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And just like pickleball’s promising growth in North America, the way it grows abroad could skew its trajectory and limit who ultimately benefits from the boom.

 

 

 

Pickleball is booming worldwide. From the streets of Mumbai to the clubs of Ho Chi Minh City, the sport is experiencing explosive growth, just like it did in the U.S. a decade ago. But with rapid expansion comes a familiar set of challenges—court shortages, governance disputes, and the looming threat of exclusivity.

If you think the struggles of the early U.S. pickleball scene were unique, think again. Vietnam’s referees are facing the same scrutiny that American tournament officials did in the sport’s early years. India’s entrepreneurs are debating whether the game will remain accessible or become a playground for the elite—just as the U.S. pickleball community once worried about keeping the sport inclusive. And in England? The lack of repurposable tennis courts is creating an infrastructure headache that mirrors the challenges of fitting pickleball into major U.S. cities.

The roadblocks might look slightly different, but the growing pains are the same. The question is: Will the rest of the world learn from the U.S., or will they repeat history?

The global pickleball infrastructure bottleneck

Pickleball’s biggest problem has always been space. In the U.S., demand for courts exploded, but dedicated facilities lagged behind. Cities like New York and Los Angeles have seen major growth in pickleball courts, yet they still sit 92% below the national average in court density. The industry estimates a need for 24,500 new courts over the next seven years—at a price tag of $855 million.

Now, look at England. There, the problem is even worse. Tennis is more often played on grass, meaning there aren’t as many hard courts that can be repurposed for pickleball. And given England’s higher population density than the U.S., finding space for new courts is an even bigger logistical nightmare. Without creative solutions, England risks stalling pickleball’s momentum before it can truly take off.

Meanwhile, China is having an entirely different experience. With badminton already deeply embedded in its culture, the country has a head start—badminton courts are even easier to convert to pickleball than tennis courts are. As a result, China is sidestepping the infrastructure problem that has plagued both the U.S. and England.

The takeaway? Countries that already have a racket sport infrastructure in place are growing pickleball faster. Those without it are scrambling to keep up.

Governance Chaos: The Vietnam & Malaysia Parallel

If you think the U.S. pickleball world is disorganized (and let’s be honest, it still is in some ways), Vietnam’s current struggles should look familiar.

The sport has skyrocketed there—30,000 players and counting—but the lack of a national governing body has led to chaos. At the 2025 Vietnam National Pickleball Championship, officiating issues sparked public outrage. Players complained about inconsistent calls, prize money disputes, and inexperienced referees. Sound familiar? It should. The same thing happened in the early days of the APP and PPA Tours in the U.S., where shaky officiating led to controversy before the pro scene matured.

Vietnam is now rushing to formalize governance, much like the U.S. had to do when professional pickleball started attracting major sponsorships. The country is proposing a Vietnam Pickleball Federation—a step that could either stabilize the sport or introduce more political infighting, as seen in the U.S. between competing tours.

Meanwhile, in Malaysia, the debate over pickleball’s legitimacy is reaching a pivotal moment. The 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) has yet to confirm pickleball’s inclusion, as states must vote on whether to accept it as an official sport. Some sports officials remain skeptical, questioning whether pickleball is a trend or a sustainable sport—the same debate the U.S. had before it became the country’s fastest-growing sport for three straight years.

The India Experiment: Will Pickleball Stay Accessible?

The sport’s accessibility is what makes it special. But in India, there’s a growing concern that pickleball could go the way of golf or tennis—becoming an elite, pay-to-play sport instead of an affordable activity for the masses.

India’s pickleball boom is impressive—275% growth in players over the last three years, reaching nearly 60,000 active players. But now, the game is seeing venture capitalists, startups, and leagues pour in money. The India Pickleball League (WPBL) has celebrity-backed teams, and big investors are eyeing the sport’s potential. That’s exciting, but it also presents a risk: premiumization.

In major cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru, real estate is limited, and pickleball courts are far cheaper to build than badminton courts. That’s a win for growth. But as investment floods in, some fear the sport could become exclusive, catering more to high-end clubs and private facilities instead of community-driven spaces.

We’ve seen this before. In the U.S., pickleball was originally played in backyards and public parks. But as the sport gained traction, private pickleball clubs emerged, and court reservations became expensive. If India follows this same trajectory, pickleball could shift from being a game for everyone to a sport for those who can afford it.

What’s Next? Will the World Learn from the U.S.?

The lesson here is clear: pickleball’s growth isn’t the challenge—it’s how that growth is managed.

The U.S. faced governance fights, infrastructure shortages, and debates over accessibility. Now, those same challenges are playing out across the world. Vietnam needs structured leadership. England needs a court conversion strategy. India needs to ensure it doesn’t price out casual players.

The U.S. overcame these roadblocks (mostly). The rest of the world now has a choice: learn from America’s mistakes or repeat them.