2025 World Mixed Teams & 2026 WTTTC Finals London > What is wrong with this picture ?

[Exaucée]

52 teams qualify from continental stage
I assume there is a good reason for the discrepancy.

[Wilson6]

LOL
Most of remaining 12 teams (for total 64=52+12 will also probably from Europe based on world ranking

Qualification pathway explained

[Exaucée]

World Mixed Teams qualified teams are also the same way

[ERG5@]

One could contend (on behalf of ITTF) that this is based on merit & there are more higher quality countries in Asia & Europe.
But I think models from other sports (Davis cup in tennis for example or probably FIFA football 7 even Olympics) use a World Group qualification model.
Just grabbing & assigning the most sports for Asia & Europe makes little sense if ITTF wants to promote the sport globally

[Mike 7222]

What is WTTTC ?

[Navara]

What is WTTTC ?

WTTTC = World Teams Table Tennis Championships
Held in even numbered years like 2002 or 2026

WITTC = World Individual Table Tennis Championships
Held in even numbered years like 2007 or 2019

[Teute]

What is WTTTC ?

WTTTC = World Teams Table Tennis Championships
Held in even numbered years like 2002 or 2026

WITTC = World Individual Table Tennis Championships
Held in even numbered years like 2007 or 2019

Before 2000 . there was no separate WITTC & WTTTC
Ther was just one combined WTTC held every odd numbered year such as 1971 or 1989 , which was like a two week party

Crazy thing was that WTTC was held every year until 1957 , instead of every two years after that.
Holding the event every year was even more insane because it was like a two week Mardi Gras with lots of countries participating even before ait travel & other travel was fully evolved.

So in that sense one can say the sport has devolved in popularity after the arrival of sponge in 1951/1952 & crazy topspin orientation after that.
So hardbat players can make a cae as to how popular the sport was, before sponge ruined it all LOL