What Spain’s dominance in Padel says about football’s debate between culture and investment
It has often been said, mainly by American sports commentators, that if the United States invested as much time and money in football (soccer) as it does in the NFL, the country could compete more effectively. And by compete they mean for the World Cup title.
It is a debate that has been had for years, and while many have dismissed the claim, could they actually compete? More investment means more success, right?
Looking at Spain's dominance in Padel, Sports News Blitz’s Vanely Barumire will try to get to the bottom of the age-old question: Is success in football based on culture or financial backing?
Culture breeds champions
All of the world’s best Padel players are either Spanish or Argentine.
Lucas Bergamini, the Brazilian world No.11, is the only one to break the pattern. After him, the trend returns with the world rankings looking like a clash between the two nations rather than a global contest.
Take Spain as an example. Much of the country’s success is due to the culture around padel.
With more people reportedly playing padel than tennis, the sport is an integral part of the country’s sporting landscape, one that goes back to the creation of the sport.
In 1974, only five years after Enrique Corcuera invented Padel in Acapulo, Padel was introduced to Spain by Prince Alfonso of Hohenlohe.
Prince Hohenlohe built the first two courts the Spain at his Marbella Club, and the rest was history.
The racket is so ingrained in Spanish culture that it is the second most played sport behind football.
Over five million people play the sport under the Catalan sun, and the number of player licenses issued by the Federacion Espanola DE Padel surpassed historic records in 2024.
And so perhaps, culture and national interest are what really matter.
Money can’t buy passion
The FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off in less than a year, and many countries, including the US, have invested millions into their national team and yet maybe none of that matters.
What might be more important than money is passion and the sports’ cultural significance in that country.
What padel is to Spain is not what soccer is to the US, and that might be the issue for the host nation.
However, money doesn’t hurt.
Cash is King
“Padel continues to grow in Spain in all areas, from facilities to licenses and youth categories, a fact confirmed by the FIP study that reflects the hard work and effort of recent years,” says Spain’s Padel Federation President, Roman Morcillo.
He adds, “This growth mirrors that of a sport that has become a global phenomenon, thanks also to the contribution of our country at all levels.”
With the FEP’s main goal being the promotion of the sport, it is safe to say that it has unduly succeeded.
Padel is no longer just a cultural phenomenon for Spain; it is a profitable industry worth approximately €1.3 billion. A recent £9 million investment in the Spanish padel equipment brand NOX illustrates the sport's profitability.
In an age where the club with the most money to spend is seemingly more successful, investment is more important than ever.
The ability to buy the best players, have enough money to build the best state-of-the-art training facilities and afford world-renowned managers is apparently the key to success in football right now.
And that is true.
Last season’s Champions League and Ligue 1 winners and Club World Cup runners-ups, PSG, have a total squad value of €1.15 billion, with billions being poured into the club from Saudi investment.
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Culture meets investment means success
But just as PSG shows that investment is important, the team is also a testament that money is not the answer.
The culture of a team is as crucial, even more so perhaps.
During the MSN (Messi, Suarez and Neymar) era, PSG were unable to win the much-desired Champions League title and didn't do so until superstar Kylian Mbappe left.
It was won after the culture of the club changed. Long gone is the ‘bling-bling’ model built around star players like Kylian Mbappe, and in came a collective playing culture that delivered results almost instantly.
It goes to show, you cannot have one without the other.
Padel is undoubtedly a cultural staple in Spain, but millions have also been invested in the sport that has contributed to the country’s current and possibly future dominance.
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