The FITP overtakes the FIGC: tennis and padel now have more members than football
Published on 2 November 2026 · by Luca Bicchieri, PadelMetrix
For the first time in Italy, the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP) has more registered members than the football federation (FIGC): according to CONI's monitoring report for 2024, 1,162,477 against 1,123,054. It is a historic overtaking with more than one explanation. One of them is padel, which since 2023 has also been part of the federation's name.
What the FITP is
The FITP is the national sports federation, recognised by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI), that governs tennis and padel in Italy: it affiliates clubs, issues memberships, trains coaches and referees and organises championships and tournaments. Until 2022 it was called FIT, the Italian Tennis Federation. On 16 October 2022 an extraordinary assembly in Florence unanimously approved the new name, Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, with the new federation established from 1 January 2023 after CONI's approval (OA Sport). Padel had already been one of the federation's disciplines since 2008 (Il Post).
It has been led since 2001 by Angelo Binaghi: when he became president it had around 130,000 members (Il Fatto Quotidiano). Today the FITP has more than 4,000 affiliated clubs, over 2,500 tennis and padel schools, about 14,000 coaches and 10,000 officials, and it organises major events such as the ATP Finals in Turin and the Internazionali d'Italia in Rome (Il Sole 24 Ore).
The numbers behind the overtaking
The data come from the "CONI-FSN-DSA Monitoring", a census of clubs and members of 48 federations, 15 associated disciplines and 14 sports promotion bodies, previewed by Il Sole 24 Ore. In 2024 Italy had 6,069,891 registered members, the highest figure ever (+7.7% on 2023).
| Federation | Registered members 2024 | Share of total |
|---|---|---|
| FITP (tennis and padel) | 1,162,477 | 20.2% |
| FIGC (football) | 1,123,054 | 19.5% |
| Volleyball | 359,797 | — |
| Basketball | 320,769 | — |
| Athletics | 292,599 | — |
In 2025 the FITP rose to 1,254,153 members (Il Sole 24 Ore). The growth came mostly in the last decade: in CONI's report for 2014 the federation had fewer than 300,000 members and was behind volleyball and basketball; since then it has grown by more than 300%, while the FIGC grew by about 5% (Il Post).
The overtaking also shows in the accounts. In 2024 production value was 209 million euros for the FITP and 224 million for the FIGC; in 2025 the FITP passed 240 million against the football federation's 214, and for 2026 it forecasts more than 280 million. Over 70% of its revenue comes from organising international events (Il Sole 24 Ore).
Why tennis and padel are growing so fast
- Padel. It is quick to learn and you only need four people instead of ten: for many it has replaced the five-a-side football game (Il Sole 24 Ore).
- The champions. Sinner, Paolini and Errani have drawn many people to tennis, but mostly in recent years: Il Sole 24 Ore sees their success more as a consequence than the cause of the growth (Il Post).
- Women. Tennis has historically been more open to women: men make up 59% of FITP members and 96% of FIGC members (Il Post).
- The business model. Revenue from major events is reinvested in schools, coach training and tournaments: international tournaments in Italy have gone from fewer than 30 to about 90 in 25 years (Il Post).
How big is padel's share
The report does not give a separate figure for padel, but some numbers show its growth. At the end of 2023 there were almost 74,000 padel members and 1,682 affiliated clubs (FIP). According to 2025 data from the International Padel Federation's research department reported by AGI, there are 5,321 FITP-affiliated courts, with Lazio in the lead (2,014), and Italy is the second country in the world for padel (AGI).
Read with care
- Registered members are not players. Football has not become less popular: a lot of it is played without a federal membership.
- CONI's report does not count the CSI (Centro Sportivo Italiano), which covers much amateur and parish football (Il Post).
- The FIGC is still the most widespread federation, with more than 10,000 affiliated clubs, and still has the most members in 11 regions (Il Post, Il Sole 24 Ore).
Sources: Il Sole 24 Ore (27 October 2026), Il Post, Il Fatto Quotidiano, OA Sport, FIP, AGI.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the FITP?
It is the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, the national sports federation recognised by CONI that governs tennis and padel in Italy. Until 2022 it was called FIT; the new name has applied since 2023.
How many members does the FITP have?
1,162,477 in 2024 according to CONI's monitoring report, more than the FIGC's 1,123,054; in 2025 it rose to 1,254,153.
Is padel part of the FITP?
Yes: it has been one of the federation's disciplines since 2008 and has been in its name since 2023. Padel members are not shown separately in CONI's report.
Do more people in Italy play tennis and padel than football?
Not necessarily: the figure concerns federation members. A lot of football is played without a membership, and the report does not count the CSI, which covers much amateur activity.
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