Nations book their places at London 2026!

October 20, 2025 | Paul Stimpson

Players across the globe are celebrating after helping their nations to book a place at next year’s ITTF World Team Championships in London!

A total of 52 nations – plus hosts England have now secured their spots at the iconic centenary edition of the Championships, via continental championships around the world.

All that is missing is the identity of the remaining 11 teams in each gender who will next month secure a place via the team world rankings lists.

There were 16 spots in each gender available via both the Asian Championships and European Championships, with eight in each of the African and American Championships.

The ITTF Oceania Championships took place earlier this year, with Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Tahitiâ€s menâ€s teams earning their spots, as did Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and Cook Islands in the womenâ€s competitions.

Here’s who will be on the plane to London next April!

Asia

Powerhouse China lead the list of 16 Asian nations to qualify for the centenary ITTF World Team Championships 2026 in London.

Both the menâ€s and womenâ€s teams are defending champions and therefore did not need to qualify for London, but both took their customary continental titles at the Asia Championships in Bhubaneswar, India.

Among the other nations to qualify both menâ€s and womenâ€s teams are Japan, South Korea, India, Chinese Taipei, North Korea and Malaysia (pictured above).

The full list of qualifying nations is:

Men
China (reigning world champions)
Regional champions:Bahrain (west Asia), Kazakhstan (central Asia), India (south Asia)
Via continental championships: Japan, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, South Korea, North Korea, Iran, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Qatar, Mongolia, Uzbekistan

Women
China (reigning champions)
Regional champions:Syria (west Asia), Kazakhstan (central Asia), India (south Asia)
Via continental championships:Japan, Singapore, South Korea, North Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia, Iran, Sri Lanka, Macau, Mongolia

Although China winning both continental titles is not a surprise, the menâ€s team had an almighty scare in an incredible semi-final against Japan.

Every match went to five games and China had to come from 2-0 down to take their place in the final. Tomokazu Harimoto (WR 4) put Japan in front by beating Liang Jingkun 12-10, 11-13, 13-11, 9-11, 11-9 and Sora Matsushima (WR 16) then sunk world No 1 Wang Chuqin 8-11, 11-4, 12-10, 9-11, 11-7.

World No 2 Lin Shidong started the comeback as he beat Hiroto Shinozuka (WR 31) 12-14, 11-2, 11-5, 10-12, 11-6 and Wang then beat Harimoto 8-11, 11-1, 11-9, 13-15, 11-8.

World No 7 Liang then clinched the gold as he came from 2-1 down to beat Matsushima 8-11, 13-11, 11-13, 11-4, 11-3. China went on to defeat Hong Kong 3-0 in the final.

In contrast, Chinaâ€s women came through to take the title without dropping a game, culminating in a 3-0 win over Japan in the final.

Europe

Spain celebrate their qualification

France women’s 3-0 victory over Slovenia in the play-off for 17th position on Thursday night earned them the final qualifying spot.

With England finishing inside the top 16 but not needing to qualify, as host nation for London 2026, 17th place also earned a spot.

Third seeds France had a disastrous group stage, with defeats to both France and Netherlands consigning them to the play-offs. But victories over Wales, Turkey and Slovenia, all 3-0, meant they salvaged their tournament.

The full list of qualifying nations is:

Men
France, Sweden, Germany, Portugal, Romania, Belgium, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Croatia, Denmark, Poland, Greece, Serbia, Moldova, Turkey.

Women
Germany, Romania, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Croatia, Slovakia, Austria, Czechia, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Hungary, Ukraine, Spain, England, Serbia, France

Pan-America

Argentina beat the USA 3-2 to win the men’s final, while it was a 3-1 victory for Puerto Rico over the Americans in the women’s final.

Kanak Jha won his two matches in the final 3-2, but Argentina trio Horacio Cifuentes, Francisco Sanchi and Santiago Lorenzo won one each to clinch the title for their nation.

In the women’s final, Adriana Diaz inspired Puerto Rico to take the crown, winning her two matches – including against USA spearhead Lily Zhang, to add to one win for Brianna Burgos.

The full list of qualifying nations is:

Men
Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, United States, Guatemala, Chile

Women
Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Puerto Rico, United States, Argentina, Guatemala

Africa

The full list of qualifying nations is:

Men
Egypt, Benin, Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria, Togo, Madagascar, Morocco

Women
Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Madagascar, Algeria, Tunisia, Uganda, South Africa

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