Ovide: Coello/Nieto his World Cup dread

A few months before the 2026 Padel World Championships in Qatar, attention is turning to the national teams and their strategic planning. Rodri Ovide, who co-leads the Argentine men's squad with Gaby Reca, has spoken in more detail in an interview with desdedentrodelpadel about team selection and the Spanish challenge. Reigning world champion Argentina wants to defend its title in Doha – and the coaching staff knows exactly which opponents can be especially dangerous.

Coello and Nieto as the toughest scenario

Asked which Spanish pair he would least like to face at the event, Ovide answered without hesitation: Arturo Coello and Coki Nieto. Both had already shown in the 2024 World Championship final series how powerful they can be as a unit. In the opening match of the final against Argentina, Coello and Nieto dominated Martín Di Nenno and Franco Stupaczuk 6-1, 6-2 and gave Spain the first point.

Argentina still turned the series around: Federico Chingotto and Agustín Tapia as well as Tino Libaak and Leo Augsburger delivered the decisive wins and secured another world title. The memory of that opening defeat remains strong. Ovide's comment underlines how much the Spanish block around Coello and Nieto continues to serve as a reference point for Argentina's preparation.

Consensus on the twelve-player list

Beyond his view of the Spanish threat, Ovide spoke at length about the internal work on Argentina's squad. Together with Gaby Reca, he said they had tested different configurations. In the end, both independently arrived at the same twelve names. The coaching duo sees that alignment as a sign of the exceptional depth and quality of the current Argentine padel roster.

Preparation for Doha is therefore not an experiment but a fine-tuning process. Argentina arrives as defending champion and must balance experience, form and tactical flexibility. Spain remains the natural rival: as 2024 finalist and with a deep player pool, the team ranks among the clearest contenders for the crown.

Four places almost locked in

Apart from injuries or surprises, four players already look assured of their places: Agustín Tapia, Federico Chingotto, Franco Stupaczuk and Leo Augsburger. Their consistent tour performances and importance to the national team make them pillars of the delegation. The remaining spots in the men's squad are still open and are likely to be contested until shortly before the tournament.

Candidates include Martín Di Nenno, Juan Tello, Tino Libaak, Maxi Arce, Álex Chozas, Sanyo Gutiérrez, Tolito Aguirre and Gonza Alfonso. Each brings different strengths – match toughness, doubles craft or experience in major national-team moments. For the coaching staff, that means a demanding selection call in which form, chemistry and tactical variety all weigh heavily.

The road to Doha

The World Championships in Qatar sit at the top of the calendar for national federations. For Argentina, it is about defending a title won with character in 2024. For Spain, there is a chance to convert the near miss into a triumph. Ovide's public assessment of Coello and Nieto is therefore more than an anecdote: it shows which pairings command the greatest respect in the circle of favourites.

At the same time, the coach made clear that internal squad planning is already well advanced. Agreement with Reca on the twelve-player list points to a clear sporting line. What remains is the fine-tuning of the final places and the question of how the doubles will be set on match day. That is where the tournament path could be decided – especially in potential meetings with Spain.

• Argentina travels to Doha as reigning world champion.
• Ovide names Coello/Nieto as the Spanish pair he would most prefer to avoid.
• Four Argentine starting places look nearly certain; other candidates battle for the remaining spots.

The coming months will show which names complete the final list and how Spain lines up its pairs. Until then, Ovide's message is clear: he sees the greatest challenge in a Spanish doubles team of Arturo Coello and Coki Nieto – a duo that already proved in 2024 how dominant it can be in decisive World Championship moments. For fans and analysts, the interview therefore offers an early, concrete signal of the rivalry that could define Mondial 2026.

From a sporting perspective, the picture is of a World Championship in which individual pairings can matter as much as overall national strength. Argentina's squad depth allows multiple matchups, while Spain's top pairs force every preparation to maximum intensity. It is exactly in that tension that both camps are currently planning – and Ovide's words give the debate about favourites and feared opponents a clear direction.

Whether Coello and Nieto actually play together in Doha will ultimately be decided by Spain's staff. Regardless, Argentina has marked its priorities: title defence, a clear squad line and maximum attention for those Spanish combinations that already shaped the opening of a final series once before. Mondial 2026 is drawing closer – and the sporting narrative between Buenos Aires and Madrid is already gathering pace.