The ninth Laver Cup begins Friday, September 25, at The O2 in London. Team Europe, led by Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev, faces a Team World side headed by Taylor Fritz and Alex de Minaur in a three-day, first-to-13-points competition. Team World arrives as defending champion after winning in San Francisco in 2025.
Key Takeaways
- The 2026 Laver Cup runs September 25–27 at The O2 in London, making London the first city to host the event twice after staging it in 2022.
- Team Europe fields Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Flavio Cobolli, Casper Ruud, Jakub Mensik, and Rafael Jodar.
- Team World fields Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz, Learner Tien, Brandon Nakashima, Alexander Bublik, and Francisco Cerúndolo, who replaced the injured Tommy Paul.
- Team World won the 2025 edition 15–9, its third title after back-to-back wins in 2022 and 2023. Team Europe has won five of the eight editions played.
- Matches are worth one point on Friday, two on Saturday, and three on Sunday, so neither team can clinch the trophy before the final day.
- The 10th Laver Cup will be held at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, from September 24–26, 2027.
Team Europe Pairs Two Top-Five Players With a New Generation
Team Europe enters the Laver Cup with two of the sport’s highest-ranked players. Alexander Zverev, ranked No. 2 in the world, and Carlos Alcaraz, ranked No. 3, give captain Yannick Noah a strong singles core for the higher-value Saturday and Sunday sessions.
The rest of the Team Europe roster leans young. Italy’s Flavio Cobolli is ranked No. 7, Spain’s Rafael Jodar No. 14, and the Czech Republic’s Jakub Mensik No. 15. Norway’s Casper Ruud, at No. 17, adds Laver Cup experience. Mensik’s selection has symbolic weight, since the competition began in Prague in 2017. Jodar, meanwhile, gives Spain two players on the same team for the event.
Former British No. 1 Tim Henman serves as Noah’s vice captain, adding a home connection for the London crowd.
Team World Defends Its Title With an American Core
Team World captain Andre Agassi returns with a squad built around consistency rather than star power. Alex de Minaur of Australia, ranked No. 9, and Taylor Fritz of the United States, ranked No. 10, lead the roster. Fritz clinched the 2025 title in San Francisco by beating Zverev 6-3, 7-6(4).
Three Americans make up half of Team World: Fritz, Learner Tien, and Brandon Nakashima. Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik and Argentina’s Francisco Cerúndolo complete the lineup. Cerúndolo joined after Tommy Paul withdrew with an injury. Former Australian star Patrick Rafter is vice captain.
On paper, Team World trails Team Europe in individual rankings. The Laver Cup format, however, has repeatedly rewarded depth and doubles chemistry over top-heavy singles strength. That is how Team World won three of the last four editions.
A Scoring System Built to Hold Suspense Until Sunday
The Laver Cup’s format explains much of its appeal. Across five sessions, 12 matches are scheduled, and the first team to reach 13 of 24 available points wins. Friday matches are worth one point each, Saturday matches two, and Sunday matches three. If the score is tied at 12–12 after 12 matches, a deciding doubles match settles the result.
The weighted scoring means an early lead can disappear quickly. Each day opens with a 1 p.m. local-time session. Friday and Saturday evening sessions start at 7 p.m., with the doubles match closing each night. Sunday begins at noon with doubles, followed by up to three singles matches if needed.
The format also produces pairings that never happen on the regular tour. Rivals who meet in major finals sit on the same bench and coach one another between points. First-time doubles teams are assembled for a single weekend. That is the product the Laver Cup sells: familiar players placed in unfamiliar roles.
The Laver Cup Has Become a Traveling Global Tennis Brand
The Laver Cup grew out of Roger Federer’s idea to honor Australian great Rod Laver. It has since rotated between Europe and North America. After Prague in 2017, the event moved to Chicago in 2018, Geneva in 2019, Boston in 2021, London in 2022, Vancouver in 2023, Berlin in 2024, and San Francisco in 2025.
The return to London marks a shift. It is the first time a city has hosted twice, suggesting organizers now value proven arena markets as much as new ones. The O2 also hosted Federer’s retirement match at the 2022 Laver Cup, which gives the venue a place in the event’s short history.
The next move is already set. The 2027 Laver Cup heads to Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, bringing the event to the Los Angeles market for its 10th edition. The pattern of rotating between major arena cities on two continents treats the Laver Cup less as a traditional tournament and more as a touring entertainment property. Its black court, team benches, and compressed schedule are designed for a live audience and a global broadcast.
That approach reflects wider changes in tennis. Team formats and exhibition-style events now compete with the traditional tour calendar for players’ time and fans’ attention. The Laver Cup has secured a fixed spot in late September, between the U.S. Open and the Asian swing, which has kept top players in its lineups year after year.
What to Watch in London
The key question for Team Europe is whether Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev can convert their ranking advantage into Saturday and Sunday wins, where points are worth the most. For Team World, the test is whether depth and doubles cohesion can again overcome a stronger Team Europe singles lineup.
Doubles pairings, often announced shortly before each session, could decide the weekend. With the scoring weighted heavily toward the final day, the 2026 Laver Cup is structured to stay competitive until the last session.
FAQs
When and where is the 2026 Laver Cup?
The 2026 Laver Cup takes place September 25–27 at The O2 in London. It is the ninth edition of the event.
Who is playing for Team Europe and Team World?
Team Europe features Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Flavio Cobolli, Casper Ruud, Jakub Mensik, and Rafael Jodar. Team World features Alex de Minaur, Taylor Fritz, Learner Tien, Brandon Nakashima, Alexander Bublik, and Francisco Cerúndolo.
How does Laver Cup scoring work?
Matches are worth one point on day one, two points on day two, and three points on day three. The first team to reach 13 of 24 points wins, and a deciding doubles match is played if the score is tied at 12–12.
Who won the Laver Cup in 2025?
Team World won the 2025 Laver Cup in San Francisco, beating Team Europe 15–9. Taylor Fritz clinched the title with a win over Alexander Zverev.
Where will the 2027 Laver Cup be held?
The 10th Laver Cup will take place at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, from September 24–26, 2027.
