ITTF announces Doubles World Cup from 2027, aligns with LA28 Olympic programme
The International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) has announced the launch of a new global event — the ITTF Doubles World Cup — set to debut in 2027. The competition, approved by the ITTF Executive Board, will feature men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles events on a single platform.
With this addition, every table tennis discipline set to feature at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics will now have a corresponding World Cup event. The existing ITTF Men’s and Women’s World Cup cover the singles format, while the Mixed Team World Cup and the newly introduced Doubles World Cup complete the structure.
The move comes ahead of a significant change to the Olympic programme, with men’s and women’s doubles set to return at LA28 for the first time since the Athens 2004 Olympics. Mixed doubles, which made its debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, will continue, ensuring a full slate of doubles events.
The ITTF Doubles World Cup is expected to serve as the premier event for doubles specialists, offering a dedicated global stage and strengthening the pathway towards Olympic competition.
“Doubles is returning to the Olympic Games, and the ITTF Doubles World Cup is how we rise to meet that moment,” said Petra Sörling. “In our centenary year, we are not just celebrating 100 years of table tennis — we are building the next 100.”
Recent results underline the growing prominence of doubles formats. At the ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals 2025, China’s Wang Chuqin and Sun Yingsha secured a third straight mixed doubles title. Japan’s Shunsuke Togami and Hiroto Shinozuka ended a 64-year wait for a men’s doubles world crown, while China’s Wang Manyu and Kuai Man clinched the women’s doubles title on debut as a pairing.
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Momentum has continued into 2026. At the WTT Singapore Smash, France’s Alexis Lebrun and Félix Lebrun claimed the men’s doubles title — the country’s first Grand Smash triumph in any discipline — and rose to World No.1. Brazil’s Hugo Calderano and Bruna Takahashi also made history by becoming the first players from the Americas to win a mixed doubles title at that level.
The announcement coincides with the ITTF’s centenary celebrations, marking 100 years since its formation. The governing body said the introduction of the Doubles World Cup is aimed at expanding opportunities for players and establishing a clearer qualification pathway in doubles events.
Details regarding the host venue, schedule and format of the tournament will be confirmed at a later date.
Published on Mar 19, 2026