CUPRA strengthens its commitment to the next generation with Gamechangers: an international padel contest aimed at discovering the sport’s future stars

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  • In collaboration with the world’s top padel players and the International Padel Federation (FIP), the contest seeks new talent aged 15 to 24
  • The circuit kicks off in late June across eight cities, with four players from each stop advancing to the grand final in Barcelona at the end of 2025
  • CUPRA will award a game-changing scholarship to two male and two female padel players to help boost their careers
  • Registrations are now open via the CUPRA website for each of the eight international stops, starting in June with Bordeaux P2 (France)
  • Following the success of The Dream Makers short film contest, Gamechangers reaffirms CUPRA’s commitment to the next generation by identifying and elevating young padel talent, while promoting a more global and diverse sport

CUPRA reinforces its commitment to young talent with the launch of Gamechangers, a global contest to boost young padel talent aged between 15 and 24. In collaboration with the CUPRA Padel Tribe —featuring some of the best players in the world— and the International Padel Federation (FIP), Gamechangers will tour eight international stops across six different countries, offering young athletes a unique opportunity to showcase their talent on the sport’s biggest stages. The journey will culminate in a grand final in Barcelona, where the selected participants will receive an exclusive scholarship to impulse their professional padel careers.

“Padel is part of CUPRA’s DNA: it’s unconventional, full of energy, and connected to a new generation that dares to do things differently. Six years ago, we didn’t just sponsor the sport — we embraced it, joining its epic matches, iconic events, and greatest players. With Gamechangers, we’re taking that commitment one step further: pushing padel to become more global and empowering the next generation to compete at the highest level. Because CUPRA is padel. And padel is CUPRA,” said Ignasi Prieto, Chief Brand Officer of CUPRA.

“At the International Padel Federation, we have a clear mission: to make padel a truly global sport and secure its inclusion in Olympic Games. We believe that this goal can only be achieved by supporting the next generation of players and thanks to committed partners like CUPRA, we are doing just that. With the Gamechangers project, we're not only empowering young talent to thrive, but also opening new doors for padel to grow, connect and inspire worldwide,” added Luigi Carraro, President of the International Padel Federation.

A once in a lifetime opportunity

More than just a contest, Gamechangers is a journey of growth and discovery. Participants will be evaluated not just on competition, but on potential, creativity, and performance. The ultimate goal: to reach the grand final at the end of this year in Barcelona after an intense six-month circuit. This way, participants will have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to perform on the same stage as the sport’s biggest stars.

This first edition of Gamechangers features eight international stops integrated into the Premier Padel tournaments in Bordeaux, Malaga, Barcelona, Madrid, Germany (city to be confirmed), Rotterdam, Milan and Acapulco. At each stop, two male and two female players will be selected, forming a group of 32 finalists. The finalists will compete in Barcelona at the end of the year for the title of Gamechanger, with only four winners—two men and two women—ultimately selected.

Registrations are now open via the CUPRA website for each of the eight international stops, starting with Bordeaux P2 (France), scheduled from June 30 to July 6, 2025, via the CUPRA website:https://www.cupraofficial.com/brand/sports/gamechangers-padel-contest. Eligible players must be aged 15–24 and submit a completed form along with a video following specific guidelines to showcase their talent.

The selection process will be led by Manu Martín’s Academy and CUPRA, with support from the International Padel Federation and CUPRA Padel Tribe ambassadors. Full contest details and legal terms are available at: https://www.cupraofficial.com/legal-note/gamechangers-padel-contest-terms-and-conditions

A game-changing prize

The four selected participants two female and two malewill receive a game-changing incentive to help them go pro. This includes training sessions with CUPRA Padel Tribe, facilitating participation in the CUPRA FIP Tour, two one-week training stays at Manu Martín’s Academy, technical support from the certified Padel Coaches Association, a CUPRA car loan and a scholarship of up to €10,000 per player to cover sports development costs.

“We know what it means to be young. To dream. To need someone who believes in you. That’s why we’re proud to stand with the CUPRA Padel Tribe on Gamechangers —a project that gives back to the sport that shaped us. It’s a call to young players from around the world to step onto the court and show what they’re made of. Because talent alone isn’t enough — you need someone to help you take the next step. We’re here to identify and impulse the new generation of padel talent. Because there wouldn’t be magic without believers,” stated the CUPRA Padel Tribe.

Shaping the future of padel

Gamechangers is CUPRA’s most ambitious padel initiative to date. After inspiring young filmmakers with The Dream Makers short film contest in collaboration with ESCAC and J.A. Bayona, and expanding through the Berlinale and Studio Babelsberg, CUPRA now turns its spotlight to sport seeking the next generation of padel stars. Since 2019, CUPRA has been a driving force in padel, supporting official competitions, collaborating with the FIP and sponsoring over 150 tournaments in more than 25 countries. With a growing CUPRA Padel Tribe of 13 world-class players composed of Agustín Tapia, Ale Galán, Ari Sánchez, Paula Josemaría, Bea González, Delfi Brea, Jon Sanz, Pablo Cardona, Andrea Ustero, Javi Garrido, Juan Tello, Edu Alonso, and Sofía Araújo—, the brand continues to shape a more global, inclusive, and dynamic future for the sport.

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