In which countries is padel most popular? Origin, hotspots & global trends
Padel tennisis on the rise worldwide. But where does this trendy sport actually come from? And in which countries is padel most popular today?
In this blog post, you'll learn all about the origins of padel, the top padel nationsin the world, and how the sport is spreading globally.
🌍 Where does padel come from? The origin of the sport
Padel was invented in Mexico in 1969.Entrepreneur Enrique Corcuera built a court with walls in his backyard to allow for a game that required less space than tennis. From there, the sport spread to Spain and Argentinain the 1970s, where it quickly became established.
🥇 1. Spain: Europe's padel stronghold
Spain is currently the padel mecca of Europe. Here you can find:
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Over 20,000 dishes
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More than 5 million active players
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The best professionals in the world (many top players of the World Padel Tour)
Padel is the second most popular sport in Spain after football. Hardly any other country has such a deeply rooted padel culture.
🥈 2. Argentina: Padel as a popular sport
Padel has been booming in Argentina since the 1980s. The country is:
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Cradle of many padel legends
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Home to countless clubs and tournaments
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Extremely passionate, especially in urban areas like Buenos Aires
🥉 3. Italy, France, Sweden: Europe's shooting stars
Italy
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Strong growth since 2020
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Many new clubs in Milan, Rome & South Tyrol
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“Padel Italia” is one of the most searched sports topics on Google.it
France
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Active expansion through tennis clubs
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Tournaments & TV presence increase awareness enormously
Sweden
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Strong urbanization of sport
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Many former tennis professionals are switching to padel
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Big lifestyle hype in Stockholm and surroundings
🌟 New hotspots: Germany, Portugal, United Arab Emirates
Germany
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Steadily growing since 2022
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City courts in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne
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Increasing interest in media & social media
Portugal
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Particularly popular in the Algarve
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Many tourists discover padel on vacation
UAE (especially Dubai)
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Padel as a premium lifestyle sport
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Numerous indoor centers with high-end equipment
🧭 Global Outlook: US, UK, Asia
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USA:Boom in Florida, Texas & California
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UK:Padel is integrated into a tennis club
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Asia:First dishes in Japan, China, Thailand
Conclusion: Padel is a global phenomenon
From Mexico to Spain to Dubai, padel is more than a trend—it's a globally booming sport. Its social, accessible, and dynamic nature makes it the ideal sport of our time. And for those who want to not only play but also look good, our best-selling shirtscombine style and function for every padel level.
Let's play worldwide. Let's play padel.