Spain Names Final 16 for FIP World Cup Qatar Today

Final 16 unveiled today at 1pm in Madrid

The Spanish Padel Federation announces its definitive squad for the FIP World Cup 2026 on Thursday at 1pm local time, at a live event held at the CUPRA City Garage on Calle Serrano 88 in Madrid. The ceremony, also streamed on the federation's YouTube channel, reduces a 24-player provisional pool to the eight men and eight women who will represent Spain in Doha from November 2–7. Selectors Juanjo Gutiérrez (men) and Carolina Navarro (women) will formally announce the names at the event.

Spain competes at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, where FIP has secured hosting rights for both the 2026 and 2028 editions of its flagship national-team event. Prize money has been set at a record €1.2 million, split equally between men and women — the richest team competition in the sport's history.

Men's pool: top names in, notable omissions out

The twelve men shortlisted by Gutiérrez are Arturo Coello, Ale Galán, Juan Lebrón, Paquito Navarro, Mike Yanguas, Jon Sanz, Coki Nieto, Aimar Goñi, Fran Guerrero, Javi Leal, Pol Hernández and Momo González. The list concentrates top-10 firepower while also giving the 20-year-old left-wall weapon Goñi his chance — earlier this season he and Edu Alonso knocked out Yanguas and Nieto at the Paris Major.

The most prominent names absent from the preliminary group entirely are world No. 18 Edu Alonso, world No. 20 Javi Garrido, and Álex Ruiz, who reached the FIP Platinum Lyon final last year with Juanlu Esbrí. Their absence from the provisional 24 means none will travel to Doha. Alonso is currently competing at FIP Platinum Lyon this week, giving him one last high-profile showcase before the selectors finalise the squad today.

Women's pool: every Spanish title-holder eligible

Carolina Navarro named 12 candidates for the women's side: Claudia Fernández, Bea González, Marta Ortega, Ale Salazar, Martina Calvo, Tamara Icardo, Andrea Ustero, Ari Sánchez, Paula Josemaría, Gemma Triay, Marina Guinart and Alejandra Alonso. The list covers virtually every active Spanish player inside the world top 15. Bea Caldera, Carmen Goenaga and Jessica Castelló are the highest-ranked players excluded from the provisional group entirely.

Salazar, Triay, Sánchez and Josemaría — who collectively formed the core of Spain's FIP Senior Women's World Cup-winning squad in Buenos Aires just days ago — are widely expected to retain their places. Today's decision centres on which four players from the remaining eight fill the final roster spots.

Context: Argentina awaits in Doha

The FIP World Cup fields 16 men's and 16 women's national teams in a group-and-knockout format across six days. Spain already hold the women's FIP Senior World Cup title, won in Buenos Aires last Sunday. Argentina claimed the men's gold in the same event, setting up a likely November rematch in Qatar. Confirmed entries for Doha include Argentina, Portugal, Italy, France, Sweden, Brazil, Chile and host Qatar, among others.

Spain qualified automatically as one of padel's founding nations; four additional European places — two per gender — are being decided simultaneously at the FIP World Cup European Qualifier running this week at Padel G24 in Madrid, with group play concluding today and the knockout phase beginning Friday. The FIP World Cup 2026 draw is scheduled for mid-October.