Quick answer: You don’t have to be a pro to play for your country. While Team USA’s pros won the first MLP Nations Cup, DUPR’s Minor League Pickleball is launching its own Nations Cup for amateurs — a country-vs-country team event open to players of every skill level, debuting at the Minor League Pickleball Championships on February 24–28, 2027. Twenty-one countries are already confirmed and about 2,000 players are expected.
The 30-second version
- What it is: an amateur country-vs-country team event, run by DUPR’s Minor League Pickleball — the rec-level counterpart to the pro MLP Nations Cup.
- Who can play: all skill levels, grouped by DUPR rating divisions (DUPR 14, 16 and 18 in year one).
- Format: mixed-gender teams, standard Minor League play, one team per country in each division.
- When & where: the Minor League Pickleball Championships, February 24–28, 2027.
- How big: 21 countries confirmed so far, around 2,000 players expected.
The pros aren’t the only ones with a Nations Cup
The headline this month was Team USA’s pros winning the inaugural MLP Nations Cup in Dallas. The quieter, more interesting news for the rest of us: the amateur side is getting the same thing. DUPR’s Minor League Pickleball — the amateur arm that runs under the same umbrella as Major League Pickleball — is launching its own Nations Cup, built so ordinary rated players can represent their country.
It debuts at the Minor League Pickleball Championships, February 24–28, 2027. This is country-vs-country team pickleball for people who have day jobs.
How it works
The amateur Nations Cup uses the standard Minor League team format — mixed-gender squads playing the usual rotation of doubles and mixed — and it’s divided by DUPR rating so you’re matched against players at your level, not thrown in with pros. Year one is slated to run three to four divisions, reported as DUPR 14, 16 and 18, with one team per country in each division.
| Detail | What we know |
|---|---|
| Who | Amateurs of all levels, grouped by DUPR rating |
| Divisions (year 1) | DUPR 14, 16, 18 (3–4 divisions) |
| Team type | Mixed-gender, one team per country per division |
| When | February 24–28, 2027 |
| Scale | 21 countries confirmed; ~2,000 players expected |
How a New England player would get in
Qualification runs through the existing Minor League pathways — domestic and regional — plus a dedicated USA Nations Cup qualifier and international routes. In plain terms: you get on a Minor League team, you play the season, and that’s your on-ramp. Full country-level qualifying rules are still being finalized, so the practical move for a New England player right now is to get into a local Minor League or league season and be in the system when the rules land.
If you’re not in a league yet, that’s the first step — see our guide to New England pickleball leagues and the New England tournament calendar.
Why this one actually matters for us
The pro Nations Cup is fun to watch. The amateur one is something you can do. It’s the kind of event that gives a 3.5 player in Nashua or a 4.0 in New Haven a real reason to train through the winter — and it’s barely been covered, which means most players in your group haven’t heard of it yet. Now you have.
FAQ
Can amateurs really play in a pickleball Nations Cup?
Yes. DUPR’s Minor League Pickleball Nations Cup is built specifically for amateurs, with divisions by DUPR rating so you compete against players at your own level.
When and where is the amateur Nations Cup?
It debuts at the Minor League Pickleball Championships, February 24–28, 2027.
What divisions will it have?
Year one is reported to run three to four divisions by DUPR rating — DUPR 14, 16 and 18 — with one team per country in each division.
How do I qualify?
Qualification runs through existing Minor League pathways plus a USA Nations Cup qualifier and international routes. Full country-level rules are still being announced; the practical first step is to join a Minor League or local league season.
Is this the same as the MLP Nations Cup the pros won?
No. The MLP Nations Cup is the professional event Team USA won on November 1. The Minor League Nations Cup is its amateur counterpart, for rated recreational players.
Want to be in the system when qualifying opens? Start with our New England leagues guide, check the tournament calendar, or read how the pros’ Nations Cup played out.
