The FIP World Cup Qualifiers for South America concluded in Asunción, Paraguay, resulting in a triumphant double qualification for the host nation and a hard-fought ticket to Doha for the Chilean women’s team. Held from August 20 to 22, the tournament saw Paraguay dominate their groups, while Chile secured their spot through a superior match-record tiebreaker.
Key Outcomes from the Asunción Qualifiers
- Paraguay Men’s Qualification: The men’s team finished at the top of their group with a perfect record, never conceding a single match throughout the tournament. Their qualification was finalized with a 3-0 victory over Uruguay, featuring a 7-6, 6-4 win by Pierre Petit and Sebastian Rodriguez, followed by a dominant 6-2, 6-0 performance from Martin Abud and Samuel Miltos.
- Paraguay Women’s Qualification: The women’s squad also secured their spot by winning their final two matches against Ecuador (2-1) and Venezuela (3-0). In both instances, the duo of Mariana Salsamendi and Maria Alejandra Vera clinched the decisive victories, defeating their opponents 6-0, 6-1 and 6-3, 6-2, respectively.
- Chile Women’s Qualification: Chile earned the second available qualifying spot in the women’s group. Despite finishing level on six points with Uruguay, Chile advanced due to a superior record in individual matches. Their path included a 3-0 victory over Venezuela on the final day, earning them a trip to Qatar alongside their men’s team, who had already qualified based on their performance at the 2024 FIP World Championships.
With the South American stage complete, the focus shifts to the final qualifying events. Two more tournaments will determine the remaining participants: the FIP World Cup 2026 Qualifiers Europe, taking place in Madrid from September 22 to 26, and a joint Africa-Asia tournament. These events will finalize the field for the Doha World Cup, which is scheduled to host 32 national teams—16 in the men's draw and 16 in the women's—from November 2 to 7, 2026.
