Lebrun brothers to play World Cups at home in France

France’s rising status in table tennis has earned it the right to stage the next two individual World Cups, creating major home occasions for Félix and Alexis Lebrun. The brothers have yet to reach the podium at the tournament, but they will now have the chance to compete in front of French supporters.

Montpellier will host the 2027 edition at the Sud de France Arena from March 29 to April 4. Paris is scheduled to follow in 2028, although the venue and dates have not been decided. Montpellier has already hosted a WTT Champions event every year since 2024, adding to the city’s growing role in the sport.

The World Cup is one of table tennis’ three leading individual competitions, alongside the Olympic Games and the World Championships. It brings together 48 men and 48 women, with the tournament beginning in groups before moving into a knockout phase. The men’s event has been held annually since 1980 and the women’s competition since 1996, apart from the pandemic-disrupted years of 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Jean-Philippe Gatien remains the only French winner, having lifted the men’s title in 1994. For Félix, playing in Montpellier will also carry a personal meaning because he grew up in the city. France last hosted the event in Paris in 2018, after earlier editions there in 2006 and 2011.