The USTA announced that the USTA National Campus in Orlando has been selected to host the International Tennis Federation’s (ITF) flagship international wheelchair tennis team competition. The 2026 BNP Paribas World Team Cup will take place at the USTA National Campus on Sept. 16-19.

This year – which marks the 50th anniversary of the sport’s creation – sees the prestigious competition return to the USA, where it was first staged in 1985.

Wheelchair tennis came into existence in 1976 when a young man by the name of Brad Parks became paralyzed after a freestyle skiing accident. Brad and Jeff Minnebraker, a fellow rehab patient, decided to try wheelchair tennis at the local courts across from the hospital.  While the two of them labored to push the heavy and cumbersome hospital chairs around the court, a couple of able-bodied players on the next court yelled over, “Why do you guys even bother?” That was all the motivation Brad and Jeff needed to practice harder. Together, they worked to develop a sport that would survive the early days of struggle and grow to be recognized, 50 years later, as the most professionalized of all disabled sports.

The 2026 BNP Paribas World Team Cup is the wheelchair tennis equivalent of the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge and has grown into the largest team competition in the sport, welcoming over 40 teams from over 20 countries each year to the event.

Participation in the 2026 BNP Paribas World Team Cup forms part of the eligibility criteria for selection for the LA 2028 Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Event, alongside world ranking requirements. To be eligible for qualification, players have to have represented their nations twice in the 2024-2028 cycle, including once in 2027 or 2028.

Alistair Williams, ITF’s head of Wheelchair Tennis Tour & Major Event Operations, said: “We are very excited to bring the World Team Cup back to the United States in this momentous year for the sport. The event’s growth from its five-team first edition to prestigious status today is incredible, and we look forward to working with the USTA to deliver a fantastic event in September.”

“What an honor this will be for the USTA to host this flagship team event for wheelchair tennis once again,” said Jason Harnett, USTA director, Wheelchair Tennis. “Having been the country in which wheelchair tennis was founded, in this 50th year of the sport, the World Team Cup has come such a long way from its start in Irvine, California, back in 1985! From Orange County, California, to Orange County, Florida. What a journey the sport has traveled.”

Wild cards for the World Group event in Orlando have been awarded to Spain (men’s) and the USA (women’s and quad).

About the ITF

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) is the world governing body of tennis. In June 2026, it will become World Tennis following an overwhelming majority vote in favor of the name change from its member national tennis associations at the 2025 ITF Annual General Meeting. Founded in 1913, its purpose is to ensure the long-term growth and sustainability of the sport, delivering tennis for future generations in association with its 214 member National Associations. The ITF oversees the rules and regulations that govern international and national competition. The ITF is responsible for the worldwide development of tennis through its highly regarded global Development Programme, its Science and Technical department, which monitors equipment and technology, and its Officiating department, which oversees the education and advancement of officials. The ITF organises 2,300 men’s, women’s and junior tournaments on the ITF World Tennis Tour and manages the ITF junior team competitions, ITF Beach Tennis World Tour, UNIQLO Wheelchair Tennis Tour and the ITF World Tennis Masters Tour, together with the men’s and women’s World Cup of Tennis, Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge, respectively, the two largest annual international team competitions in tennis. The ITF manages the Olympic Tennis Event on behalf of the IOC and the Paralympic Wheelchair Tennis Event on behalf of the IPC and the Qualification Pathways for both events at the Games. For further information, please visit www.itftennis.com.

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level — from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization, it invests 100 percent of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, one of the highest-attended annual sporting events in the world, along with approximately 100 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S., and selects the teams for Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships in addition to supporting tennis and education programs nationwide to benefit under-resourced youth through the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network. For more information about the USTA, go toUSTA.com or follow the official accounts onFacebook,Instagram,Twitter (X) andTikTok.