Pickleball fever is sweeping across Asia, with 282 million people on the continent, playing pickleball at least once a month.
Across Southeast Asia, courts are filling up, clubs are multiplying, and competitive structures are taking shape at a remarkable pace.
Vietnam is One of Asia’s Fastest-Growing Pickleball Markets
Pickleball was invented in the United States in 1965 as a recreational backyard game and the pickleball craze is spreading quickly around the world especially in Asia.
The sport was introduced to Vietnam only three years ago by Vietnamese expatriates returning from the US. Since then, pickleball has exploded in popularity in Vietnam at an unprecedented rate.
Vietnam leads in awareness and participation percentages: 88% of people know about pickleball and 37% play the sport regularly. Vietnam now boasts over 16 million frequent players in this brief period of time.
Vietnam’s rise in pickleball has also been underscored by strong data. According to a report by Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR), the country recorded a remarkable 184% growth in 2025, highlighting the sport’s rapid expansion and increasing popularity.
Research has also shown that the total sales of pickleball equipment in Vietnam reached almost US$20 million in just the first half of 2025. That is a staggering 13-fold increase from the same period in 2024 and nearly double the full-year revenue of 2024, which totalled only US$10 million.
Vietnam chosen to host 2026 Pickleball World Cup
Based on the data, it is no surprise that Vietnam has been selected to host the 2026 Pickleball World Cup which is set to be held in Da Nang from 30 August to 6 September, marking a significant milestone as the tournament debuts in Asia for the first time.
After being held for three years since 2023, the tournament has become an international event, attracting a large number of representatives from various countries and setting record milestones. This will be the fourth time this international pickleball tournament has taken place and is expected to become one of the largest tournaments in Vietnam in terms of the number of athletes.
While the 2023 World Cup Pickleball held in Lima, Peru, featured only 14 players representing their countries, the number rose to 33 in 2024. At the 2025 World Cup held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, it attracted over 3000 players from 68 countries and more than 25,000 fans attended the six-day event.
The World Cup Pickleball’s Instagram stated, “For the first time, WCP comes to Asia, and the destination is Da Nang. This is a new chapter, new energy, and a new stage at the heart of Asian pickleball. More than just a location, it’s a place of passion, where history converges.”
Vietnam’s unique blend of athletic energy and community spirit is fuelling a culture where players are not just competing; they are helping shape the future of pickleball in Asia.
