These are Spain's 16 for the World Cup in Qatar

Twelve days.

That's how long until the World Cup in Qatar. From 2 to 7 November, at the Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex in Doha.

Sixteen teams in the men's draw. Sixteen in the women's.

Spain already has its players. The Spanish Padel Federation unveiled the squads on 24 September in Madrid. Eight and eight.

The men: winning back what was lost

Juanjo Gutiérrez picks them. This is the team, with their position in this week's FIP ranking:

The world number 1. Number 3. Number 5. Six players inside the top 10.

The new name is Aimar Goñi. From Pamplona, just turned 21 and 1.90 m tall. He plays on the backhand side and is 32nd in the ranking.

The last spot went to him, ahead of names like Momo González or Javi Leal.

And there's unfinished business. Spain haven't won the men's World Cup since 2021. Argentina took the last two. The 2024 one was decided in the final, 2-1.

Now they're going back for it.

The women: going for a seventh

Carolina Navarro leads her first World Cup as head coach. Her list:

All eight are, as of today, the eight highest-ranked Spanish women. And Gemma Triay is world number 1.

The new name is Marta Ortega. She comes in and Ale Salazar misses out. According to the coach, recent form and the Doha court, which she expects to be fast, were key.

There's no unfinished business here. There's a streak.

Spain have won the last six women's World Cups, since 2014. In Qatar they're going for a seventh in a row.

Twelve days

There's €1.2 million in prize money, split equally between men and women.

But at a World Cup you play for something else.

The men, to win it back. The women, to keep it.

— Luis González