The journey to the historical ITTF World Table Tennis Championships has begun, with Australia leading the charge as the first member association to secure their place at London 2026.
At the ITTF Oceania Championships 2025, Australia’s men’s and women’s teams made history by becoming the first to book their tickets to what promises to be an extraordinary centenary celebration. The Australian triumph opened the floodgates for Oceania representation, with New Zealand, New Caledonia, and Tahiti’s men’s teams also earning their spots alongside the victorious Australians. In women’s competition, New Zealand, Tahiti, and Cook Islands joined Australia in securing qualification for the prestigious championships.
These early qualifications highlight the crucial role that Continental Championships continue to play as a qualification pathway for the sport’s most historic event. As teams across the globe battle through their respective continental competitions, each victory brings them one step closer to being part of table tennis history.
The qualification journey continues with exciting developments across multiple continents. In two days, we’ll find out which teams will go on to the Pan American championships and fight for a place in London after the ITTF South American Regional Championships 2025 concludes. Meanwhile, in Africa the regional championships are heating up with the Central Africa Regional Championships kicking off today in Brazzaville, Congo, and fans can follow the action live on ITTF Africa’s YouTube channel. For both the Americas and Africa, these regional events represent the crucial first qualifying stage for continental and then world championships.
London 2026 will mark a centenary celebration like no other, as the World Championships return to where it all began. When the inaugural World Table Tennis Championships took place in London in 1926, few could have imagined how the sport would grow to become the global phenomenon it is today. That same year also saw the founding of the ITTF, making London 2026 a special centenary celebration that represents not just a homecoming, but a celebration of a century of table tennis evolution and excellence.
The recently concluded ITTF World Table Tennis Championships Finals 2025 in Doha provided the perfect foundation for what lies ahead. As the lights dimmed on the Lusail Sports Arena and Qatar University for the final time, the championships left behind memories that will last for generations. From historic firsts to emotional farewells, from breakthrough performances to defending champions standing tall, Doha 2025 reminded the world why the World Championships remain the ultimate prize in table tennis.
These extraordinary championships have set the stage perfectly for London 2026’s historic centenary celebrations, ensuring that the momentum and passion generated over those nine remarkable days will carry forward as the table tennis world prepares to celebrate a full century of sporting excellence in the very city where it all began.
The road to London 2026 has officially begun, and with Australia and their Oceanic companions leading the way, the stage is set for what promises to be a truly celebratory World Championships in the sport’s illustrious 100-year history.
