Malta will make its historic debut at the UPBF World Championship Nations Cup when the national paintball team competes in Dreux, France, on September 2 and 3, 2026.
It will be the first time that Malta has been represented at the Nations Cup, which brings together national teams from across the world.
Malta is one of four countries making their World Championship debut at this year’s competition, alongside Colombia, Denmark and Kuwait.
Unlike regular club competitions, the Nations Cup sees players represent their countries, with the Maltese team made up entirely of Maltese citizens and residents. The squad includes players currently based in both Malta and the United Kingdom, with the full team set to be announced ahead of the tournament.
Malta Paintball President Chris Cioffi described the tournament as an important moment for the sport in Malta.
“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. Whatever the results in France, we want this to be the start of something we can build on for years to come.”
Malta will travel to France with realistic expectations, with the focus on competing strongly, gaining valuable international experience and laying the foundations for a regular presence in international paintball.
The national team has already been gaining experience through the CPPS series in the United Kingdom, while players based in Malta have travelled to Sicily for tournament-style training.
The Nations Cup appearance is also part of wider plans to develop competitive paintball in Malta.
Malta Paintball is working to create more opportunities for players to compete locally, establish regular training and competitions, and provide a pathway for Maltese players who want to take their careers to the international level.
The organisation also believes Malta’s climate could eventually make the country an attractive training destination for European paintball teams. With playing conditions available throughout much of the year and relatively short connections to major European cities, Malta could offer teams from colder parts of Europe an option for winter training.
Another ambition is to connect with the Maltese community living overseas. Paintball has an international following, including players of Maltese heritage, and Malta Paintball hopes the national team can provide another way for those players to maintain a connection with Malta.
The 2026 Nations Cup is therefore being viewed as the beginning of a long-term project rather than a one-off appearance.
For Malta, September’s tournament will represent a significant milestone as the country steps onto the international paintball stage for the first time.
