While much of the sporting world's attention is currently focused on the FIFA Club World Cup taking place in the United States, badminton fans will also have plenty to look forward to as the YONEX US Open 2026 gets underway later today.

The Super 300 event runs until Sunday and, as usual, features a strong European presence. The US Open has traditionally attracted many European players, and this year's edition is no exception.

Last year, Danish mixed doubles pair Rasmus Espersen and Amalie Cecilie Kudsk claimed the title, securing what proved to be their first and only Super 300 triumph together. Following the recent split of the partnership, the defending champions will not be back to defend their crown, but plenty of other European players will be aiming for success in California.

Men's Singles

In men's singles, Denmark's Magnus Johannesen enters the tournament as the sixth seed and is the only seeded European player in the draw. The European contingent also includes Misha Zilberman (Israel), Aria Dinata (Croatia), Joakim Oldorff and Kalle Koljonen (Finland), Ditlev Jæger Holm (Denmark), Harry Huang (England) and Julien Carraggi (Belgium).

There will already be two all-European encounters in the opening round, with the Finnish duo Joakim Oldorff and Kalle Koljonen facing each other, while Ditlev Jæger Holm takes on England's Harry Huang.

Women's Singles

Line Christophersen and Amalie Schulz lead the European challenge in women's singles as the second and seventh seeds respectively.

Christophersen enjoyed a strong run at last year's US Open, reaching the semi-finals, and will be hoping to go even further this time around.

Ukraine's Polina Buhrova, who also reached the semi-finals in 2025, returns looking for another deep run. Other European players in the draw include Kaloyana Nalbantova of Bulgaria and Germany's Yvonne Li.

Men's Doubles

European Champions and top seeds Ben Lane and Sean Vendy headline the men's doubles field and lead a strong European challenge.

Also competing are fellow English pairs Oliver Butler/Samuel Jones and Alex Green/Zach Russ, Germany's Bjarne Geiss/Jones Jansen, French combinations Eloi Adam/Leo Rossi and Julien Maio/William Villeger, Czech brothers Jiri Kral/Ondrej Kral, Denmark's Christian Faust Kjær/Rasmus Kjær and Scotland's Christopher Grimley/Matthew Grimley.

The opening round features an all-French clash as Eloi Adam/Leo Rossi take on Julien Maio/William Villeger.

Women's Doubles

The women's doubles draw also contains several European partnerships, including England's Sian Kelly/Lizzie Tolman and Abbygail Harris/Estelle Van Leeuwen, Spain's Paula Lopez/Lucia Rodriguez, Denmark's Amalie Cecilie Kudsk/Simona Pilgaard and Kathrine Vang/Mette Werge, Germany/Sweden combination Yvonne Li/Tilda Sjöö, and Ukraine's Polina Buhrova/Yevheniia Kantemyr.

Another all-European first-round match sees Abbygail Harris and Estelle Van Leeuwen face Amalie Cecilie Kudsk and Simona Pilgaard. The English pair arrive in California full of confidence after winning the Valence Alpes International Challenge tournament last week.

Mixed Doubles

Mixed doubles could prove to be one of Europe's strongest disciplines at this year's event.

European Championships silver medallists Callum Hemming and Estelle Van Leeuwen enter the tournament as second seeds and among the favourites for the title.

Joining them in the draw are fellow English pairs Oliver Butler/Abbygail Harris and Samuel Jones/Lizzie Tolman, Sweden's Filip Karlborg/Tilda Sjöö, Denmark's Kristoffer Kolding/Mette Werge, Germany's Calvin Devereux/Desiree Töpffer, Czech pair Ondrej Kral/Tereza Švábíková, France's Julien Maio/Léa Palermo and Spain's Ruben Garcia/Lucia Rodriguez.

There will also be an all-European opening-round encounter in mixed doubles as Ondrej Kral/Tereza Švábíková take on Julien Maio/Léa Palermo.

In addition to the players already in the main draw, several other European athletes will be aiming to secure their places through the qualification rounds, which begin later today in California.