Over the past decade, padel has gone from being a regional leisure activity to a worldwide phenomenon. According to the latest findings from the International Padel Federation and industry reports, more than 30 million people now play padel globally and the sport will be present in well over 130 countries by early 2025.
In Europe, Latin America, Asia and other regions, infrastructure is growing around padel Fast. Courses, clubs and organised tournaments are emerging at an accelerated pace. This rapid growth is driven both by sporting interest and the social, inclusive nature of the game. It's easy to learn for beginners, promotes cross-gender play and offers a fresh alternative to more traditional racquet sports.
The community behind the tracks
It's not just the numbers that matter. What's remarkable is the global community that is emerging around padel. Clubs in Spain, Sweden, Brazil, Mexico and many other places are bringing together diverse groups such as friends, corporate teams and new players. It reflects how quickly the sport has spread. Even in countries where padel was almost unknown a few years ago, significant investments have been made to build courts, launch leagues and introduce new programmes.
With the expansion of the sport, local fan communities are forming. Padel becomes a shared cultural experience that brings people together across borders.
Beyond the game: Fan behaviour and engagement
As sports mature, fan behaviour evolves too. Across continents, sports fans express their enthusiasm in many ways, from cheering in arenas and following international tournaments to participating in fantasy leagues or getting involved in betting during major finals. It used to be limited to traditional sports like football and tennis. Now it has evolved into a broader entertainment activity that encompasses everything from e-sports to niche tournaments.
As padel gains traction globally, particularly in Europe and South America, the sport is beginning to cross these patterns of fan behaviour. The inclusion of padel matches in select gaming and entertainment platforms is a sign of the growing commercial importance and fan engagement. This development shows how deeply padel is becoming entrenched in global sports culture.
It shows that the global padel community is about following, sharing, investing time and emotion, and even betting on outcomes, all of which strengthen connections and loyalty.
Infrastructure and growth figures
The infrastructure supporting Padel's growth tells an impressive story. Reports suggest that globally, more than 50,000 lanes have now been built, with many thousands added in the past year alone. In one study, over 7,000 new lanes were built in 2024 alone, and the forecast for 2027 is around 81,000 lanes.
Clubs are also growing fast. A 2025 estimate shows that a club opens approximately every 2.5 hours somewhere in the world. These figures reflect both demand and investment. Some regions, including North America, the Middle East and parts of Asia, are still considered “emerging markets”, but the momentum is clearly global.
A member survey from the Danish Padel Federation in February 2025 also shows, 34 out of 52 Danish padel centres are satisfied with their financial situation, and 31 believe it is profitable to operate padel courts in Denmark.
Global reach and regional highlights
Although padel is still strongest in Spain and Argentina, recent years have shown remarkable progress elsewhere. For example, in the first half of 2025, the professional circuits organised by the International Padel Federation (FIP) saw an increase in participation of 35% and the number of countries hosting tournaments rose from 21% to 38%. In Asia and North America, new clubs and tournaments are attracting interest from both local populations and expats.
Why the global fan base is important
The global fan base amplifies the potential of sport in several key ways. Firstly, fan enthusiasm drives media coverage, sponsorships and streaming partnerships, raising the profile of the sport and attracting new participants. Second, fans form communities as coaches, social players, tournament travellers, club members, all contributing economic value beyond simply playing the game. Thirdly, when fans feel part of something international, the sport's brand is strengthened, opening the door for events, merchandise, global tours and cross-border leagues.
For companies, marketers and sponsors, this means that padel is a global lifestyle category. The community effect creates networking benefits. As one region grows, it supports others through tournaments, equipment sales and memberships across the board. The overall effect is a growing global ecosystem.