Padel Breaks 1 Million Players in the US, Now the Fastest-Growing Sport

Padel has officially crossed the one million player mark in the United States, and it is now the fastest-growing sport in the country, according to the latest SFIA (Sports and Fitness Industry Association) report. Between June 2025 and June 2026, participation grew by more than 14 percent, a figure that puts padel ahead of every other sport tracked in the study.

The headline result here is not just the growth rate. It is who padel has overtaken. Pickleball held the fastest-growing sport title for five consecutive years, and padel has now knocked it off that spot. That is a significant shift in the US recreational sports landscape, and it signals that padel is moving well beyond niche status.

For context, one million players is still a relatively small base compared to established US sports, but the trajectory is what matters. A 14 percent year-on-year growth rate at this stage of development suggests the sport is past its early-adopter phase and entering a broader mainstream push, driven by new court construction, club investment, and rising visibility through professional tours.

What this means practically: more courts, more competition, and more infrastructure are coming. If you are a player or coach in the US market right now, you are ahead of the curve. The window to establish yourself in local leagues, coaching, or club communities is still wide open, but it is closing faster than most people realise. Keep an eye on the original reporting from Marca Pádel for further detail as more data from the SFIA report emerges.