Quick answer: The MLP Nations Cup is a new three-day pro team event running October 30 to November 1, 2026, at Brookhaven Country Club in the Dallas suburb of Farmers Branch, Texas. Eight regional teams of six players each compete for a $50,000 prize pool. Every match streams on PickleballTV, starting at 11 a.m. ET.
The 30-second version
- The field: 48 players on eight teams, split into two groups of four.
- The format: round robin Friday and Saturday, then a single-elimination bracket Sunday.
- The headliners: Team USA has Ben Johns, Anna Bright and Kate Fahey. Anna Leigh Waters isn’t on the roster.
- How to watch: PickleballTV, 11 a.m. ET daily. The final is Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.
What is the MLP Nations Cup?
The MLP Nations Cup is Major League Pickleball’s first international team event, with pros playing for their home regions instead of their league clubs. It’s also the official kickoff to the Opendoor Pickleball World Championships, which run November 2–8 at the same venue.
Each team match uses MLP’s four-game setup: women’s doubles, men’s doubles and two mixed doubles games, per MLP’s format guide. A 2–2 tie goes to a singles DreamBreaker, played with rally scoring to 21. Our MLP scores and standings explainer covers how the league works.
Which teams are playing, and who is on them?
Eight teams are playing, and these are the rosters on MLP’s event page, with one change noted below the table.
| Team | Captain | Players |
|---|---|---|
| Group A: USA | Johnny Goldberg | Tyra Black, Anna Bright, Kate Fahey, Will Howells, Ben Johns, CJ Klinger |
| Canada | Steve Deakin | Victoria DiMuzio, Blaine Hovenier, Armaan Jiwa Mawji, Layne Sleeth, Ryan Torresin, Angie Walker |
| Europe – West | Chris Cantino | Judit Castillo, Helena Jansen, Will MacKinnon, Theo Platel, Estee Widdershoven, DJ Young |
| Asia Domestic | Geoffrey Nguyen, Jeff Tsao | Augie Ge, Milan Rane, Jonathan Truong, Zoey Wang, Jamie Wei, Len Yang |
| Group B: Australia | Sange Carter | Sarah Burr, Chris Crouch, Sahra Dennehy, Mitch Hargreaves, Danni-Elle Townsend, George Wall |
| Latin America | Juan Manuel Benitez | Nico Acevedo, Mari Humberg, Rafa Lenhard, Eric Oncins, Alexa Schull, Charlie Trevino |
| Europe – East | Caleb Garrard | Andrei Daescu, Arwid Dahlin, Ivan Jakovljevic, Lina Padegimaite, Tina Pisnik, Daria Walczak |
| Asia International | Madeleine Lim | Rika Fujiwara, Lingwei Kong, Jimmy Liong, Tama Shimabukuro, Jack Wong, Macy Ybanez |
MLP’s page still lists Hien Truong on Asia International. The Dink’s preview reports that an October 20 update replaced Truong with Tama Shimabukuro.
How does the MLP Nations Cup format work?
The format is three round-robin matches per team, then a four-team bracket on Sunday. MLP says “top teams” advance, and The Dink’s preview spells it out: the top two from each group reach the semifinals, and the groups cross over, so each group winner plays the other group’s runner-up.
Who should you watch at the MLP Nations Cup?
Start with Team USA, because Group A runs through it. Johns and Bright are the headliners, and Pickleball.com noted this week that Johns had lost his last four men’s doubles matches, which makes this a good chance to see how he responds. Our Hong Kong Slam recap covers his loss there, and our Anna Bright spotlight has the background on her.
- The big absence: Anna Leigh Waters isn’t on the USA roster. Nothing I read from MLP says why.
- The open group: The Dink calls Group B wide open, with four teams chasing two semifinal spots.
- Roster shape: three of six players on Latin America are Brazilian, and three of six on Europe – West are from Spain, so those teams lean on one country.
Why should New England fans care about the MLP Nations Cup?
New England fans will watch this one on a screen, the same way we watch the rest of MLP. None of the teams on MLP’s current list is based in New England, and none of the 13 events on its 2026 calendar was played here. The closest were the New York stops in June and August.
Clocks fall back early Sunday, but the listed times are Eastern, so the final is still 3 p.m. on your kitchen clock. If you want your own team event instead, try our New England tournament calendar. Our how-to-watch guide explains the streaming options.
FAQ: MLP Nations Cup
When is the MLP Nations Cup?
October 30 to November 1, 2026. Round-robin play is Friday and Saturday, and the semifinals and final are Sunday.
Where is the MLP Nations Cup played?
Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, Texas, in the Dallas area.
How can I watch the MLP Nations Cup?
All matches are on PickleballTV and its app. The Dink lists coverage at 11 a.m. ET each day and the final at 3 p.m. ET Sunday.
What is the prize money?
Pickleball.com reports a $50,000 prize pool shared by the eight teams.
Is Anna Leigh Waters playing in the MLP Nations Cup?
She isn’t on the USA roster MLP published. Team USA’s women are Tyra Black, Anna Bright and Kate Fahey.
