The inaugural Major League Pickleball (MLP) Nations Cup runs from 30 October to 1 November 2026 at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, Texas. Featuring eight regional teams and 48 players, the tournament includes two Asia-based teams, giving fans across the region a reason to follow the international competition despite the time difference.
Key Points for the MLP Nations Cup
- Eight teams, 48 players: The inaugural MLP Nations Cup brings together regional teams for three days of competition in Texas.
- Two Asian teams: Asia International and Asia Domestic will compete against six other regional teams for the inaugural title.
- Championship Sunday: The top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals, followed by the final on 1 November in the US.
- How to watch: All matches will stream on Pickleballtv and the Pickleballtv app, although some matches will fall on the following calendar day for Asian viewers.
MLP Nations Cup 2026: Dates and Time Differences for Asia
The inaugural MLP Nations Cup begins on 30 October and concludes on 1 November 2026 at Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, a suburb of Dallas, Texas. With eight regional teams and 48 players competing, the event brings together players from Asia, North America, Europe, Australia and Latin America.
For Asian fans, the main challenge is the time difference. Texas observes Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC−5) until the US clocks go back in the early hours of 1 November, when it switches to Central Standard Time (CST, UTC−6).
Before the clock change, Manila, Hong Kong, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Taipei and Beijing are 13 hours ahead of Texas, increasing to 14 hours afterwards. Vietnam and Thailand are 12 hours ahead before the change and 13 hours after, while Japan moves from 14 to 15 hours ahead. India is 10.5 hours ahead initially, increasing to 11.5 hours.
For example, an 8:00 am CDT match begins at 9:00 pm on the same day in Manila and Hong Kong. Matches starting at 11:00 am CDT or later will take place after midnight on the following day in those cities. As the organisers have not yet published exact match start times, fans should check Pickleballtv for the confirmed schedule.
MLP Nations Cup 2026 Format: Eight Teams, Two Groups
The eight teams are divided into two groups for the round-robin stage on Friday and Saturday. Group A consists of Asia Domestic, Europe West, Canada and the United States, while Group B features Asia International, Australia, Europe East and Latin America.
The top two teams from each group will advance to Championship Sunday. The Group A runner-up will face the Group B winner, while the Group A winner will meet the Group B runner-up in the other semifinal. The two winners will then compete in the final to determine the first-ever MLP Nations Cup champion.
Meet the Two Asian Teams at the MLP Nations Cup
Team Asia International
Captained by Madeleine Lim, Team Asia International features six players from across Asia, including several familiar names for fans who followed the Hang Seng Bank Hong Kong Slam 2026. The roster includes Japan's Rika Fujiwara and Tama Shimabukuro, China's Lingwei Kong, Malaysia's Jimmy Liong, Hong Kong, China's Jack Wong Hong-kit, and the Philippines' Macy Ybañez.
Team Asia Domestic
Team Asia Domestic is led by co-captains Geoffrey Nguyen and Jeff Tsao. Its six-player roster features Augie Ge and Len Yang from China, Milan Rane from India, Jonathan Truong from Vietnam, and Zoey Wang and Jamie Wei from Chinese Taipei. The team will compete in Group A, while Asia International is placed in Group B.
Other Teams Competing at the MLP Nations Cup
The remaining six teams complete the eight-team field, bringing together players from North America, Europe, Australia and Latin America.
- Team USA — Captain: Johnny Goldberg. Players: Anna Bright, Tyra Black, Kate Fahey, Ben Johns, CJ Klinger and Will Howells.
- Team Canada — Captain: Steve Deakin. Players: Victoria DiMuzio, Blaine Hovenier, Armaan Jiwa Mawji, Layne Sleeth, Ryan Torresin and Angie Walker.
- Team Europe West — Captain: Chris Cantino. Players: Judit Castillo, Helena Jansen, Will MacKinnon, Theo Platel, Estee Widdershoven and DJ Young.
- Team Australia — Captain: Sange Carter. Players: Sarah Burr, Chris Crouch, Sahra Dennehy, Mitch Hargreaves, Danni-Elle Townsend and George Wall.
- Team Latin America — Captain: Juan Benitez. Players: Nico Acevedo, Mari Humberg, Rafa Lenhard, Eric Oncins, Alexa Schull and Charlie Trevino.
- Team Europe East — Captain: Caleb Garrard. Players: Andrei Daescu, Arwid Dahlin, Ivan Jakovljevic, Lina Padegimaite, Tina Pisnik and Daria Walczak.
MLP Nations Cup 2026 Match Schedule
The group-stage matches take place on 30 and 31 October in the US, followed by the semifinals and final on 1 November. For viewers in Manila, Hong Kong and Singapore, matches may fall on either the listed US date or the following day, depending on their start times.
On Friday, 30 October, the group-stage matchups are Australia vs Asia International, Europe East vs Latin America, Europe West vs Asia Domestic, Canada vs USA, Australia vs Europe East, and Asia Domestic vs Canada.
Saturday's schedule on 31 October features Latin America vs Asia International, USA vs Europe West, Asia International vs Europe East, Latin America vs Australia, USA vs Asia Domestic, and Europe West vs Canada.
On Sunday, 1 November, the first semifinal will see the second-placed team from Group A face the Group B winner. The second semifinal will pit the Group A winner against the Group B runner-up. The two semifinal winners will then meet in the final to decide the inaugural champion.
The exact match start times have not been announced. Depending on when the matches begin, Asian viewers may need to adjust their schedules, with Sunday's final expected to fall on 2 November in Manila, Hong Kong and Singapore.
How to Watch the MLP Nations Cup 2026
All matches will stream on Pickleballtv and the Pickleballtv app, with additional broadcast details still to come. Fans should check the platform for confirmed match times and viewing information as the tournament approaches.
With eight regional teams competing for the inaugural title, the MLP Nations Cup marks an international showcase for pickleball. The participation of Asia International and Asia Domestic gives fans across the region two teams to follow, even if the time difference means staying up late to catch the action.
