Cologne
Cologne takes its football loudly and its small-sided football seriously. Teams in the Rhineland hire halls and artificial pitches for Kleinfeld matches on weeknights, from Ehrenfeld to Kalk. In 2027 the MCC tournament arrives with three Cologne grounds, and the winners of this Pitch Round can climb all the way to the World Final in July.
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 Cologne with three Pitch Champions, and each goes straight to the Country Championship.
Leverkusen/North
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
East Cologne
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
South Cologne
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
Checking live availability...
Rhineland football, small-sided
Cologne supports 1. FC Köln across the city, with Bayer Leverkusen a short ride up the river, and the region has a long tradition of neighbourhood teams. On the amateur side, Hallenfußball and Kleinfeld leagues fill sports halls in winter, while artificial pitches carry the game through the rest of the year.
A team already used to that routine needs little preparation. Nine players is the largest squad. Games are five a side, split into two 15-minute halves with the clock stopped for breaks in play, and every ground deals its teams into groups of four.
Leverkusen, East and South: reaching each ground
The Leverkusen/North ground reaches Nippes, Chorweiler and Leverkusen across the river. East Cologne covers Deutz, Kalk, Mülheim and the districts toward Bergisch Gladbach. South Cologne takes in Sülz, Rodenkirchen and the neighbourhoods toward Brühl. Tram, Stadtbahn and the Rhine bridges decide how a squad travels.
Every ground takes between 64 and 128 teams and runs a round of its own, so the sensible choice is the one nearest home. Pitch owners in the programme supply one venue per ground; its name appears here after the agreement is signed.
The Cologne spring and the next stage
April on the Rhine is mild but unsettled, with showers passing through and May drier. The three group weekends are 9 to 11, 16 to 18 and 23 to 25 April 2027. Knockout games start on 30 April, and 9 May is final day at each ground.
Cologne's three champions are booked into the Country Championship, 28 to 30 May 2027, against the other German cities: Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Dortmund and Stuttgart. Continental play comes next and the World Final is on 7 July 2027.
Other Cologne cups and what sets MCC apart
Cologne has a steady calendar of company cups, street tournaments and one-day futsal events. Most are decided in a day. MCC stretches over five weeks, publishes its format in advance and pays $20,000 to each Pitch Champion, whose result carries on beyond the city. The field is amateur only, and every entry has a named Team President.
The road out of Cologne
- 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 Cologne
How does a team enter MCC in Cologne?
Register on this site and pick one of Cologne's three grounds: Leverkusen/North, East Cologne, South Cologne. 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 Cologne?
The Pitch Round runs 9 April to 9 May 2027 on all three Cologne 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 Cologne?
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 Cologne team win?
$20,000 per Pitch Champion, $150,000 for the Germany title, $500,000 continental and $5,000,000 for the World Champion - plus championship rings from Country level up.
Does a team from Leverkusen belong in Cologne?
Yes. The Leverkusen/North ground is built for teams in Leverkusen and the north of Cologne. A team from either side of the Rhine can enter at any of the three grounds, though the nearest one saves the most travel.
Is MCC played indoors like Hallenfußball?
The Pitch Round runs from 9 April to 9 May 2027, so the matches are played on the venue's pitches rather than in winter halls. The rules are 5-a-side with a stop clock. Teams used to hall football should feel at home.
Can a company team from Cologne enter?
Yes, provided every player is an amateur. A company team needs a Team License and a named Team President like any other. Mixed squads of colleagues and friends are common and entirely allowed, with up to nine players.
How do teams get to the Cologne grounds?
By Stadtbahn, tram, S-Bahn or bike for most areas. Venues are announced one per ground on the Cologne page, so a team can check the route from its district once its ground has a venue.
Also hosting in Germany
Nearby in Europe
Claim a pitch in Cologne
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