Goñi and Lebron’s escape sets Spain on course for World Cup glory

A set down and trailing 4-2 in the second, Spain’s opening partnership had little room left to rescue the men’s World Cup final. Aimar Goñi and Juan Lebron did more than recover: their comeback gave Spain the point that made captain Juanjo Gutierrez’s selection gamble work. Spain beat Argentina 2-1 in Doha on 7 November to win the FIP World Cup 2026 men’s title.

Goñi, playing his first World Cup, and Lebron defeated Martin Di Nenno and Leandro Augsburger 5-7 7-5 6-2. Argentina had been within two games of taking the opening rubber in straight sets. Instead, Spain recovered the break, survived two break points while serving at 6-5 and forced a deciding set. An early break there gave the Spanish combination a lead they extended into victory.

The importance of that turnaround became clear in the next rubber. Agustin Tapia and Federico Chingotto beat Paquito Navarro and Jon Sanz 6-1 6-2, bringing Argentina level at one rubber apiece. The title would depend on the third match, with neither nation able to carry its earlier result across the line on its own.

Arturo Coello and Coki Nieto then defeated Gonzalo Alfonso and Tino Libaak 6-3 6-2. Their straight-sets win supplied Spain’s second rubber and settled the national-team tie. Argentina, the defending champions, finished runners-up; Spain reversed the 2-1 defeat they had suffered against the same opponents in the previous final in Doha.

The order mattered as much as the names. Gutierrez had kept Coello for the third rubber, trusting Lebron and debutant Goñi to deliver the opening point. That left Spain with a route to the trophy even after Tapia and Chingotto’s emphatic response. The recovery in the first match and the finish in the third were separate parts of the same successful selection.

Coello acknowledged afterwards that he had initially doubted the decision to put him in the last match. Gutierrez explained that he wanted Coello there because of his composure in decisive situations. The outcome vindicated that judgement, while Goñi’s contribution showed how much responsibility the captain had been willing to give a newcomer. For Navarro, it was also a farewell: this was his final appearance representing Spain.

Portugal secured men’s bronze by coming from behind to beat Italy 2-1. Flavio Abbate and Alvaro Montiel won the opening rubber 4-6 7-6 7-6 against Pedro Araujo and Pedro Graça. Nuno and Miguel Deus answered with a 6-4 3-6 6-4 victory over Aris Patiniotis and Giulio Graziotti, before Diogo Jesus and Pedro Perry beat Marco Cassetta and Simone Iacovino 6-4 6-1. Portugal thus retained third place after also taking bronze in 2024.

Spain completed a title double with a 2-0 women’s final win over Argentina, their seventh successive world crown. Ari Sanchez and Andrea Ustero beat Martina Fassio and Aranzazu Osoro 6-3 6-3; Gemma Triay and Paula Josemaría then overcame Delfi Brea and Claudia Jensen 6-2 6-7 6-3. Italy took women’s bronze, beating France 2-0.