Australia has officially secured its spot in the 2026 FIP World Cup after a dramatic comeback victory against Egypt in the Asia-Africa qualifying final held in Kuwait City. This win marks the nation's first return to the global stage since the 2018 tournament in Asunción.
The Path to Victory: A Three-Match Thriller
The qualification tie was a high-stakes battle that required Australia to overcome an early deficit to clinch the final available ticket to Doha. The outcome was determined by the following three matches:
- Match One (Egypt leads): The Egyptian duo of Marzouk and Hossam established an early advantage for their team by defeating the Australian pair of Brown and Ashenden with a score of 6-4, 6-3.
- Match Two (Australia levels): Australia responded in the second match as Bechard and Melisi fought back against Wakim and Shokeir. It was a grueling contest that required a third-set tie-break to decide, with the Australians ultimately prevailing 4-6, 6-4, 7-6.
- Match Three (The decider): With the tie locked at 1-1, the Australian pair of Benzal and Velockovic secured the decisive victory by overcoming Aboulkassem and El Garhy in straight sets, 7-6, 7-5, to seal their World Cup qualification.
With this result, the Australian men’s team joins the previously qualified squads in the final tournament bracket. Notably, the women’s competition saw Indonesia and Egypt secure their respective spots just one day prior to the men's final.
The conclusion of the Kuwait City qualifiers marks the end of a long international journey that began in Toronto this past summer, with additional qualifying stops in Asunción and Madrid. The 2026 FIP World Cup is now set to commence on 2 November in Doha, Qatar, with the final match scheduled for 7 November. The tournament will be hosted at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex, a venue well-known to fans as the home of the Qatar Major Premier Padel. A total of 32 national teams—16 in the men’s draw and 16 in the women’s—will compete for the world title.
