2026 marks the first ever FISU World University Padel Championship.
The United States National Padel Team had the opportunity to participate in this history-making event which brought together 20 teams from across the globe for a unique blend of cultural exchange and high-level competition amongst men’s, women’s, and mixed panel teams.
The championship tournament was held in Málaga, Spain by the University of Málaga from July 7-11.
Our USA Padel team finished 14th overall, falling just short of a top 10 finish. More importantly, the participating student-athletes gained a once in a lifetime experience as the first ever participants of this championship event. They had the opportunity to connect and compete with some of the best university-level padel athletes from around the world.
“I want to say that overall it was such an amazing experience getting to represent USA at the first-ever FISU University World Cup for padel. I really loved competing against players from all over the world, and one of my favorite parts was definitely learning about everyone outside of padel, like what they studied, what they wanted to do in the future, and just getting to meet so many people from different countries.
The level of padel in this competition was really good, and every match was super competitive. I also really liked the event’s format because we could compete in our own men’s/women’s categories as well as mixed, which meant we played more matches and made the experience even more enjoyable. For this being the first FISU University World Cup in history, I think it was an amazing event, and I really hope they continue doing it because it was such an unforgettable experience.” – USA Padel competitor Delfina Inza
While some of the USA Padel athletes added this competition to their international sports resumes, others marked this event as the first-ever major international experience, highlighting the event as an opportunity for development just as much as the competition itself.
Team Delegate Manuel Avina reflects on the team’s experience in Málaga:
“The experience in Malaga was truly unforgettable for our players. Beyond the competition itself, the opportunity to connect with student-athletes from over 20 countries through off-the-court activities, especially initiatives like the ‘Inclusive Draw’ tournament, was invaluable. It fostered genuine friendships and cultural exchange that will last long after the matches ended. I want to sincerely commend the organizing committee and FIP for their vision in promoting such an amazing tournament; their dedication to creating an inclusive, high-level environment for student-athletes has set a wonderful standard for the future of collegiate padel.” – Team Delegate Manuel Avina
Check out the article from USA Padel and follow along on UniUSA’s social media platforms for continuing updates about FISU hosted events and opportunities for valuable international experiences such as this one.
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By Jarah Lemus