Blab Sports
CNMI Pickleball Federation Selects Six Players for 2026 World Cup in Vietnam
In a moment that feels like a small island’s giant leap, the CNMI Pickleball Federation announced that six of its athletes—Mikayla Lopez, Chelsea Henzon, Joan Henzon, Ernie Henzon, Sean Ficke, and Richard Asuncion—will represent the Commonwealth at the 2026 Pickleball World Cup in Da Nang.
The six names were revealed in a Monday statement that underscored the significance of the selection for both the athletes and the sport’s burgeoning presence on the islands. The federation, founded in 2022, has spent the past six years building a foundation for pickleball in the Northern Mariana Islands.
The World Cup will run from August 30 to September 6 and is expected to host roughly 4,000 players from more than 80 countries. It will be the first time the event is held in Asia, a milestone highlighted by the Da Nang Pickleball Federation in a statement released on April 27.
While the goal is to send all six selected players, financial limitations may require the team to be reduced to four competitors. The federation said it is hopeful that fundraising efforts will allow it to bring the full squad to Vietnam, adding that the athletes who were not chosen remain a valuable part of the national team.
Participation in the World Cup represents a historic opportunity for the Commonwealth. The federation said the event would boost island morale, community pride, and international visibility. With thousands of athletes, coaches, and spectators from around the world, the presence of Team CNMI offers a chance to highlight the Commonwealth and inspire the next generation of local athletes.
Pickleball is one of the fastest‑growing sports worldwide and is slated for Olympic debut at the 2032 Summer Games in Brisbane, Australia. The World Cup provides emerging nations and territories with a global platform to showcase talent and national pride.
The federation highlighted the support of families, volunteers, and sponsors as key to building and sustaining the sport on the islands. It emphasized that the upcoming competition will be a pinnacle moment for CNMI, demonstrating how far the pickleball community has progressed in a short time.
The final size of the CNMI delegation will depend on the outcome of ongoing fundraising. If sufficient funds are not raised, the federation may send only four players to Vietnam.
The 2026 World Cup in Da Nang is expected to boost tourism, economic growth, and sports development in the host city. The event will feature world‑class venues and a dynamic schedule that includes singles, doubles, and mixed‑team competitions.
For the CNMI athletes, the World Cup represents more than an athletic challenge. It is an opportunity to compete against the world’s best players while representing their islands on an international stage.
The federation’s announcement comes as the sport continues to expand rapidly. According to the International Pickleball Federation’s merger with the World Pickleball Federation in 2025, the sport’s governing body now operates under the World Pickleball Federation name and is based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The CNMI federation will continue to update the public on fundraising progress and the final composition of the team. The athletes selected will begin training in the coming months in preparation for the August competition.
In summary, the CNMI Pickleball Federation has chosen six players for the 2026 World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam. The federation is working to secure the necessary funds to send all six athletes, but the delegation could be reduced to four if fundraising falls short. The event will provide a historic platform for the Commonwealth and highlight the growth of pickleball in the Northern Mariana Islands.
The six names were revealed in a Monday statement that underscored the significance of the selection for both the athletes and the sport’s burgeoning presence on the islands. The federation, founded in 2022, has spent the past six years building a foundation for pickleball in the Northern Mariana Islands.
The World Cup will run from August 30 to September 6 and is expected to host roughly 4,000 players from more than 80 countries. It will be the first time the event is held in Asia, a milestone highlighted by the Da Nang Pickleball Federation in a statement released on April 27.
While the goal is to send all six selected players, financial limitations may require the team to be reduced to four competitors. The federation said it is hopeful that fundraising efforts will allow it to bring the full squad to Vietnam, adding that the athletes who were not chosen remain a valuable part of the national team.
Participation in the World Cup represents a historic opportunity for the Commonwealth. The federation said the event would boost island morale, community pride, and international visibility. With thousands of athletes, coaches, and spectators from around the world, the presence of Team CNMI offers a chance to highlight the Commonwealth and inspire the next generation of local athletes.
Pickleball is one of the fastest‑growing sports worldwide and is slated for Olympic debut at the 2032 Summer Games in Brisbane, Australia. The World Cup provides emerging nations and territories with a global platform to showcase talent and national pride.
The federation highlighted the support of families, volunteers, and sponsors as key to building and sustaining the sport on the islands. It emphasized that the upcoming competition will be a pinnacle moment for CNMI, demonstrating how far the pickleball community has progressed in a short time.
The final size of the CNMI delegation will depend on the outcome of ongoing fundraising. If sufficient funds are not raised, the federation may send only four players to Vietnam.
The 2026 World Cup in Da Nang is expected to boost tourism, economic growth, and sports development in the host city. The event will feature world‑class venues and a dynamic schedule that includes singles, doubles, and mixed‑team competitions.
For the CNMI athletes, the World Cup represents more than an athletic challenge. It is an opportunity to compete against the world’s best players while representing their islands on an international stage.
The federation’s announcement comes as the sport continues to expand rapidly. According to the International Pickleball Federation’s merger with the World Pickleball Federation in 2025, the sport’s governing body now operates under the World Pickleball Federation name and is based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The CNMI federation will continue to update the public on fundraising progress and the final composition of the team. The athletes selected will begin training in the coming months in preparation for the August competition.
In summary, the CNMI Pickleball Federation has chosen six players for the 2026 World Cup in Da Nang, Vietnam. The federation is working to secure the necessary funds to send all six athletes, but the delegation could be reduced to four if fundraising falls short. The event will provide a historic platform for the Commonwealth and highlight the growth of pickleball in the Northern Mariana Islands.
