Post by JOSE LUIS SICRE VALEIRAS

World Cup 2026 Argentina-España I’m going to have the privilege of watching this final in New York, in unbeatable conditions, as a guest of adidas. So before I carry on, I’d like to thank adidas and Ulrike Huter, VP of Licensing, for the opportunity to enjoy this match, which is sure to have us all on the edge of our seats. And I can’t help but draw some parallels. Spain, Argentina, football, padel… Spain and Argentina have reached the final of this football tournament, just as Argentina and Spain have reached the finals of the Premier Padel, represented by the undisputed idols of the sport (in alphabetical order by surname): Agustín Tapia, Ale Galán, Arturo Coello and Federico Chingotto. Argentine, Spanish, Spanish, Argentine. Padel and football, football and padel. Padel was born in Mexico, developed in Argentina, exploded in Spain and, from Spain, a handful of companies began to spread the word, conquering new territories, gaining followers and building the ‘cathedrals’ of the sport – the courts – without which the sport’s development would be impossible. A distinctly Hispanic sport that broke down the barriers of the place where it was born – on Enrique Corcuera’s estate in Acapulco – to travel the world, making itself visible through the glass of the courts in over 146 countries and allowing more than 15 million people to enjoy the sport and its inseparable social aspect. Four distinctly Hispanic padel players who, every weekend, have thousands of fans on their feet with their masterful, seemingly impossible, magical shots. Argentina, Spain, football, padel. Two Hispanic teams, comprising twenty-two players, will put our nerves to the test next Sunday in New York. But whilst I harbour an irrepressible desire and hope that it will be Spain who lifts the winner’s trophy, should that not be the case, I would take comfort in the fact that the champion would be another Hispanic team – a sister nation with which we share so many ties and so much history. Padel, football, Argentina and Spain are at the very top of the sporting world, and all of us who speak the language of Cervantes should be very proud.