Major League Pickleball is taking its signature coed team format to the global stage with the inaugural MLP Nations Cup. Held at the Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, Texas, from October 30 to November 1, 2026, this event features 48 professional athletes representing eight international regions in a high-stakes tournament that serves as a precursor to the 2026 Opendoor Pickleball World Championships.
Key Storylines to Watch at the Nations Cup
As the professional pickleball world turns its eyes to Texas, there are several factors that will define the competition and the path to the inaugural championship title:
- Team USA’s Loaded Roster: Captained by Johnny Goldberg, the United States enters the tournament as a clear favorite. Their lineup includes elite talent such as Ben Johns, Anna Bright, Kate Fahey, Tyra Black, CJ Klinger, and Will Howells, blending deep MLP experience with top-tier doubles expertise.
- The Competitive Nature of Group B: While Group A features the powerhouse U.S. squad, Group B is expected to be a wide-open battle for the two available semifinal spots. The group includes Australia, Latin America, Europe – East, and Asia International. Notable players to watch in this group include Sahra Dennehy for Australia, the trio of Eric Oncins, Nico Acevedo, and Mari Humberg for Latin America, and the experienced Andrei Daescu and Tina Pisnik representing Europe – East.
- A Global Showcase for International Talent: The event serves as a vital platform for international players, including many who do not typically compete in the standard MLP circuit. It offers these athletes a chance to shine on a major stage immediately before the PPA Tour’s marquee World Championships event.
The tournament format utilizes a round-robin structure where teams are split into two groups of four. Each team will play three matches on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, the top two teams from each group will advance to the single-elimination playoffs. The semifinals will feature a cross-group format, with the winner of Group A facing the runner-up of Group B, and the winner of Group B facing the runner-up of Group A. The winners of those matches will move on to the final to determine the first-ever Nations Cup champion.
Fans can catch all the action live on PickleballTV or through the PickleballTV app. Coverage begins at 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. CT) on Friday and Saturday, with Sunday’s semifinals starting at the same time. The championship match is scheduled to air on Sunday, November 1, at 3 p.m. ET (2 p.m. CT).
