Malta is preparing to make history on the international paintball stage, with a national team set to compete at the UPBF World Championship Nations Cup for the first time.
The Maltese team will take to the field in Dreux, France, on 2 and 3 September 2026, marking the country’s first appearance at the event.
According to Malta Paintball, Malta will be one of four countries making their World Championship debut this year, alongside Colombia, Denmark and Kuwait.
Representing Malta On The World Stage
Unlike regular club competitions, the Nations Cup sees players come together to represent their respective countries.
Malta Paintball says the national squad will consist entirely of Maltese citizens and residents, including players currently based in Malta and the United Kingdom.
The full Maltese squad is expected to be announced ahead of the tournament.
For Malta Paintball President Chris Cioffi, simply seeing a Maltese team walk onto the field will represent a major milestone for the sport locally.
“This is a big moment for paintball in Malta. For the first time, we’ll have a Maltese team walking onto the field at the Nations Cup and representing our country against teams from around the world,” Cioffi said.
“We know we’re a small and developing paintball nation, but everyone on this team has worked hard for the opportunity to wear the Maltese cross and compete for Malta,” he added.
“Whatever the results in France, we want this to be the start of something we can build on for years to come.”
Building Experience Ahead Of France
Malta heads into its first appearance with what the organisation describes as realistic expectations.
Rather than putting immediate pressure on results, the goal is to compete, gain experience at this level and establish the foundations for Malta to become a regular presence in international competitive paintball.
The team has already been building experience through the CPPS series in the United Kingdom, while Malta-based players have travelled to Sicily for tournament-style training ahead of the World Championship.
Bigger Plans For Paintball In Malta
The ambitions extend beyond September’s competition.
Malta Paintball says it is working towards creating more opportunities for competitive paintball locally, establishing regular training and competitions and developing a pathway for Maltese players who want to compete internationally.
The organisation also believes Malta’s climate could eventually help the islands develop into a winter training destination for European paintball teams, taking advantage of the country’s relatively favourable year-round playing conditions. This remains a longer-term ambition rather than a confirmed programme.
Malta Paintball is a registered voluntary organisation and says it is a member of the European Paintball Federation.
For now, however, attention turns to France.
On 2 and 3 September, Malta will have its own national team competing at the Nations Cup for the first time with the organisation hoping this historic debut marks the beginning of a much longer Maltese presence on the international paintball scene.
