The International Padel Federation (FIP) has announced the launch of a new Intercontinental Cup competition, which will see players from the Americas compete against Europe biennially. Similar to the Laver Cup in tennis and Ryder Cup in golf, this competition aims to showcase the best global talent in padel. With the first competition set for 2025, the event will provide opportunities for emerging players from new padel nations to compete at the elite level. The competition signals padel’s readiness for inclusion in the Olympics, aligning with the IOC’s values of promoting diverse and modern sports.
The Intercontinental Cup will feature both men’s and women’s competitions, with a record-breaking prize purse of €700,000. Equal prize money will be distributed across the winning teams, reflecting FIP’s commitment to growing and developing the sport internationally. The competition will be organized in collaboration with Padel Europe and Padel America, the continental federations of FIP. Hosting will rotate between venues in the Americas and Europe, expanding padel’s reach to established and emerging fan bases worldwide. Tenders for locations, branding, promoters, and partnerships will begin soon.
Luigi Carraro, the President of FIP, expressed excitement about the new competition and the growing popularity of padel globally. The success of the FIP Padel World Championships 2024 and the Premier Padel professional tour has established padel as a major international sport. Innovative formats like the Intercontinental Cup are essential for driving the sport’s development, especially in new regions. The competition is expected to continue the globalization of padel and pave the way for its inclusion in the Olympic Movement in the near future.
The announcement of the Intercontinental Cup comes on the heels of the 2024 FIP World Championship, which saw record-breaking success earlier this month. The new competition will provide a platform for top and emerging players to showcase their skills and compete against the best in the world. With the support of FIP’s continental federations, the competition aims to raise the profile of professional padel and attract a global audience. The prize money offered for the competition reflects FIP’s commitment to growing the sport and providing equal opportunities for men’s and women’s teams.
The Intercontinental Cup will bring padel to some of the most compelling venues of sport across the globe, attracting fans from both established and emerging markets. The rotation of hosting between the Americas and Europe will create new opportunities for fan engagement and promote the sport in diverse locations. With the first competition set for 2025, the anticipation is already building among players, fans, and partners eager to participate in padel’s equivalent of the Laver and Ryder Cup. The competition is expected to be a landmark event in the sport’s history, driving the growth and development of padel on a global scale.
In conclusion, the announcement of the Intercontinental Cup marks a significant milestone in the evolution of padel as a major international sport. The competition will provide a platform for top players from the Americas and Europe to showcase their skills and compete for a record-breaking prize purse. With the support of FIP’s continental federations, the competition is expected to drive the professionalization and globalization of padel, paving the way for its inclusion in the Olympics. The anticipation for the first competition in 2025 is high, with players and fans eager to witness the excitement and competitiveness of the Intercontinental Cup.
