Antwerp
Antwerp is a Flemish port city with two proud football clubs and a habit of playing on whatever court is free. In 2027 the MCC Major Champions Cup arrives with a 5-a-side tournament, with grounds in North, East and South Antwerp. Zaalvoetbal sides and street teams can enter, and each ground's winner takes $20,000 to the Belgian championship.
Three grounds, three champions
Two halves of 15 minutes on a stop clock. Every team plays three group matches in a group of four, and the top two go into the playoffs, where a tie level after two halves goes to penalties. Five weeks of football on each ground leave Antwerp with three Pitch Champions, and each goes straight to the Country Championship.
North Antwerp
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
East Antwerp
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
South Antwerp
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
Checking live availability...
Zaalvoetbal and street courts along the Scheldt
Antwerp's football splits between Royal Antwerp at the Bosuil in Deurne and Beerschot at the Kiel, but most of the playing happens elsewhere. Zaalvoetbal leagues use municipal halls, neighbourhood courts in Borgerhout and Berchem stay busy until dark, and workplace teams from the port book evening slots. The format will be familiar to all of them.
MCC runs squads of up to nine in two halves of fifteen minutes on a stop clock. Three group matches decide who reaches the playoffs, and a level tie in the playoffs goes to penalties, whatever the stage, so a draw never ends a knockout match.
Three grounds and how Antwerp connects them
North Antwerp covers Merksem, Ekeren and the districts toward the port. East Antwerp takes in Borgerhout, Deurne and Berchem. South Antwerp covers Hoboken, Kiel and the neighbourhoods beside the Scheldt. Trams and the premetro cross the city, and cycling is quick for any trip that stays inside the ring.
Each ground holds its own full round, so a team chooses the nearest and plays there from April. One venue per ground comes through the MCC pitch owner programme, and the live cards on this page show where one is still missing.
Antwerp in the spring of 2027, then the Belgian stage
April and May weather is mild and changeable, often damp from the river and the nearby sea. The Pitch Round has three group weekends, 9 to 11, 16 to 18 and 23 to 25 April 2027, before playoffs start on 30 April and the ground finals on 9 May.
Winners from the three Antwerp grounds then travel to the Belgium Country Championship, 28 to 30 May 2027, to face Brussels. The continental stage follows, then the World Final on 7 July 2027, and the prize money climbs between $20,000 and $5,000,000.
More than another Antwerp five-a-side cup
Cups in the city tend to be a Saturday and a trophy. MCC offers a season from 9 April to 9 May, a published format and a clear route from the ground to the world. Entries are amateur only, each one carries a Team License and a named Team President, and the conduct policy tolerates nothing.
The road out of Antwerp
- 01 · 9 Apr - 9 May 2027
Pitch Round
Groups of four on every pitch, three group matches each. The top two of every group go into the playoffs, and penalties settle a level playoff tie.
$20,000 - 02 · 28-30 May 2027
Country Championship
The Pitch Champions of each country play for the national title: two halves of 15 minutes, a league table, then the playoffs.
$150,000 - 03 · 2027
Continental Championship
Country Champions compete within their region for a place on the world stage.
$500,000 - 04 · 7 Jul 2027
World Championship
A five-team mini-league, then the World Final: two halves of 15 minutes, penalties if level. One MCC World Champion.
$5,000,000
Questions from Antwerp
How does a team enter MCC in Antwerp?
Register on this site and pick one of Antwerp's three grounds: North Antwerp, East Antwerp, South Antwerp. One Team License per team: USD 1,200 for one year until 1 March 2027 (then 2,500), or 5,000 for three years. Payment and KYC verification follow the application.
When does the tournament start in Antwerp?
The Pitch Round runs 9 April to 9 May 2027 on all three Antwerp grounds. The group matches are played on 9-11, 16-18 and 23-25 April, the playoffs from 30 April, and each ground's final on 9 May. Pitch Champions go straight to the Country Championship on 28-30 May 2027.
How many teams can play in Antwerp?
Up to 384: each of the three grounds takes up to 128 teams, and each needs a minimum of 64 to run its round. A full ground puts an entry on its waitlist instead of turning it away.
What can a Antwerp team win?
$20,000 per Pitch Champion, $150,000 for the Belgium title, $500,000 continental and $5,000,000 for the World Champion - plus championship rings from Country level up.
Can a zaalvoetbal team from Antwerp enter the tournament?
Yes. Zaalvoetbal and futsal teams of five to nine amateur players are welcome. The match rules are MCC's own 5-a-side, so look at the format on this site before the first group match.
Which ground is right for a team from Borgerhout or Berchem?
East Antwerp covers Borgerhout, Deurne and Berchem. Because each ground plays a full round, choose the one nearest your squad and stay there until the Country Championship in May 2027.
Do Antwerp teams have to play in Brussels?
Only if they win. The Pitch Round is played entirely at an Antwerp ground, and the Belgium Country Championship on 28 to 30 May 2027 is where Antwerp and Brussels champions meet.
Is Antwerp's port workforce eligible to enter?
Any amateur team is eligible, including workplace teams from the port, a factory or an office. The entry needs a Team President and one Team License, and every player accepts the conduct policy.
Also hosting in Belgium
Nearby in Europe
Claim a pitch in Antwerp
One Team License per team, for one year or three years. Squads of up to 9 are built in the MCC app after licensing. Registration takes the team, its coach and its Team President.
- USD1,200One year
- 5,000Three years