The short answer: WPC Italy runs in Alba, Piedmont, from 1 to 5 July, just ten days after WPC England, but few British players are entered. There are no British entrants in the 19+ 5.0 singles draws and only one British men’s doubles pair. Travel costs and work commitments explain much of the gap, while the moving format gives local European players an easier route in.
Just 10 days after WPC England, the World Pickleball Championship moves to Alba in northern Italy for another Tier 3 event. Yet many of the British players who featured prominently in England are absent from the entry lists.
It raises an important question. If WPC is building a global tour, why are so few British players making the trip?
- WPC Italy takes place in Alba from July 1-5, but British representation appears limited compared with WPC England.
- The absence of several British names points to the cost and difficulty of following an international semi-professional calendar.
- The tournament also shows why WPC’s travelling model matters, giving local and regional European players a more realistic route onto the international stage.
Travelling the circuit is expensive
For most players competing on the WPC circuit, entering every tournament simply is not realistic.
Flights, accommodation, transport, entry fees, equipment costs and time away from work all add up quickly. Even players enjoying strong form have to make difficult decisions about which events fit their schedules and budgets.
Several of the standout performers from WPC England 2026, including Louis Laville, Joshua Bright and Millie Smythe, are not entered in Italy despite their recent success.
That is not unusual. Outside the very top tier of the professional game, players often have to balance competitive ambitions with work, family and financial commitments.
Britain is largely absent
British representation in Alba will be limited.
There are no British entrants in the Men’s or Women’s 19+ 5.0 singles draws, while Jack McGregor and Stuart Parminter form the United Kingdom’s only partnership in the Men’s 19+ 5.0 doubles.
The official WPC Italy 2026 event page lists Alba, Piedmont as the host location from July 1-5, with the tournament expecting players from 20 to 30 nations.
That international mix is part of the point. The field is dominated by Italian competitors, with players from nearby countries including France, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal and Germany also involved.
By moving events between different countries, WPC gives local players the chance to compete internationally without carrying the same travel burden as visiting athletes.
If you’re following how the global game is shifting week by week, the World Pickleball Report breaks this down every day in our morning briefing.
Different routes to competition
Missing a WPC event does not necessarily mean players are stepping away from competition.
Bright and Laville recently claimed gold together at RTA Basingstoke, showing that domestic tournaments can still offer valuable competitive opportunities between international events.
For some players, those events are a more practical option than travelling overseas, particularly when they are balancing work and personal commitments alongside pickleball.
Others will target APP events or higher-level professional competitions when opportunities arise, although those tournaments bring their own financial and logistical challenges.
The result is a fragmented competitive calendar where many players move between domestic, WPC and professional events depending on circumstance rather than following one continuous international schedule.
The challenge for a global tour
This is one of the biggest challenges facing emerging international pickleball.
A worldwide calendar creates opportunities for players in different regions and helps grow the sport internationally. At the same time, it becomes difficult for semi-professional players to follow every event, even when they are producing results that suggest they belong on the circuit.
That reflects where the sport currently sits financially.
As pickleball continues to grow, greater sponsorship, stronger prize money and increased commercial support may make international competition more accessible for a wider group of players.
Until then, most competitors will keep making strategic decisions about which tournaments offer the greatest value. That means each WPC stop is likely to feature a different mix of international and local talent.
