London 2026 will mark a centenary like no other, while the world championships return to where it all started. When the inaugural world table tennis championships took place in London in 1926, few could have imagined how the sport would grow to become the global phenomenon that it is today. That same year also saw the establishment of the ITTF, making London 2026 a special centenary.
To mark this historical milestone, the ITTF has outlined an extensive play system for the final of the World Team Table Tennis Championships that promises to deliver excitement and to ensure that every game matters until the end.
The competition will contain 64 teams in events for both men and women, which considerably spreads from the 40-team format used in recent championships. This growth reflects the global development of table tennis and gives more teams the opportunity to compete on the largest stage of sport.
The tournament will unfold over two prestigious London locations. The Copper Box Arena organizes the opening phase from 28 April to 1 May, before the action moves to Wembley Arena from 2-10 May, where the world’s best teams fight for the ultimate prize.
The 64 teams in each gender are organized in 16 groups of four teams. Each group plays a complete round Robin competition – three games per team.
The most important innovation is in the staging. Phase 1a contains the Elite Eight Teams (the top seven -arranged countries plus host England) in just two groups. These competitions determine the Seedings for the main table, where all eight teams automatically progress.
Phase 1B contains the remaining 56 teams in 14 groups, where only the strongest artists continue. All 14 group winners demand directly, plus six of the best second teams based on their competition records.
The remaining eight second placed teams are confronted with a provisional knockout-four matches with only the winners that are making progress to complete the main drawing of 32 teams.
[View the full playing system here]
The tournament is building up to a Crescendo, with the ladies team final on 9 May followed by the final of the men’s team on 10 May – a perfect final of what promises to be a memorable world championships in the centenary of sport.
From the first serve in the Copper Box to the last point in Wembley, London 2026 will not only present the current power of world table tennis, but honor the remarkable journey that started in this city 100 years ago.
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