Padel Organisations
Who runs padel? From the FIP that sets the global rules to the national federations overseeing millions of players in Spain, France, the UK, and beyond.
Quick reference
| Organisation | Region | Role |
|---|---|---|
| FIP | Global | International governing body |
| WPT | Global | Professional tour |
| Premier Padel | Global | Elite professional circuit |
| APT Padel Tour | Global | Alternative professional circuit |
| RFEP | Spain | National federation |
| FFPadel | France | National federation |
| LTA Padel | UK | National governing body |
| FIP Europa | Europe | European regional body |
| RFAP | Argentina | National federation |
| Swedish Padel Federation | Sweden | National federation |
Global Organisations
Governing bodies and professional tours that operate across borders.
FIP — Federación Internacional de Pádel
The Federación Internacional de Pádel is the sport's global governing body, founded in 1991 — the same year as the first World Championship. FIP sets the official rules of padel, sanctions international competitions including the Padel World Championship (held every two years), and oversees FIP-affiliated national federations in 90+ countries. It is also leading the campaign for Olympic recognition.
WPT — World Padel Tour
The World Padel Tour is padel's longest-established professional circuit, founded in 2005. It runs a season of tournaments across Europe and Latin America, with a ranking system that defines the top men's and women's players globally. WPT tournaments are streamed online and on TV, and the tour has been central to professionalising the sport and growing its audience outside of Spain and Argentina.
Premier Padel
Premier Padel launched in 2022 backed by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and in collaboration with the FIP. It positioned itself as the top tier of professional padel, attracting many of the world's top-ranked players and signing a broadcast deal with DAZN for global streaming. Its emergence triggered a period of competitive tension with the WPT before the two circuits eventually aligned under a unified structure.
APT Padel Tour
The APT Padel Tour launched in 2021 as a rival to the WPT, offering an alternative competitive pathway for professional players. It has expanded its calendar across Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, and is particularly popular among players outside the top 50 world ranking who seek competitive tournament opportunities. The APT has grown steadily and now hosts 20+ events per year.
National Federations
Country-level bodies that govern domestic padel, manage coach certification, and represent their nations in international competition.
RFEP — Real Federación Española de Pádel
Spain's national padel federation is the largest in the world, overseeing a domestic scene with over 6 million registered players and 20,000+ courts. The RFEP organises the Spanish national championships, manages coach certification, and coordinates Spain's participation in international competitions. It reports to the FIP.
FFPadel — Fédération Française de Padel
The French Padel Federation (FFPadel) governs padel in France, overseeing an estimated 300,000+ players and a rapidly growing court network. France is one of Europe's fastest-growing padel markets, driven by strong investment in indoor club infrastructure and an engaged club-sports culture.
LTA Padel
The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) took padel under its umbrella in 2020, creating LTA Padel as the governing body for the sport in Great Britain. The LTA has invested significantly in court infrastructure, coach education, and grassroots development, positioning padel as a growth sport alongside tennis. The UK now has 400+ padel courts with aggressive expansion plans.
FIP Europa
FIP Europa is the European regional body of the FIP, coordinating padel development across European national federations. It organises the European Padel Championship and supports national federation development in emerging markets like Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Eastern Europe.
RFAP — Real Federación Argentina de Pádel
Argentina's national padel federation oversees one of the world's most passionate padel communities. Buenos Aires rivals Madrid in padel culture, and Argentina regularly competes at the top of the World Championship rankings. Argentine players have dominated professional padel for decades, producing legends like Fernando Belasteguín.
Swedish Padel Federation
Sweden has the highest padel participation rate outside Spain and Argentina, with an estimated 600,000 active players. The Swedish Padel Federation has built a dense network of indoor clubs to enable year-round play and is one of Europe's most professional domestic organisations, with structured leagues at every level.
Padel Organisations FAQs
What is the FIP in padel?
The FIP (Federación Internacional de Pádel) is padel's international governing body, founded in 1991. It sets the official rules of padel, sanctions the Padel World Championship (held every two years), and oversees national federations in 90+ countries. The FIP is also leading the campaign for padel's Olympic recognition.
What is the difference between WPT and Premier Padel?
The WPT (World Padel Tour) was padel's original professional circuit, founded in 2005. Premier Padel launched in 2022, backed by Qatar Sports Investments and aligned with the FIP. Both circuits attracted top players, creating a competitive tension before they eventually aligned. WPT has the longer history and established calendar; Premier Padel brought major broadcast deals and institutional investment.
Who governs padel in Spain?
The RFEP (Real Federación Española de Pádel) governs padel in Spain — the world's largest national padel federation, overseeing 6+ million registered players and 20,000+ courts.
Who governs padel in the UK?
LTA Padel, a division of the Lawn Tennis Association, governs padel in Great Britain. The LTA officially took padel under its umbrella in 2020 and has since invested significantly in court infrastructure and coach certification.
Want to coach padel professionally?
Professional coaching certifications are typically issued by national federations (e.g., RFEP in Spain, LTA in the UK, FFPadel in France). If you're already coaching or want to claim your profile on Padel Coach Finder, you can do so for free.
Want to coach padel professionally?
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