At the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals London 2026, 14 European men’s teams secured their place in the knockout phase after the group stage and preliminary round.
Denmark, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Romania, Poland and Austria led the way, each topping their groups with flawless 3-0 records and setting the tone with confident, controlled performances.
Just behind them, a second wave kept Europe’s momentum going. Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia and Belgium all progressed with only one defeat, showing both consistency and composure when it mattered most.
The battle for the remaining spots added extra drama. Eight teams competed for four places in the main draw, and Serbia rose to the occasion with a 3-1 win over Mexico. Dimitrije LEVAJAC once again led from the front, while Uroš NINKOVIĆ’s comeback victory captured the fighting spirit that carried the team through.
Italy also made a strong statement. After finishing as runners-up in their group, they produced one of the most convincing performances of the day, sweeping Argentina 3-0. John OYEBODE set the pace, with Matteo MUTTI and Danilo FASO backing him up to secure progression in style.
For Greece, however, the journey came to an end after a narrow defeat to Moldova in a tightly contested final match.
Now, the focus shifts to the next phase, where the top seeds enter the stage and the level rises even further. European heavyweights are immediately tested: Germany open against Japan before facing France in an all-European clash, while Sweden meet Korea and England in Group 1. France will also take on Chinese Taipei as they look to build momentum.
The action continues on Sunday with another series of high-profile encounters, including France versus Japan and Germany against Chinese Taipei, while Sweden face China in one of the standout ties.
