New Format - Team Preview of ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025,

[doppelmoral]

Hi guys,

One of the most interesting events is just around the corner, as the Mixed Team World Cup 2025 will be hosted from 30 November to 7 December in Chengdu, China. Besides the great matches that we can expect, this format has gained relevance since the Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028 will now include a Mixed Teams event.

I had some free time and decided to try out a new format. On my blog, I wrote an article where I took a closer look at the format, teams, and players of the tournament.

I also created a tierlist for the tournament, which is a ranking in which teams are asigned to “tiers”, which are labeled groups that show how strong each team is relative to others.

I also assessed each team individually, feel free to check it out: https://doppeldropshot.wordpress.com/2025/11/26/ittf-mixed-team-world-cup-2025-team-preview/

Overview of the tiers:
Z-Tier: Clear tournament favourite
S-Tier: Strong contenders
A-Tier: Competitive threats
B-Tier: Above average teams
C-Tier: Middle of the Pack
D-Tier: Underdogs

NOTICE: The team flags in this tier list represent sporting performance and projected chances of success in the ITTF Mixed Team World Cup 2025 only. They do not reflect any political, cultural, or national judgments beyond the context of the competition.

Let me know where you agree and disagree with my assessment. The template for the tierlist can be found here:

https://tiermaker.com/create/ittf-mixed-team-world-cup-2025-18895892

Feel free to share yours

Cheers!

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

France just need 1 more stronger women and they in the S tier.
I'm not so sure if HKG deserve S, should be A or even B.
India by next olympics would go up too.
Australia is probably a bit too high

still many elites giving XD world cup a skip.

 

[NextLevel]

I would make the S tier larger with Taiwan, Romania, Germany and maybe Hong Kong. Germany is definitelya no brainwr now for the S tier. Brazil I would raise a tier, they are only one female short with Ilzuka supporting the men's side. Australia is 3 years away from the Tier you put them in.

 

[doppelmoral]

I would make the S tier larger with Taiwan, Romania, Germany and maybe Hong Kong. Germany is definitelya no brainwr now for the S tier. Brazil I would raise a tier, they are only one female short with Ilzuka supporting the men's side. Australia is 3 years away from the Tier you put them in.

yeah , seems like I overrated Australia. I paid a bit too much attention to the world ranking, but those are not entirely accurate due to how points how distributed

for brazil, I dont know how strong they are without hugo, vitor ishy, and neither of the takahashis

 

[joshmak10]

yeah , seems like I overrated Australia. I paid a bit too much attention to the world ranking, but those are not entirely accurate due to how points how distributed

for brazil, I dont know how strong they are without hugo, vitor ishy, and neither of the takahashis

I personally think that Australian men are making a little bit of improvement, along with Yangzi Liu. The rest of their women’s team however drag the team down. However, I think if Australia is in C tier, so should Brazil. Iizuka and Teodoro can make noise.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

yeah , seems like I overrated Australia. I paid a bit too much attention to the world ranking, but those are not entirely accurate due to how points how distributed

for brazil, I dont know how strong they are without hugo, vitor ishy, and neither of the takahashis

yeah, you need to see the team roster and players capabilities.
sadly some countries main players are choosing to skip, so those b teams should be on its on b team section

 

[Gozo Zyreruna]

Is the format going to be the first team to win eight sets like the Indian UTT format?

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Is the format going to be the first team to win eight sets like the Indian UTT format?

no
This edition is the 3rd time.

This event was copied from Indian UTT, but in Indian UTT, in the groups they will play out the 15 sets.

 

[chandyrandy]

This will be our tournament! up the gold and green 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺

 

[PoppaChubby]

France just need 1 more stronger women and they in the S tier.
I'm not so sure if HKG deserve S, should be A or even B.
India by next olympics would go up too.
Australia is probably a bit too high

still many elites giving XD world cup a skip.

France can't be a tier 3/A here, let's be honest: the womens side is way too weak, the Olympics then the last ETTTC have proven their ceiling. Mixed double pairs with either Jianan or Alexis are not reliable, there are only 2 that could do the trick: Gauzy/Pavade or Felix/Pavade, but they don't play enough together to get enough confidence since Felix only plays the single matches now or the men's double with his brother. If we get again Alexis/Jianan.... please don't get me there... Romania is far better for example, no real weakness compared to France: strong womens team, mens team becoming stronger and experienced. Romania beats France now in XD since Manu Lebesson, the only powerfull lefty in France, left the building. They've played together with Jianan for years, got confident, leading to semis in Tokyo Olympics and European champions the year after in 2022.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

France can't be a tier 3/A here, let's be honest: the womens side is way too weak, the Olympics then the last ETTTC have proven their ceiling. Mixed double pairs with either Jianan or Alexis are not reliable, there are only 2 that could do the trick: Gauzy/Pavade or Felix/Pavade, but they don't play enough together to get enough confidence since Felix only plays the single matches now or the men's double with his brother. If we get again Alexis/Jianan.... please don't get me there... Romania is far better for example, no real weakness compared to France: strong womens team, mens team becoming stronger and experienced. Romania beats France now in XD since Manu Lebesson, the only powerfull lefty in France, left the building. They've played together with Jianan for years, got confident, leading to semis in Tokyo Olympics and European champions the year after in 2022.

its about getting 8 sets.
even if you loose, don't loose 0-3, try and get that 1 set.

 

[PoppaChubby]

its about getting 8 sets.
even if you loose, don't loose 0-3, try and get that 1 set.

Impossible with Pavade's current level, nor Camille Lutz. They'll put Prithika and Jianan on the singles, so Camille Lutz will play the mixed double with Simon, they've never played together. Already 0-3 there.

Best case scenario
- France starts with 0-3 in the opening XD vs tier 1 to 3 nations
- then it's the womens to play: let's say they loose by 1-2 each
- then only men's singles, and France is trailing already 2-7, no joker.

Impossible task.

 

[driversbeat]

its about getting 8 sets.
even if you loose, don't loose 0-3, try and get that 1 set.

They should play 4 games per match and first to 11 sets. Final match can be played up to 5 games if they tie at 10-10. Plus you get that victory match atmosphere that T-league has been trying to create at that point.

That way the silly tie-breaking format will finally have a use instead of messing up world cup group stages. Everyone in table tennis can relate to first to 11 anyway.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Impossible with Pavade's current level,

Pavade has that level, you don't go into a 2-0 up against Miwa without the level.
she also has few other wins against players in "that level".
The problem is her consistency, which is loosing more than winning and being at 21 years old, she is still one of the top European womens player.

nor Camille Lutz. They'll put Prithika and Jianan on the singles, so Camille Lutz will play the mixed double with Simon, they've never played together. Already 0-3 there.

Best case scenario
- France starts with 0-3 in the opening XD vs tier 1 to 3 nations
- then it's the womens to play: let's say they loose by 1-2 each
- then only men's singles, and France is trailing already 2-7, no joker.

Impossible task.

That is why I say, need another womens player.
and also, it all depends on the focus, if they want to focus on XD pairing, they can practice it.

you can see what is French's focus on XD world cup in the previous 2 editions from lets play, to c team, to let's play again

 

[SilvestriDaVini]

I wanted to put South Korea on S tier, but Japan is way better for them to share that tier. Korea doesn't seem as strong without doubles specialist Lim Jong-Hoon and a good 2nd women's player.

I think India has the potential to be a good team in future years but it is still too early.

Brazil will probably fight the USA to see which team will be last place. Our squad is closer to our C team (bunch of youngsters) than our B team (no Iizuka, Teodoro, Giulia). Chile will definitely surprise some people. They have good players on both sides, very balanced for singles and doubles.

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

I wanted to put South Korea on S tier, but Japan is way better for them to share that tier. Korea doesn't seem as strong without doubles specialist Lim Jong-Hoon and a good 2nd women's player.

I think India has the potential to be a good team in future years but it is still too early.

Brazil will probably fight the USA to see which team will be last place. Our squad is closer to our C team (bunch of youngsters) than our B team (no Iizuka, Teodoro, Giulia). Chile will definitely surprise some people. They have good players on both sides, very balanced for singles and doubles.

i agree the finals for the last spot on paper is between Brazil and USA
with probably USA winning.

Brazil I would raise a tier, they are only one female short with Ilzuka supporting the men's side.

you want to raise Brazil a tier to C with this roster?
Iizuka is going to support on youtube.

 

[NextLevel]

i agree the finals for the last spot on paper is between Brazil and USA
with probably USA winning.


you want to raise Brazil a tier to C with this roster?
Iizuka is going to support on youtube.


View attachment 39239

With this roster definitely not. My roster is predicated on Hugo and Bruna and Iizuka playing.

 

[PoppaChubby]

Pavade has that level, you don't go into a 2-0 up against Miwa without the level.
she also has few other wins against players in "that level".
The problem is her consistency, which is loosing more than winning and being at 21 years old, she is still one of the top European womens player.


That is why I say, need another womens player.
and also, it all depends on the focus, if they want to focus on XD pairing, they can practice it.

you can see what is French's focus on XD world cup in the previous 2 editions from lets play, to c team, to let's play again

Be realistic a minute: what has Pavade done this season ? nothing, she was ousted by a way younger and inexperienced girls at the french nationals, NGZ.

In XD she's played with Simon this season, but problem is Simon is N3 in the mens team, and Pavade is N2 in the womens team, the rules are clear: touh shall not play the XD if your want to play the single matches, so what will the french coaches do? Put Camille Lutz in the single matches ? 0-3 guaranteed !

Jianan / Alexis can't work neither N2 + N1


It's either hemlock or arsenic, choose your poison... It would be ok if it were Flavien Coton/Camille Lutz, they are the french Nationals XD champions, but why are they the french nationals champions ? Alexis and Felix did not play any XD, neither Simon. So, Pavade did not play the XD neither, and Jianan ... no show. And before Flavien takes the 3rd spot, good luck, cos' Gauzy did not see the Bros coming, but now he sees Flavien coming, and Gauzy is even more dangerous when he knows who's coming at him, just look at the year he did: from over the top50 to the WTT Finals !

How can you build a reliable tier 3 XD pair when it's prepared that way ? just look at the WTT finals: no french XD pair, Simon and Prithika are only ranked 22 at the race, this how you see they did wrong this year. Charlotte Lutz... you find her at the 94th rank with Flavien Coton, she has not done anything with Simon, how can you prepare this XTWCup witout telling your N3s "you're gonna play the XD all the year to prepare for the mixed team world Cup cos' it prepares for the next Olympics" NO !!!! it was obvious, but no ...

 

[Tony's Table Tennis]

Be realistic a minute: what has Pavade done this season ? nothing, she was ousted by a way younger and inexperienced girls at the french nationals, NGZ.

In XD she's played with Simon this season, but problem is Simon is N3 in the mens team, and Pavade is N2 in the womens team, the rules are clear: touh shall not play the XD if your want to play the single matches, so what will the french coaches do? Put Camille Lutz in the single matches ? 0-3 guaranteed !

Jianan / Alexis can't work neither N2 + N1


It's either hemlock or arsenic, choose your poison... It would be ok if it were Flavien Coton/Camille Lutz, they are the french Nationals XD champions, but why are they the french nationals champions ? Alexis and Felix did not play any XD, neither Simon. So, Pavade did not play the XD neither, and Jianan ... no show. And before Flavien takes the 3rd spot, good luck, cos' Gauzy did not see the Bros coming, but now he sees Flavien coming, and Gauzy is even more dangerous when he knows who's coming at him, just look at the year he did: from over the top50 to the WTT Finals !

How can you build a reliable tier 3 XD pair when it's prepared that way ? just look at the WTT finals: no french XD pair, Simon and Prithika are only ranked 22 at the race, this how you see they did wrong this year. Charlotte Lutz... you find her at the 94th rank with Flavien Coton, she has not done anything with Simon, how can you prepare this XTWCup witout telling your N3s "you're gonna play the XD all the year to prepare for the mixed team world Cup cos' it prepares for the next Olympics" NO !!!! it was obvious, but no ...

she has some wins against good players this year, you can go look on stats page of ittf for 2025.

if you look at UTT, it isn't the best team on paper between mens and womens that won, it is the one that can get as many sets. Pavade also had some sets against matches she lost against strong players this year.

My team had the best foreign women in Fan Siqi and a strong foreign men in Kirill. We also have a strong Indian men in Payas.
We finish 2nd last out of 8 teams. Siqi scored about half the teams point but the problem is the matches we loss, it was 0-3. If it was 1-2, we would of made it into the semis. 1 set makes a different, and gives hope to narrow the loss or overtake.

Pavade can also take 2, as I said with her results - she has the level. but if she takes 1, that job is 50% done.

French mens are strong, women is weaker, if the womens can get at least 1 set, and the mens take 3, that is half way there. I still stand my ground saying the French is missing 1 more women.

She might not have the form now, but she has the level. Or is it, according to you, her level is now no longer? lol

also, 3 set match is totally different.
I have been there, have you?
My experience is the pressure is on the stronger player not to loose a set, than the weaker player to try and gain a set.

 

[zeio]

CHN would've been Z tier if FZD, ML, and CM were there like at XTWC 2023.
JPN would've been A tier if Kihara were there and Harimoto siblings and Hayata could work along before their rift like at XTWC 2023.