Image Credits to: vietnam.vn
The Pickleball World Cup is heading to Asia for the first time, and Vietnam's coastal gem Da Nang has been chosen as the host city. The 2026 edition will run from August 30 to September 6 at the Tien Son Sports Palace and Tuyen Son Sports Village, the same venues that hosted the record-breaking PPA Tour Asia MB Vietnam Cup in 2025.
After three editions held in Peru and the United States, the decision to bring the World Cup to Asia reflects the sport's explosive growth across the continent. Vietnam, which leads the region with an estimated 88% pickleball awareness rate and over 16 million frequent players, was a natural choice.
The tournament has grown at a remarkable pace since its inaugural edition in 2023, which featured just 14 players. By 2024, the field had expanded to more than 600 athletes representing 54 countries. The 2025 edition saw that number balloon to over 3,000 participants from 68 countries and territories. The 2026 World Cup in Da Nang is expected to be the largest yet, with organizers anticipating strong turnout from both Asia-Pacific nations and established pickleball powerhouses from North America and Europe.
Da Nang is no stranger to hosting major pickleball events. In October 2025, the city drew a Guinness World Record crowd of 7,906 spectators for the PPA Tour Asia MB Vietnam Cup finals at Tien Son Sports Arena, surpassing the previous record of 5,522. The city's proven infrastructure, enthusiastic fanbase, and experience organizing international pickleball competitions made it a compelling bid.
Vietnam's broader pickleball ecosystem has also been scaling rapidly. Equipment sales in the country reached nearly US$20 million in just the first half of 2025 — a staggering 13-fold increase from the same period in 2024. The country boasts a thriving network of clubs, courts, and academies, including facilities like PickoLand Thảo Điền, Rudal Pickleball Center, and Court One Club at New World Saigon Hotel.
The World Cup will feature hundreds of matches across the week-long event, with live broadcasts available on the FPT Play platform. Categories are expected to span Pro, Amateur, and Age divisions in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles formats.For pickleball fans across the region, the announcement cements Vietnam's position as Asia's pickleball capital and gives the continent a world-class event to rally around. Mark your calendars: Da Nang, August 30 to September 6.
