One hundred years after the very first World Championships were staged in London, the ITTF World Team Table Tennis Championships Finals London 2026 officially opened at the Copper Box Arena, marking a symbolic return to the birthplace of the sport’s global stage.
Back in 1926, a small group of enthusiasts gathered in Farringdon to form the International Table Tennis Federation and launch the inaugural championships. A century later, the world’s best teams have once again assembled in the British capital, closing a historic circle.
Teams from across the globe are competing for table tennis’ most prestigious team trophies – the Swaythling Cup, awarded to the men’s champions since that first edition, and the Corbillon Cup, introduced for the women’s competition in 1933. Over 13 days of action, culminating at the OVO Arena Wembley, two nations will etch their names into centenary history.
Stage 1B is now underway, featuring 56 men’s teams and 56 women’s teams divided into 14 groups. The opening day delivered a mix of high-quality performances, surprises, and tightly contested encounters – an early indication of what promises to be a compelling competition.
In the Men’s Team event, Spain produced one of the standout results, defeating Slovenia 3-1 in Group 5. Alvaro ROBLES led the charge with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Darko JORGIC, overturning a deficit in the deciding game to prevail 13-11.
European teams enjoyed a strong start across the opening matches, recording a series of convincing victories. Austria defeated Malaysia 3-0, while Belgium beat Fiji 3-0 and Italy secured a 3-0 walkover win against Togo. Hungary overcame Uzbekistan 3-0, and Poland saw off French Polynesia by the same margin. Croatia defeated Luxembourg 3-1 in another all-European encounter. Romania beat Benin 3-0, and Serbia also impressed with a 3-0 victory over Qatar. Czechia overcame Bahrain 3-0, Denmark defeated Mexico 3-0, and Slovakia beat Guatemala 3-0. Portugal added to the tally with a 3-0 win over Nicaragua, while Greece secured a solid 3-1 victory against Algeria. Moldova also contributed with a 3-1 win over Chile
European teams also made a strong impression in the Women’s Team event, delivering a series of confident performances across the opening matches. The Netherlands defeated Macau 3-0, while Slovakia overcame Switzerland 3-0. Czechia secured a 3-0 win against Mongolia, and Hungary recorded a 3-0 walkover victory over Ethiopia. Wales impressed with a 3-0 win against Nigeria, while Luxembourg beat Guatemala by the same margin. Portugal also advanced with a 3-0 walkover win over Barbados, and Spain claimed a 3-0 walkover victory against the Dominican Republic.
Austria defeated Angola 3-0, while Belgium overcame Algeria 3-0. Croatia produced a strong performance with a 3-0 win against Argentina, and Sweden followed with a 3-0 victory over Costa Rica. Serbia beat Benin 3-0, Italy defeated Türkiye 3-0, and Ukraine also recorded a 3-0 win against Rwanda.
Slovenia 1-3 loss to Thailand and Greece 0-3 against Singapore.
Action continues at the Copper Box Arena as Stage 1B progresses, with teams battling for progression and a place in the decisive stages at Wembley, where the finals will be held on 10 May.
