The Lebanese national padel team delegation has left for Kuwait to take part in the Asian and African qualifiers for the 2026 Padel World Cup.
The qualifiers are being organized by the International Padel Federation (FIP) from October 26 to 30, and will determine who advances to the finals set to take place in the Qatari capital, Doha, from November 2 to 7.
The Lebanese men’s and women’s national teams begin their matches today, Tuesday, October 27, after the draw placed them in two groups alongside a number of teams competing for World Cup qualification spots.
Lebanon’s men’s team was placed in Group One alongside Australia and the Philippines, while the women’s team landed in Group Two alongside Egypt and Bahrain.
The qualifiers include 14 national teams in the men’s category and 13 in the women’s category, divided into four groups each. The teams topping their groups will advance to the knockout rounds, which will determine the finalists for the World Cup.
The Lebanese delegation is headed by Thomas Wille, technical director of the Lebanese Padel Federation, with the participation of the Spanish coaching staff made up of Jorge Barrioso and Manuel Sanchez Orihuela, who are overseeing the technical preparation of both national teams during the competition.
This participation marks an important milestone in the development of padel in Lebanon and in strengthening its presence on the international stage. It also offers the players a valuable opportunity to gain more experience and compete against teams of varying levels, amid the sport’s rapid growth both locally and globally.
Both Lebanese national teams are aiming to deliver a strong performance and compete for qualification to the decisive rounds, reflecting the progress made in the level of the sport in Lebanon and the efforts being made to further develop it.
The matches are being held at two clubs in Kuwait, with the option to follow them live via the International Padel Federation’s official YouTube channel.
