The Spanish city will welcome athletes from all over the world, who will compete in three categories: men’s, women’s, and mixed. The world championship is organized by the University of Málaga together 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 July 6 to 11, when Málaga becomes the world capital of the sport with the first FISU World University Championship Padel. The championship, organized by the University of Málaga together with the FIP – International Padel Federation – is part of the university sports movement not only as a top-level competition, but also as a true event of sports culture, social interaction, exchange of experiences, and inclusion. A major celebration of sport and padel that will feature athletes from universities in 32 countries, ready to compete between glass walls and metal fences in the men’s, women’s, and mixed categories.
The official launch 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 represents a new key milestone in the global growth of padel and stems from the collaboration between FISU and the International Padel Federation, through a shared vision that highlights the inclusive and dynamic nature of a sport capable of connecting young people from all backgrounds.
Among the teams competing for the world title are several leading nations in international padel, already protagonists in FIP World and European Championships, such as Spain, Argentina, Italy, France, and the Netherlands, along with other countries — from Poland and Hungary to Moldova, Egypt, Lebanon, and the United States — which, in addition to reflecting the rapid national development of padel, confirm the sport’s global expansion among younger generations.
The World University Championship Padel 2026 embodies the core values of FISU, fully shared with the FIP: excellence, passion, and team spirit. Beyond the purely competitive dimension, the goal is to celebrate academic and cultural diversity, offering tomorrow’s professionals an unforgettable life experience through sport.
THE RULES OF THE GAME: Each delegation may register 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 mixed pairs may include players who also compete in the respective men’s and women’s draws. The championship will be played on the courts of two centers of excellence located on the University of Málaga campus: the Sport Center Teatinos and Vals Sport Cónsul.