Major League Pickleball has officially unveiled the rosters, captains, and group structures for the inaugural MLP Nations Cup, a high-stakes international tournament set to take place at Brookhaven Country Club from October 30 to November 1, 2026. This landmark event serves as the official kickoff for the 2026 Pickleball World Championships, bringing together elite talent from across the globe to compete for national pride.
Tournament Structure and Roster Breakdown
The competition features eight professional teams divided into two distinct groups. Throughout the three-day event, teams will participate in a round-robin format on Friday and Saturday to determine seeding, followed by a high-intensity single-elimination bracket on Championship Sunday. The groups and their respective rosters are as follows:
- Group A - Asia Domestic: Led by captains Geoffrey Nguyen and Jeff Tsao, the roster includes Augie Ge (China), Milan Rane (India), Jonathan Truong (Vietnam), Zoey Wang (Chinese Taipei), Jamie Wei (Chinese Taipei), and Len Yang (China).
- Group A - Europe West: Captained by Chris Cantino, the team consists of Judit Castillo (Spain), Helena Jansen (Spain), Will MacKinnon (Scotland), Theo Platel (France), Estee Widdershoven (Belgium), and DJ Young (Spain).
- Group A - Canada: Led by captain Steve Deakin, the roster features Victoria DiMuzio, Blaine Hovenier, Armaan Jiwa Mawji, Layne Sleeth, Ryan Torresin, and Angie Walker.
- Group A - United States: Captained by Johnny Goldberg, the team includes Tyra Black, Anna Bright, Kate Fahey, Ben Johns, CJ Klinger, and Will Howells.
- Group B - Asia International: Under the leadership of captain Madeleine Lim, the team features Rika Fujiwara (Japan), Lingwei Kong (China), Jimmy Liong (Malaysia), Hien Truong (Vietnam), Jack Wong (Hong Kong, China), and Macy Ybanez (Philippines).
- Group B - Australia: Captained by Sange Carter, the roster includes Sarah Burr, Chris Crouch, Sahra Dennehy, Mitch Hargreaves, Danni-Elle Townsend, and George Wall.
- Group B - Europe East: Led by captain Caleb Garrard, the team consists of Mikolaj Biedermann (Poland), Andrei Daescu (Romania), Arwid Dahlin (Sweden), Lina Padegimaite (Lithuania), Tina Pisnik (Slovenia), and Daria Walczak (Poland).
- Group B - Latin America: Captained by Juan Manuel Benitez, the roster features Nico Acevedo (Chile), Mari Humberg (Brazil), Rafa Lenhard (Brazil), Eric Oncins (Brazil), Alexa Schull (Puerto Rico), and Charlie Trevino (Mexico).
Beyond the professional matches, the event is designed to offer a festival-like atmosphere at the Brookhaven Country Club. Attendees can expect premium hospitality, interactive fan zones, and a vibrant social scene as part of the broader 10-day 2026 Pickleball World Championships celebration. Tickets for the Nations Cup are currently available for purchase through Tixr.com.
