Courtesy: The Fort

The world’s fastest-growing sport is about to serve up its biggest showdown yet... and it’s all going down in our back yard. From October 27 through November 2, The Fort will host the Pickleball World Cup, bringing together more than 3,000 players from 80-plus countries for a weeklong global competition unlike any South Florida pickleball court has ever seen. 

Expect flags from Armenia to New Zealand waving courtside as competitors battle it out across The Fort’s 43 courts. From Taiwan to the Bahamas, the Czech Republic to South Africa, the lineup reads like a United Nations roll call, but with paddles. The tournament’s scale and the diversity of its talent underscores pickleball’s meteoric rise from backyard pastime to a true international phenomenon.

“Bringing the World Cup to The Fort is a milestone for our city and for pickleball,” Brad Tuckman, co-founder of The Fort tells Browardist. “Our lakeside campus and stadium were built for moments like this, and we cannot wait to welcome the world to play here.”

For the hardcore picklers out there, the format promises to be as intense as it is inclusive: pool play followed by a single-elimination bracket. Every participant is guaranteed three matches, and the top two teams from each pool advance to playoffs. Games are rally-scoring to 15, win by two, with finals shifting to best two-of-three. 

Expect some serious dinking drama as pros, juniors, wheelchair and hybrid divisions take the stage throughout the week.

And if you need a break from the action (or a solid post-match feast), The Fort’s newest addition, Florida Room, is officially open and ready to impress. Helmed by celebrity chefs Jeff McInnis and Janine Booth, the restaurant blends Southern comfort and coastal cool – think wagyu meatloaf, buttermilk fried chicken and coconut key lime pie – with a patio overlooking the courts. So, grab your paddle, your flags (and maybe an appetite) for a week that will be about much more than global competition.

More info and full tournament details at copamundialdepickleball.com and playthefort.com.

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