Portugal names a refreshed squad for the FIP World Cup 2026 in Doha

Four players making their senior international debut. That is the most striking number in Portugal's FIP World Cup 2026 squad announcement, and it tells you something important about where Portuguese padel is heading right now.

The tournament runs from 2 to 7 November in Doha, and Portugal will arrive with a roster that blends proven international experience alongside a new generation that has clearly earned its place, rather than being handed it.

The men's squad: one big debut, one notable absence

The headline on the men's side is the call-up of Salvador Simões, who will compete at senior level for the first time. What makes this particularly striking is the context: Simões is still in his final year at Under-18 level. He represented Portugal at the U18 European Championship held in Porto this summer, and has now been promoted straight into the full national squad. That is not a routine step up.

The main absentee is Afonso Fazendeiro, who has missed a large portion of the season through injury. Zé Alexandre Meireles also misses out despite being involved in the most recent training camp, which underlines how competitive the selection process has become even within a relatively tight-knit national programme.

The full men's squad named for Doha is:

• Antonio Luque
• Diogo Jesus
• Miguel Deus
• Nuno Deus
• Pedro Graça
• Pedro Perry
• Peu Araújo
• Salvador Simões

The women's squad: three debutants and a genuine statement of intent

If the men's list is notable, the women's is genuinely eye-catching. Three players will represent Portugal at senior level for the first time, and none of them are unknown quantities.

Andrea Achando and Kika Santos arrive with serious pedigree. Both are regulars in Portugal's junior setup and, crucially, both were part of the Portuguese pair that reached the Under-18 World Championship final in 2025, finishing as runners-up. That is a significant résumé to bring into a senior World Cup campaign.

Andrea Achando and Kika Santos were U18 world runners-up in 2025. They are not prospects being given a look, they are players being asked to perform.

The third debutant is Simone Simas, who has been involved in several Portuguese national training camps but is now receiving her first call-up to a major competition. Her progression from camp participant to World Cup squad member suggests the coaching staff have seen enough to commit.

Three players who featured at the last European Championship will not be in Doha: Constança Gorito, Margarida Fernandes and Jessica Para all miss out, making this a notably different-looking women's team compared to recent competitions.

The full women's squad is:

• Sofia Araújo
• Ana Catarina Nogueira
• Patrícia Ribeiro
• Andrea Achando
• Clarinha Santos
• Kika Santos
• Simone Simas
• Alexandra Silva

What Portugal are building here is a squad that does not simply rotate the same experienced names through major tournaments. Bringing in players of the Achando and Kika Santos calibre, fresh from a world final at junior level, signals a deliberate strategy: accelerate the timeline, give the next generation real exposure at real stakes, and see how they respond on the biggest stage the sport offers at national team level.

Whether that gamble pays off in Doha remains to be seen. But from a development standpoint, the approach is hard to argue with. The FIP World Cup starts 2 November. Portugal will be worth watching.