Hamburg
Hamburg has two big football names in HSV and FC St. Pauli, a river that divides the map in half and a long habit of playing on small pitches. The MCC Hamburg tournament uses that habit: 5-a-side football on three grounds, North, East and Harburg/South, with a Pitch Round starting on 9 April 2027 and a Pitch Champion from each ground who earns $20,000.
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 Hamburg with three Pitch Champions, and each goes straight to the Country Championship.
North Hamburg
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
East Hamburg
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
Harburg/South
64 to 128 teams · $20,000 to its Pitch Champion
Checking live availability...
Small-sided football on both banks of the Elbe
Hamburg plays football in winter rain and in spring sunshine alike, and the city has plenty of Kunstrasen pitches and Soccerhallen where mixed groups of friends and colleagues book time. Local fans split between the Volksparkstadion and the Millerntor, and the argument carries over into five-a-side.
MCC keeps the format direct: squads of up to nine, two halves of fifteen minutes, a stop clock and a 40-minute slot. Teams that play every week in a Freizeitliga already have what they need, and a night of three matches is a short evening.
Reaching North, East and Harburg/South
North Hamburg is the area around Eppendorf, Winterhude, Barmbek and the airport side, linked by the U1 and U3. East Hamburg covers Wandsbek, Rahlstedt and Billstedt, with the U1 and S-Bahn lines running out. Harburg/South sits on the south bank of the Elbe, reached by the S3 and S31 or through the Elbe tunnels by road.
The river makes the south a separate catchment, which is why Harburg has a ground of its own. MCC confirms one venue for each ground through its pitch owner programme and announces it on this page after the agreement is signed.
Hanseatic weather, May dates and the German route
Spring in Hamburg means wind and showers between bright spells, and artificial pitches handle that better than grass. The three group-stage weekends start on 9, 16 and 23 April 2027; playoffs open on 30 April and the finals are played on 9 May.
Hamburg's Pitch Champions then travel to Germany's Country Championship, 28 to 30 May 2027, where they meet teams from Stuttgart, Dortmund, Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Cologne, Munich and Berlin. The continental stage comes next, and the World Final follows on 7 July 2027.
Tournaments in Hamburg and the MCC difference
Hamburg holds company tournaments, club days and summer cups, nearly always over in a day. MCC is a season of matches with published rules, penalties for a level playoff tie and a prize fund that pays $20,000 to each Pitch Champion. It is open to amateurs only, and every entry has a named Team President.
The road out of Hamburg
- 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 Hamburg
How does a team enter MCC in Hamburg?
Register on this site and pick one of Hamburg's three grounds: North Hamburg, East Hamburg, Harburg/South. 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 Hamburg?
The Pitch Round runs 9 April to 9 May 2027 on all three Hamburg 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 Hamburg?
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 Hamburg 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.
Is Harburg really a separate ground from the rest of Hamburg?
Yes. The ground named Harburg/South serves the south bank of the Elbe, so teams there do not have to cross the river for evening matches. Teams from elsewhere may still choose it if it suits them.
Can a Freizeitliga side enter without a club behind it?
Yes. Five to nine amateur players are enough to hold a Team License. A club is not required, though a Verein's casual team qualifies too, and so does a group of colleagues.
What is April like for outdoor football in Hamburg?
April and May in Hamburg are changeable, with wind and showers between bright spells, and the weather warms through May. The Pitch Round runs from 9 April to 9 May 2027, and artificial pitches are common across the city.
Who do Hamburg Pitch Champions meet next?
Winners from other German host cities, including Stuttgart, Dortmund, Frankfurt Rhine-Main, Cologne, Munich and Berlin, meeting in the Country Championship that runs 28 to 30 May 2027, before the continental stage begins.
Also hosting in Germany
Nearby in Europe
Claim a pitch in Hamburg
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