitive dimension of the event, the aim is to celebrate academic and cultural diversity, offering the professionals of tomorrow an unforgettable life experience through sport.

THE RULES OF THE GAME Each delegation may enter up to a maximum of 12 athletes (6 men and 6 women), divided into 2 men’s pairs, 2 women’s pairs and 2 mixed pairs; the latter may be composed of players who are also competing in the men’s and women’s draws. The world championship will take place on the courts of two centres of excellence located within the University of Málaga campus: the Sport Center Teatinos and Vals Sport Cónsul.