Argentina Announces 2026 World Padel Squad, Arce and Alfonso Selected

Argentina announced the men's and women's rosters for the 2026 Padel World Championships in Doha, taking place November 2–7. The announcement on 7 October 2026 brings with it a number of important decisions, including the first call-ups of Maxi Arce and Gonzalo Alfonso as well as the inclusion of young player Victoria Vílchez. On the other hand, Juan Tello was again not selected in the men's squad.

Arce and Alfonso got their first chance

Argentina will come to Doha with the status of defending men's world champion. Six players from the squad that won the title in 2024 are back, namely Agustín Tapia, Federico Chingotto, Leo Augsburger, Martín Di Nenno, Franco Stupaczuk and Tino Libaak. Coaches Gaby Reca and Rodrigo Ovide complete the list with Maxi Arce and Gonzalo Alfonso.

This call-up was the first opportunity for Arce and Alfonso to defend the Argentine national team at the world championships. Both of them got a place thanks to their performances in recent times. Alfonso, in particular, attracted attention when playing alongside Tino Libaak.

At the P2 Rotterdam tournament, the Argentine pair were able to provide resistance to Agustín Tapia and Arturo Coello. They took the first set with a score of 6-4, before finally losing. After the match, Tapia said that Alfonso's performance in the last few months made him worthy of entering the national team. Not long after, this hope came true.

The following is the list of Argentina's men's squad: Agustín Tapia, Federico Chingotto, Leo Augsburger, Franco Stupaczuk, Martín Di Nenno, Tino Libaak, Maxi Arce and Gonzalo Alfonso.

Juan Tello is again not in the squad

The decision that attracted the most attention was the absence of Juan Tello. The player nicknamed El Gato also did not appear in the 2024 edition due to family reasons, specifically the birth of his child. This time, he was not selected based on sporting considerations, even though his performance was starting to show consistency.

Tello even teamed up with Arce in Premier Padel. However, of the two players, the coaching team finally chose Arce. At 31 years old, Tello again missed out on the opportunity to represent his country in a major team competition. Sanyo Gutiérrez and Álex Chozas are also not included in the latest squad compared to the 2024 champion team.

Defending the title is certainly not an easy task for Argentina. Spain has strong squad depth and players capable of competing at the highest level. The choice of partners and the results of each match have the potential to determine the direction of the competition between the two countries.

Getting to know padel

Padel is a racket sport played on a court with a dividing wall. This sport combines a number of tennis game characteristics and has its own dynamics because the ball can bounce off the wall according to the rules. In team matches such as the World Championships, the composition of the pairs is an important factor in facing the opponent.

Victoria Vílchez was the surprise of the women's team

In the women's sector, Argentina retained seven of the eight players appearing in the 2024 edition. Another place was given to Victoria Vílchez, a 16-year-old player who is ranked 358th in the world. He will make his first call to the senior national team as well as appear at the world championships.

Vílchez replaces Daiara Valenzuela, who chose not to take part in this edition due to personal reasons. Valenzuela is known in France as Léa Godallier's partner on the international circuit.

Argentina's women's squad consists of Delfi Brea, Claudia Jensen, Aranza Osoro, Martina Fassio, María Laura Ferreyra, Virginia Riera, Julieta Bidahorria and Victoria Vílchez. Brea will be one of the main players, accompanied by a number of names who already have international experience.

Argentina has flexibility in arranging partners. Brea has shown an ability to adapt to various competitions, while Osoro and Fassio have played on both sides of the pitch throughout their careers. This advantage can help the coaching team adjust their strategy to face opponents.

Spain remains the top seed in the women's sector. Argentina once gave Spain tough resistance in the 2024 final, but the challenge to win the title this time remains big. The Argentine men's team will try to defend their crown, while the women's team will try to take it from Spain. Both teams are now preparing to face the competition in Doha.

Source: padelmagazine.fr, 7 October 2026