FIP announces Intercontinental Cup
The International Padel Federation (FIP) has announced the launch of an inter-continental cup competition – the equivalent of tennis’s Laver Cup and golf’s Ryder Cup – which will take place biennially, seeing top and emerging players from the Americas compete against Europe in iconic sporting venues.
The new inter-continental cup – yet to be formally named – will showcase the best global talent and provide new opportunities for players from emerging padel nations to join the elite level of the world’s fastest growing sport.
The new competition also signals padel’s readiness for inclusion in the Olympics, with FIP believing the sport’s rapid ‘democratisation and professionalisation under FIP’ aligns with the International Olympic Committee’s values and support for globally diverse and modern sports. The new format will be organised with the support of FIP’s continental federations Padel Europe and Padel America.
A men’s and women’s competition will be run simultaneously with a record-breaking prize purse of €700,000 and equal prize money distributed across the winning men’s and women’s teams. These ‘unprecedented’ winnings reflect a continued commitment by FIP to grow and develop the sport internationally, continually raising the profile of professional padel.
Out to tender
Hosting will rotate between venues across the Americas and Europe, bringing padel to established and emerging fan bases across the globe. The tender process for locations, branding, promoters and partnerships will start shortly.
Commenting on new competition, FIP President Luigi Carraro stated: “The new inter-continental cup competition responds to the incredible worldwide popularity of padel and an unprecedented demand for new competition formats from both established and emerging padel fanbases, players and partners
“The overwhelming success of the FIP Padel World Championships 2024 and the Premier Padel professional tour demonstrate how padel has rapidly become a major international sport and innovations such as the new inter-continental competition are key to continually driving the development of padel – especially in new regions of the world.
“We cannot wait to realise this competition next year, and already know of enormous demand to host and partner in padel’s equivalent of the Laver and Ryder Cup, which will continue the globalisation of padel as we aspire to form part of the Olympic Movement as soon as possible.” 🎾
