Bilbao
Bilbao and the towns along the Nervión estuary already play a great deal of fútbol sala, in municipal polideportivos and on small artificial pitches. The MCC Bilbao tournament in 2027 sets three grounds on that map, Getxo, Galdakao and Barakaldo, and gives any amateur 5-a-side team in Bizkaia a route from a local final to the Spanish championship and the World Final on 7 July 2027.
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 Bilbao with three Pitch Champions, and each goes straight to the Country Championship.
Getxo/North-West
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
Galdakao/East
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
Barakaldo/South-West
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
Checking live availability...
Fútbol sala around the estuary
Basque football grows from Athletic Club and its policy of fielding local players, and the habit carries down to amateur level. Neighbourhood sides, school alumni teams and works squads fill the halls of Bizkaia most evenings, and fútbol sala is the everyday name for the small-sided game. A team with a regular weekly slot already has what an MCC entry needs: five players on court, a squad of up to nine, and matches of two 15-minute halves played on a stop clock.
Getxo, Galdakao and Barakaldo on the map
The three Bilbao grounds follow the estuary and the valley. Getxo is the north-west ground, covering the coast at Algorta and Neguri and the right bank of the river, with Metro Bilbao line 1 running through it. Barakaldo is the south-west ground on the left bank, reached by metro line 2 and by local trains. Galdakao anchors the east, up the Nervión valley, where buses and the road network count for more than the metro.
Every ground has room for 64 to 128 teams and ends with one Pitch Champion. A venue for each is being chosen through the MCC pitch owner programme. When an agreement is signed, the venue's name goes up on this page, and the cards above mark which of Getxo, Galdakao and Barakaldo has reached that point.
April and May in Bizkaia, then the road to Spain
Spring on the Basque coast is mild and green, with temperatures in the mid-teens to around twenty and a fair chance of drizzle on any given matchday. Bilbao teams play three group weekends in April (the 9th to 11th, 16th to 18th and 23rd to 25th), then knockout rounds begin on 30 April and every ground settles its champion on Sunday 9 May 2027.
Bilbao's three Pitch Champions go through to the Spain Country Championship, held 28 to 30 May 2027, against the winners from Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and Seville. After that comes the continental stage, and the World Final on 7 July 2027 closes the season.
Leagues, cups and what MCC adds
Most small-sided competition around Bilbao is a winter league or a one-day summer cup. MCC is built differently: a published format, a fixed $20,000 for each Pitch Champion, and a ladder that leaves the city. Only amateurs may play, each entry names a Team President, and the conduct policy tolerates nothing, with licence revocation and no refund as the outer limit.
The road out of Bilbao
- 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 Bilbao
How does a team enter MCC in Bilbao?
Register on this site and pick one of Bilbao's three grounds: Getxo/North-West, Galdakao/East, Barakaldo/South-West. 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 Bilbao?
The Pitch Round runs 9 April to 9 May 2027 on all three Bilbao 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 Bilbao?
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 Bilbao team win?
$20,000 per Pitch Champion, $150,000 for the Spain title, $500,000 continental and $5,000,000 for the World Champion - plus championship rings from Country level up.
Is fútbol sala the same game as the MCC format?
They are close relatives. Both are played five a side, so a fútbol sala team already has the numbers and the habits. MCC fixes squads at up to nine players and matches at two halves of 15 minutes on a stop clock, in 40-minute slots.
Which ground suits a team from central Bilbao?
Choose the one your squad can reach after work. Barakaldo and Getxo are both on the metro, and Galdakao suits players who live up the valley. Every ground runs a complete round, so no one gains by travelling further.
Can a works team or school alumni side enter?
Yes, provided every player is an amateur. One Team License covers the team, and a Team President is named on the entry. Works, alumni and club sections all qualify on the same terms as a team formed just for this.
What happens if a Bilbao team wins its ground?
The Pitch Champion takes $20,000 and goes straight to the Spain Country Championship on 28 to 30 May 2027. Winning there sends the team to the continental stage and, if it keeps winning, the World Final.
Also hosting in Spain
Nearby in Europe
Claim a pitch in Bilbao
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