Padel’s global footprint is expanding in ways that go well beyond new courts. This week brings university competition in the U.S., another surge in American participation, a landmark Asian Games debut, fresh opportunities for international tournament organizers, and the first champions of a new era in Asian padel.
Here are the news below.
Padel Enters the American University System
Padel is making its way onto U.S. campuses with the launch of the Wilson ACPL by Bela. Featuring 200 students from 30 institutions across four regions, the competition will run through national finals in March, with Fernando Belasteguín serving as ambassador and senior advisor.
U.S. Padel Growth Accelerates Nationwide
The US Padel Report 2026 counts 1,110 courts across 296 facilities in 38 states, up from 688 courts and 180 facilities last year. With an estimated 460,000 active players, growth is also spreading beyond Florida, Texas, and California as new markets continue to emerge nationwide.
- Read more on The Sports News Blitz
Padel Takes Another Step Toward the Olympics
Padel made its Asian Games debut as a medal sport in Nagoya, marking another milestone in its international expansion. Now played by an estimated 38 million people across 170 countries and territories, the sport is building the global presence its leaders hope will eventually lead to Olympic inclusion.
FIP Opens the Door to More Tournament Organizers
The International Padel Federation has opened applications for individual promoters seeking to host sanctioned events in 2027. Organizers can apply across the CUPRA FIP Tour, FIP Promises, and FIP Beyond, creating another route for international competition to expand into established and emerging padel markets.
Japan and Qatar Claim Historic Asian Games Gold
Japan’s Kae Tokumoto and Saki Tsukamoto captured the first women’s Asian Games padel gold on home soil, while Qatar’s Mashari and Rashed Naif took the men’s title. Indonesia, Malaysia, and Iran also reached the podium as padel completed its historic debut on the continental stage.
Highlights
Check out these highlights from the final of the Premier Padel - Rotterdam 2026
What connects this week’s stories is infrastructure in its broadest sense. Padel is building university pathways, expanding into new American markets, opening its international calendar to more organizers, and establishing itself within major multi-sport competition. The courts are multiplying, but so are the pathways around them.
Stay tuned next week for more from Padel Mecca.
FYI, I'm sure it was unintentional (AKA: AI), but the first picture in your second featured article was ripped from a 100%-human-written article of mine (https://www.padelnation.io/p/is-the-tide-finally-turning-on-how) rather than the article you cited in your credits.