Padel’s Global Rise: How the Sport Conquered the World
Padel history · Updated 2026
Padel’s global rise started with a backyard court in Acapulco in 1969 and spread through Spain’s club culture, Argentina’s passion for the sport and eventually a professional circuit that now reaches 140+ countries. The combination of social format, easy entry and genuine tactical depth makes padel uniquely well-positioned for global growth.
Key milestones in padel’s global rise
Enrique Corcuera builds the first padel court at his home in Acapulco, Mexico.
Viviana Corcuera writes the first rules as a birthday gift for her husband.Prince Alfonso de Hohenlohe brings padel to the Marbella Club in Spain.
Padel gains immediate social cachet among European elite. The club model takes hold.The International Padel Federation (FIP) is founded in Madrid.
Argentina, Spain and Uruguay formalise global governance and standardise the rules.Massive growth across Argentina, Spain and Latin America.
Padel becomes one of the most-played sports in Spain — millions of active players.World Padel Tour launches, creating a professional circuit with elite players.
The sport gains international media coverage and a professional playing ecosystem.Rapid expansion into UK, USA, Sweden, Italy and the Middle East.
Premier Padel launches. Celebrity involvement accelerates mainstream awareness globally.UK reaches 860,000 players and 1,500+ courts. USA padel grows rapidly.
Andy Murray and Anthony Joshua win a professional padel team event in Madrid.Why padel spreads so effectively
Padel has a rare combination of qualities that most sports lack: it is genuinely easy to start, deeply social by format, tactically rich enough to sustain improvement over years, and builds community naturally through its club infrastructure.
Beginners can sustain rallies in their first session. Club culture comes built-in. The premium court environments and court-to-clubhouse lifestyle make it attractive to a demographic that other sports struggle to reach. And the involvement of footballers, celebrities and business figures has given padel a cultural momentum that accelerates growth far beyond word of mouth.
The future of padel
With international tournaments expanding, Olympic inclusion under discussion and US padel growing rapidly, the sport is still in an early phase of its global arc. For players anywhere in the world, the best time to start is now — the courts are being built and the community is forming.
- Enrique Corcuera — who invented padel and why
- Why padel is the fastest-growing sport
- Meet the pioneers of padel
- Celebrities playing padel in the UK
- Footballers who play padel
- New to padel? How to get started
Join the world’s fastest-growing sport
Corcuera padel clothing — built for players who know the story behind the sport.
Frequently asked questions
Where did padel originate?
Padel was invented by Enrique Corcuera in Acapulco, Mexico in 1969. It spread to Spain in 1974 and became a global sport over the following decades.
How many countries play padel?
Padel is now played in over 140 countries with a global player base estimated at 25–30 million.
Is padel growing in the UK?
Yes — rapidly. Around 860,000 people played padel in the UK in 2025, up from 400,000 in 2024. The UK now has over 1,500 courts across 550+ venues.