Aotearoa New Zealand to Host 2028 World Squash Championships

Auckland is set to become the global hub for squash in February 2028 after New Zealand was selected to host the World Squash Championships. This landmark announcement, confirmed on 8 September 2026, marks the beginning of an unprecedented era for the sport in Aotearoa, as the tournament will take place just four months before squash makes its inaugural appearance at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The championships will be staged at the New Zealand International Convention Centre in central Auckland. In a significant expansion for the sport, the event will run alongside the first-ever World Club Championships, a new initiative allowing club players to compete on the same global stage as professional athletes. Organisers expect a massive logistical effort, with nearly 40 squash courts across various Auckland clubs slated for use. Squash New Zealand chief executive Martin Dowson highlighted the significance of the event, noting that despite being a small country, New Zealand possesses a deep and storied history in the sport. He stated that hosting the world championships in the same year that squash finally reaches the Olympic stage will be extremely special for the local community. The tournament carries high stakes for professional players. With the Olympic debut featuring limited singles draws of 16 men and 16 women—half of which are determined by world rankings—the Auckland results will be critical for Olympic qualification. New Zealand’s world number two Paul Coll expressed his excitement about competing on home soil after spending much of his career overseas. Coll described the timing as "unreal," noting his desire to perform in front of a home crowd as he seeks to become a world champion in the same year the sport achieves Olympic status.