The 2026 FIP Senior World Cup has officially commenced in Buenos Aires, marking the first time the prestigious tournament is hosted in Argentina. The event features 32 men’s teams and 26 women’s teams competing across five age categories—40+, 45+, 50+, 55+, and 60+—to determine the new world champions.
Tournament Structure and Key Contenders
Following a successful qualifying phase where Canada, Croatia, and Lithuania secured the final spots, the tournament moved into its final phase on September 14. Each tie is contested as a best-of-five series. Fans can follow the action via the FIP YouTube channel, which is broadcasting matches from the main courts.
The competition is divided into group stages for both divisions, with the following groupings established for the tournament:
- Men’s Group A: Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, and Ukraine.
- Men’s Group B: Spain, Germany, Egypt, and Great Britain.
- Men’s Group C: France, Australia, Canada, and Venezuela.
- Men’s Group D: Sweden, Belgium, Slovakia, and Lithuania.
- Men’s Group E: Italy, USA, Japan, and Ireland.
- Men’s Group F: Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, and Paraguay.
- Men’s Group G: Chile, Ecuador, Portugal, and Croatia.
- Men’s Group H: Mexico, Finland, Gibraltar, and Austria.
- Women’s Group A: Spain, Chile, and Lithuania.
- Women’s Group B: France, Germany, and Paraguay.
- Women’s Group C: Italy, Brazil, and Uruguay.
- Women’s Group D: Netherlands, Denmark, and Austria.
- Women’s Group E: Sweden, Australia, and Gibraltar.
- Women’s Group F: Belgium, Great Britain, and Ecuador.
- Women’s Group G: USA, Mexico, Japan, and Ireland.
- Women’s Group H: Argentina, Portugal, Switzerland, and Canada.
The men’s side is headlined by defending champions Argentina, who are fielding a powerhouse squad featuring legends like Miguel Lamperti and Agustin Gomez Silingo. Their primary competition includes 2024 silver medalists Spain and bronze medalists France. On the women’s side, Spain is chasing a fourth consecutive title, led by former world No. 1 Lucia Sainz and Lorena Alonso. The group stages for both divisions are scheduled to conclude on September 16, with the knockout phases beginning the following day to determine the final rankings for all participating nations.
