Sweden and Portugal will not participate in the World Cup in Qatar

The FIP chose to postpone the 2020 World Cup due to the pandemic to November 2021. 

Sweden chose not to enter the championship because of the pandemic. Now they are stopped by the FIP (the international padel federation) from participating in the 2021 World Cup. 

”The Swedish Padel Federation has for several months sought dialogue with the FIP that the registration should be open again for all the countries that did not register in 2020 because of the pandemic. FIP has previously been reluctant to provide information but has now formally decided not to reopen the notification. Sweden will therefore not be allowed to compete in the World Cup,” the federation writes in a press release.

The press release also criticizes the FIP's decision to hold the championship in Qatar. 

"However, the Swedish Padel Federation is also critical of the fact that the World Championships have been moved to Qatar. Qatar is a country where human rights are violated. The country was also not a member of the FIP when they were awarded the hosting. Other countries in the international padel are more suitable as hosts of the World Cup". 

Even Portugal, which has previously been in conflict with the FIP and was not allowed to participate in the European Championships in Spain earlier this year, will not participate in the World Cup. 

This time it is the Portuguese Padel Federation that has taken the decision, reports Padel Magazine. 

”We will not be in Qatar under any circumstances. Everyone knows why. The 2020 championships were awarded to Qatar when there were, according to the FIP, 2 other member countries that had applied to host the event. We are not comfortable with the fact that a non-member country can host the World Championships,” Ricardo Oliveira says, President of the Portuguese Padel Federation to Padel Magazine. 

The World Cup will be held from 15 to 20 November in Doha, Qatar. Padel Alto is seeking representatives from the FIP for comment.