The continental championships currently taking place around the world will see a total of 52 teams book their places at next year’s ITTF World Team Championships in London.
There are 16 spots for each gender available through both the Asian and European Championships, with eight in each of the African and American Championships.
The ITTF Oceania Championships have already taken place, with the men’s teams from Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Tahiti earning their places, as well as Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti and the Cook Islands in the women’s competitions.
The team tournaments at the continental championships in Africa and America end on Sunday. The remaining 12 places in London 2026 go to England as host country, plus 11 places in the world team rankings.
Asia
Powerhouse China tops the list of 16 Asian countries qualifying for the centennial ITTF World Team Championships 2026 in London.
Both the men’s and women’s teams are defending champions and therefore did not have to qualify for London, but both took their usual continental titles at the Asian Championships in Bhubaneswar, India.
Other countries qualifying for both men’s and women’s teams include Japan, South Korea, India, Chinese Taipei, North Korea and Malaysia (pictured above).
The full list of eligible countries is:
Gentlemen
China (reigning world champion)
Regional Champions: Bahrain (Western 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 champion)
Regional Champions: Syria (Western 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
While China winning both continental titles is no surprise, the men’s team suffered a huge scare in an incredible semi-final against Japan.
Each match lasted five games and China had to come from 2-0 down to take its place in the final. Tomokazu Harimoto (WR 4) put Japan ahead by beating Liang Jingkun 12-10, 11-13, 13-11, 9-11, 11-9 and Sora Matsushima (WR 16) then sank world No. 1 Wang Chuqin 8-11, 11-4, 12-10, 9-11, 11-7.
World No. 2 Lin Shidong started the comeback when he defeated Hiroto Shinozuka (WR 31) 12-14, 11-2, 11-5, 10-12, 11-6 and Wang then defeated Harimoto 8-11, 11-1, 11-9, 13-15, 11-8.
World No. 7 Liang then took the gold when he came from 2-1 down to beat Matsushima 8-11, 13-11, 11-13, 11-4, 11-3. China defeated Hong Kong in the final 3-0.
In contrast, the Chinese women came through to take the title without dropping a match, culminating in a 3-0 win over Japan in the final.
Europe
The French women’s 3-0 victory over Slovenia in the play-off for 17th position on Thursday evening earned them the final qualifying spot.
Because England finished in the top 16 but did not have to qualify, 17th place also earned a place as hosts for London 2026.
As third seeds, France had a disastrous group stage, with defeats against both France and the Netherlands taking them to the play-offs. But wins over Wales, Turkey and Slovenia, all 3-0, saw them salvage their tournament.
The full list of eligible countries is:
Gentlemen
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, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Hungary, Ukraine, Spain, England, Serbia, France
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