The International Padel Federation (FIP) and Premier Padel have announced that the first edition of the FIP Intercontinental Cup is to take place in London on 25-27 June.
The FIP Intercontinental Cup is a new competition featuring an Americas v Europe format – professional padel’s equivalent of the Laver and Ryder Cup.
The competition brings together – for the first time – the combined elite expertise of teams from FIP, Premier Padel and the Hexagon Cup to deliver a major professional event, following the three institutions’ new strategic partnership.
The UK is experiencing rapid growth in padel with over 200,000 amateur players playing monthly and over 750 courts nationwide across 300 affiliated clubs, according to the latest FIP Research and Data Analysis department.
The arrival of a major international professional event further reinforces London’s status as a key market in the global expansion of padel.
The event will also mark the first visit of a Premier Padel tournament to UK shores and will be the first time many of the world’s top-ranked players exhibit their skills here.
Further details on the tournament venue in London – together with the local promoter, the name of the inaugural competition, and the dynamic and innovative sporting format – will be announced shortly.
Luigi Carraro, President of FIP, said: “Hosting the FIP Intercontinental Cup in London is a landmark moment for the international expansion of professional padel. Bringing the world’s very best professional players to the UK for the first time – one of padel’s fastest-growing markets – reinforces our vision to bring new experiences of our sport to new fans and partners all around the world.
“London has hosted some of the most iconic moments in sporting history – and now, professional padel will become part of that legacy as we expand globally and drive toward Olympic inclusion. We’re thrilled to combine the teams from FIP, Premier Padel and the Hexagon Cup for this standout new competition in the calendar.”
Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, Chairman of Premier Padel, said: “As the official professional padel tour worldwide, we are delighted to see elite women’s and men’s professional padel players compete in the UK, one of most significant international sports markets in the world, this summer.
“London is a natural next step and international stage for professional padel, being one of the leading capital cities of world sport – with fantastic infrastructure and facilities, commercial opportunities and brand exposure, and brilliant fan appetite for the fastest growing sport in the world. This competition is another great step forward for the continued development of padel worldwide.”
