Du  27 June at 4 July 2026 Porto will host the third edition of the  FIP Junior Euro Padel Cup , a major event on the European youth calendar. In a country where padel continues its rapid growth, the best teams  U14, U16 and U18  from across the continent will come together for a week of competition that goes far beyond the simple sporting arena.

Porto, a symbolic choice for European youth

After  Valencia in 2022  et  Budapest in 2024 The European competition is setting up shop in Portugal for the first time. The event will take place at  Padel Athletic Club , a site destined to become, for one week, the nerve center of European junior padel.

The choice of Porto is far from arbitrary. Portugal has established itself in recent years as one of the driving forces behind the development of padel in Europe, both organizationally and in terms of sporting performance. For the International Padel Federation, hosting the competition in this dynamic environment is a way to support the sport's growth among new generations.

“We are very pleased to be organizing a major continental junior competition in Portugal for the first time,” explains  Luigi Carraro , president of the  Federation   International   de Padel .
"Portugal makes an extraordinary contribution to the growth of padel, both through its players and the quality of its organization. To young athletes, I would say: enjoy the experience, meet new people, be a good sport, and wear your national jersey with pride."

A competition structured in two stages

The tournament will be structured around two distinct phases.

Du  27 to 29 June The national teams will go through a qualifying phase to complete the main draw.

From  30nd June The eight best teams will enter the decisive phase: the  Final 8 , which will lead to the finals scheduled for the  July 4 .

The competition will bring together three age categories  U14, U16 and U18  confirming the FIP's desire to structure the international development of padel from the earliest stages of player training.

Beyond the European title, the stakes are also strategic: the FIP Junior Euro Padel The Cup represents a key step in the journey leading to the  Junior World Cup 2027 , in an increasingly structured international system.

Nations already qualified for the Final 8

The results obtained during the 2024 edition in Hungary have already allowed several nations to secure their place in the final phase.

In boys,  Spain, France, Sweden and Belgium  are directly qualified.
In girls,  Spain, Italy, Portugal and France  have also secured their place.

The final positions will be allocated after the Porto qualifiers.

2024 European Junior Championships: Spain wins a double gold, France shines in silver!

Spain, a continental benchmark

At the 2024 edition held in Budapest, Spain confirmed its dominance by achieving another double victory in both the boys' and girls' events, a feat already accomplished two years earlier in Valencia.

Behind La Roja, the competition is gradually taking shape. Among the boys,  France had won the silver medal ahead of Sweden and Belgium. On the women's side, Italy and Portugal completed the podium, with France finishing just off the podium.

This European hierarchy should once again serve as a reference for Porto, even though the density of the junior level continues to increase.

The young Blues continue the tradition

The French team arrives with strong ambitions. Last summer, during the  Junior World Championships in Reus The French team secured the bronze medal after a decisive victory against Brazil.

In this match for third place, the French had managed to turn the situation around after an initial setback:

  • Gabriel Bessière and Sacha Huard de La Marre had lost their opening matches.
  • before the clear successes of Johan Peloux Marchini / Quentin Bernard then Yoan Boronad / Timéo Fonteny.

However, among the boys, the two stars  Timeo Fonteny  et  Yoan Boronad  are no longer eligible to participate in junior competitions, just like  Kimy Barla  et  Lou Lambert-Agosti  in girls.

They had also played a decisive role throughout the tournament, confirming the potential of a generation that is now knocking on the door of the top level.

This world medal, obtained behind the two major powers of Spain and Argentina, is an encouraging sign as we approach the Euros.

Junior World Championships: French take bronze in Reus

A tournament beyond competition

While the sporting aspect remains central, the FIP also emphasizes the educational and cultural dimension of the event. The tournament brings together several hundred young players from across the continent each year.

The goal is to promote exchanges between rising generations of European padel players, in an environment that values ​​team spirit, respect and inclusion.

For  Ricardo da Silva Oliveira , president of the  Federation   Portuguese Padel Hosting this competition represents a symbolic step:
"Organizing the FIP Junior Euro Padel The Cup is the culmination of a long-held dream. It completes our cycle of organizing major international padel events. We are honored by the trust placed in us by the FIP and determined to offer an unforgettable experience to the next generation of players.

A generation that is shaping the future of padel

With over  300 participants and several hundred matches  at the last edition, the FIP Junior Euro Padel Cup is now established as one of the pillars of the international junior calendar.

In Porto, the spotlight will be on these young players who already represent the future of the professional circuit. In a rapidly growing sport, the European junior scene is becoming a laboratory where the future rivalries of world padel are taking shape.

Maceo ZERHAT

Maceo Zerhat discovered padel in 2020 in Savigny-sur-Clairis, Burgundy. He contributed to the club's expansion by bringing his energy and curiosity. Padel Magazinehe transmits his Padel"mania" by skillfully bouncing on all the latest news about your favorite sport!

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