International Padel Federation launches ‘Ryder Cup and Laver Cup of padel’

The new inter-continental cup competition between players from the Americas and Europe will begin in 2025.

Author

Jonathan Dyson
November 15, 2024

Padel’s global profile appears set for a significant boost following this week’s announcement by the International Padel Federation (FIP) of a new inter-continental cup competition between players from the Americas and Europe.

Dubbed by the FIP as “the equivalent of tennis’ Laver Cup and golf’s Ryder Cup”, the new tournament – yet to be formally named – will take place biennially, starting with the first competition in 2025.

A men’s and women’s competition will be run simultaneously, with a prize purse of €700,000 marking a new record for padel. Prize money will be distributed equally across the winning men’s and women’s teams.

Hosting will rotate between venues across the Americas and Europe, and the FIP said tenders for locations, branding, promoters and partnerships will commence shortly. Alongside the FIP the tournament will be organised by continental federations Padel Europe and Padel America.

The competition will have a prize purse of €700,000, marking a new record for padel. Image credit: International Padel Federation.

The launch of the new tournament comes as the FIP continues to push for padel’s inclusion in the Olympic Games at Brisbane 2032.

Commenting on the new competition, the FIP president Luigi Carraro, who was unanimously re-elected last month, said: “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.”