The 2026 United Cup is poised to kick off from January 2 to January 11 in the vibrant cities of Sydney and Perth. This tournament, now in its fourth year, showcases an 18-team format, where nations battle through a round-robin stage comprising six groups of three. The top teams from these groups, along with the two highest-scoring second-place finishers, will advance to the quarterfinals.
Sydney will take center stage for the knockout rounds, hosting the quarterfinals on January 8 and 9, followed by the semifinals on January 10 and the grand final on January 11.
The competition format includes a mixture of events: each tie consists of one men’s singles match, one women’s singles match, and a mixed doubles contest. The singles matches follow a best-of-three tiebreak set format, while the mixed doubles engage in two tiebreak sets with a match tiebreak to 10 points deciding the winner if the sets are drawn.
Stephen Farrow, the tournament director, expressed his enthusiasm for the United Cup, emphasizing its significance to the sport. “This event is a celebration of tennis and the incredible athletes, both male and female, who compete at the highest level,” he stated. “It brings together top players to represent their countries, competing not just for points and prize money but also for national pride, which adds an extraordinary dimension to the tournament.”
Farrow added, “The atmosphere is electrifying, with passionate fans flocking to cheer on these elite athletes. We can’t wait for the excitement that January will bring.”
The 2026 United Cup features a strong lineup of teams. The draw is as follows:
Group A (Perth): United States, Spain, Argentina
Group B (Sydney): Canada, Belgium, China
Group C (Perth): Italy, France, Switzerland
Group D (Sydney): Australia, Czechia, Norway
Group E (Perth): Great Britain, Greece, Japan
Group F (Norway): Germany, Poland, Netherlands
As the defending champions, the United States will rely heavily on the skills of Coco Gauff and Taylor Fritz to defend their title. Other notable female players include Iga Swiatek from Poland, Japan’s Naomi Osaka, Emma Raducanu of Great Britain, and Canada’s Victoria Mboko. On the men’s side, standout competitors like Alexander Zverev from Germany, Felix Auger-Aliassime representing Canada, Alex de Minaur from Australia, Jack Draper of Great Britain, and Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas will participate.
In previous tournaments, the United States claimed victory in 2023, while Germany lifted the trophy in 2024. Poland has been a consistent performer, finishing as runners-up in both of the last two editions. The upcoming event promises to be an exciting showcase of talent, competition, and national pride.
