Tennis returns to The O2 in London this September, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most anticipated editions of the Laver Cup yet. Here’s everything worth knowing before Team Europe and Team World take the court.
A Quick History of the Laver Cup
The Laver Cup is named in honor of Australian tennis legend Rod Laver, one of the sport’s greatest champions, and pits six of the best male players from Europe against six of the best from the rest of the world in a team format rarely seen in professional tennis. The event made its debut in Prague in 2017 and has since traveled to some of the world’s biggest cities: Chicago (2018), Geneva (2019), Boston (2021), London (2022), Vancouver (2023), Berlin (2024), and San Francisco (2025). London’s 2026 edition marks its second time hosting, making it one of only two cities to host the event twice in its first nine editions.
What makes the format distinctive is the atmosphere it creates. Players who spend most of the season as rivals suddenly become teammates, cheering each other on from the bench a dynamic that’s given the event a reputation for some of the most relaxed, entertaining sideline moments in tennis. Matches are played on a striking black court, purpose-built inside the host arena for the event.
The Basics
The 2026 Laver Cup — the ninth edition of the event runs from Friday 25 September to Sunday 27 September at The O2 Arena in London. It’s London’s second time hosting, after the unforgettable 2022 edition.
Unlike a standard tournament, the Laver Cup isn’t a knockout draw. It’s one continuous three-day contest between two six-player teams Team Europe and Team World spread across five ticketed sessions. Wins matter more as the weekend progresses: a win is worth 1 point on Friday, 2 on Saturday, and 3 on Sunday. The first team to reach 13 points wins, which is why the outcome is rarely decided before the final day.
An Open Practice Day takes place Thursday 24 September, giving fans an early look at both squads.
Why London Matters for This Edition
London‘s first Laver Cup, in 2022, is remembered as one of the most emotional moments in modern tennis history the event marked Roger Federer’s retirement, with Federer playing his final match in doubles alongside longtime rival Rafael Nadal, joined courtside by Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. That match, and that farewell, is a big part of why London’s return as host carries extra weight for tennis fans.
The O2 itself is no stranger to major events beyond hosting the 2022 Laver Cup and the ATP Finals from 2009–2020, it’s staged everything from the BRIT Awards to UFC and NBA games.
The Head-to-Head
Since the Laver Cup began in 2017, Team Europe leads the overall head-to-head 5–2. However, Team World enters 2026 as the defending champions, having beaten Team Europe 15–9 at last year’s edition in San Francisco their third title overall.
London 2026 will mark the fifth time Europe has held home advantage, a factor that has historically favored the European side.
The Teams
Team Europe, captained by Yannick Noah, has confirmed several of its six players so far, including:
- Carlos Alcaraz — seven-time Grand Slam champion
- Alexander Zverev — currently world No. 3
Team World, captained by Andre Agassi, is looking to defend their title with a squad that includes:
- Taylor Fritz — former US Open runner-up
- Alex de Minaur
Both captains are entering their second year in the role, having first served together at the 2025 edition.
What to Watch For
- Can Europe reclaim home advantage form? Europe has historically performed strongly when hosting worth watching whether that trend holds at The O2 again.
- A rematch of styles. With Alcaraz’s aggressive, high-risk game for Europe against Fritz and de Minaur’s counter-punching styles for World, the individual matchups across the weekend could be some of the most competitive in the event’s history.
- Sunday’s swing potential. Since Sunday wins are worth triple points, a team trailing after two days is never fully out of contention expect the tension to build significantly into the final day.
The Details
- Dates: 25–27 September 2026 (Open Practice Day: 24 September)
- Venue: The O2 Arena, London
- Format: 12 matches across 5 sessions, first to 13 points wins
- Tickets: Available via AXS, the official ticketing partner of The O2, and official Laver Cup travel/hospitality partners. Single-session tickets are published from £45.49 including VAT and fees, with Sunday’s session starting at 12:00 BST.
A Word of Caution for Ticket Buyers
With demand for London’s return likely to be high, it’s worth noting that the Laver Cup has specifically advised fans to purchase tickets only through official channels AXS, the official Laver Cup website for hospitality packages, or officially listed travel and hospitality partners. Tickets bought through unauthorized third-party resellers are not guaranteed to be authentic or to grant access to the arena, so it’s worth double-checking the source before buying.
Why This Edition Feels Different
Every Laver Cup carries its own storyline, but London 2026 has a few threads that make it particularly compelling. It’s a rematch of sorts for a city that hasn’t hosted since the emotional farewell of 2022, a chance for Europe to reclaim home advantage after a title loss last September, and an opportunity for a new generation of stars Alcaraz, Zverev, Fritz, de Minaur to write their own chapter in an event still closely associated with the golden era of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Murray.
Whether you’re courtside or watching from home, the 2026 Laver Cup has all the makings of a genuinely close, high-stakes edition and London’s return as host only adds to the occasion.