Defending champions Egypt
Korea will host a major World Squash event for the first time after the hosting rights to the 2026 World Squash Team Championships were awarded to the Korea Squash Federation.
The World Squash Team Championships pit National Federation Squads of four players against each other as they compete for the coveted title of World Champions.
The tournament format will follow the success of the historic 2024 edition in Hong Kong, China, where the men’s and women’s events took place concurrently, with previous editions alternating between the two annually.
The 2026 edition will take place in December in Cheongju, the capital and largest city of the North Chungcheong Province, with Egypt hoping to defend their titles after a clean sweep at Hong Kong Football Club.
The 2026 World Squash Team Championships will be staged at the Cheongju International Squash Stadium, host venue for the 2018 and 2022 Asian Senior Team Championships. The Cheongju International Squash Stadium boasts eight ASB courts, including one glass court, with an additional show court to be installed for the championships.
The 2026 championships come during an exciting period of growth for squash in Korea.
At the high-performance level, squash is a medal sport at the Korean National Sports Festival, with professional players employed by provincial sports councils, receiving annual salaries and representing their region.
This system has helped the rise of players such as Joo-Young Na, who became his nation’s first-ever representative in a World Squash Championship final after winning silver in the 2024 World Squash Junior Championships in Houston, with the Republic of Korea also winning a silver in the men’s team event that year.
At the grassroots level, the Korean Squash Federation reports sustained growth in participation and court construction nationwide.
World Squash CEO, William Louis-Marie said: “My congratulations and thanks to Korea Squash Federation President Park Se-jun and the rest of the Korea Squash team for their bid to host a historic World Squash Team Championships.
“The growth of squash in Asia, and the Republic of Korea more specifically, is one of the great success stories of our sport in recent years.
“Korea Squash has an excellent track record of hosting major continental events, including the flagship Asian Team Championships, and I am thrilled that the World Teams footprint continues to grow with a new hosting Federation.”
A spokesperson for The Korea Squash Federation added: “This is a historic moment for squash in the Republic of Korea. We are honoured to welcome the world’s best players and teams to Cheongju in 2026, and we are committed to delivering a world-class event that will inspire a new generation of players across the country.
“On behalf of the Korea Squash Federation, I would like to thank World Squash for placing their trust in us, and I look forward to showcasing Korea as a leading destination for our sport.”
