Global football legends take to the padel court as WPA supports Sharjah’s vision for inclusive, multi-sport community engagement
World Padel Academy (WPA) hosted a high-profile padel tournament on 10 January as part of Sharjah’s Week of the Stars, organised by Sharjah Commerce & Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) and Sharjah Sports Council. The event returned for its fourth edition, taking place from 7–12 January 2026 and bringing together international sporting icons and the local community.
The event, officially endorsed by FIFA, featured the participation of the FIFA Legends Team alongside some of football’s most recognisable names, including Francesco Totti, Christian Vieri, Christian Panucci, Vincent Candela, Robert Pires, Diego Perotti, Luca Antonini, Christian Zaccardo, Marco Materazzi, Dario Marcolin, Alessandro Florenzi, Fernando Llorente, Dmitry Sychev, Annoni, Ibrahim Ba and Dmitri Bulykin who took part in a friendly padel match at WPA’s Sharjah facility.
The padel tournament formed a key moment within the wider Sharjah’s Week of the Stars programme and concluded with a football match and related sporting activities on 11 January, alongside flagship moments such as the “Night of the Stars.” Designed to celebrate sport in all its forms, the initiative highlighted the role of cross-disciplinary engagement in encouraging active lifestyles and community participation.
For World Padel Academy, hosting the padel component of the programme marked a strategic milestone in its mission to further embed padel within the UAE’s sporting culture. By welcoming global football legends onto the padel court, WPA highlighted the sport’s accessibility, social appeal, and growing relevance across diverse audiences.
H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of SCTDA, said, “The inclusion of padel, hosted by World Padel Academy, added an important dimension to this year’s Sharjah’s Week of the Stars. It reflects our commitment to building a multi-sport platform that inspires youth, engages the community, and positions Sharjah as a destination for progressive and impactful sporting initiatives.”
Ali Al Arif, Chief Executive Officer of World Padel Academy, said, “Sharjah’s Week of the Stars brings together everything we believe sport should represent: accessibility, inspiration, and community. Hosting this padel event allowed us to introduce the sport to new audiences, show its crossover appeal, and place padel alongside globally recognised disciplines. When young people see sporting icons enjoying the game, it sends a powerful message that sport can be social, inclusive, and part of everyday life.”
Padel continues to experience sustained growth across Sharjah and the wider UAE, driven by its ease of entry and appeal across age groups. WPA’s participation in Sharjah’s Week of the Stars reinforces its role as a partner in community-led sports development and its commitment to collaborating with organisers, institutions, and local authorities to deliver meaningful sporting experiences.
World Padel Academy operates multiple locations across the Emirates, including a dedicated venue in Khor Fakkan. It is part of a growing international network, underscoring its long-term commitment to supporting inclusive, high-quality sports initiatives in Sharjah and beyond.
