The eurofootballfives.com early Summer Veterans Tournament is a moveable feast. Following the veritable delights of Alicante 2019, Lisbon 2013, 2016 & 2022, Mallorca 2014, 2017, 2023-2024, the Algarve in 2015 & 2018, Prague (2024) and Porto (2025) we return to the ever-popular Mallorca for a record 5 th time for this event.

Previous winners:

2013 Lisbon: Sao Marcos (Por)

2014 Mallorca: Palmesanos (Spa)

2015 Algarve: Mini FC (Por)

2016 Lisbon: Sago (Por)

2017 Mallorca: FC Mahou (Eng)

2018 Algarve: Mini FC (Por)

2019 Alicante: Esparta (Spa)

2022 Lisbon: FC Mahou (Eng)

2023 Mallorca: Duktil Balear (Spa)

2024 Mallorca: Aston Birra (Ecu)

2024 Prague: FC Poloboc (Mda)

2025 Porto: FC Poloboc (Mda)

2026: ????

FC Poloboc will not be defending the title they've won in 2024 & 2025 as they will be competing in our Lisbon Veterans later this year. However, Aston Birra of Ecuador will be looking to retain the title they won when this event was last staged in Mallorca.

The first phase of the 2026 Mallorca Veterans Fives would be decided on a group basis. There were two groups with 5 teams in each group. Each team would play each other team in their group once and therefore 4 group games. After which, depending on position, they will progress to the Cup or the Plate competition.

The teams finishing 1st and 2nd in each group will progress to the Cup competition. The teams finishing 3rd and 4th in each group will progress to the Plate competition Plate and Cup would be played as a knock-out phase with Semi-Finals and Final. The teams finishing 5th in each group will be eliminated.

Veterans tournament regulars Maruru made an emphatic start to their 2026 Mallorca Veterans 5-a-side campaign with a commanding 5–0 victory over tournament debutants Very Old Salesians B. Maruru had quite some pedigree in this event as they won the Open Age title in 2018, were runners-up in 2019 and also had another Cup Semi-Final on their CV. This was their first outing at Veterans level.

Showing their experience from the opening whistle, Maruru settled quickly into the contest and controlled possession throughout the first half, repeatedly exposing gaps in the Salesians defence with quick passing and intelligent movement.

The breakthrough came through Salvador Ramon Benitez, who opened the scoring to set the tone for the afternoon. Diego Plata then took centre stage with two well-taken goals in quick succession as Maruru tightened their grip on the match. Before the interval, Benitez struck again to make it 4–0 at halftime, capping a ruthless opening period from the seasoned side and leaving the newcomers with a mountain to climb.

To their credit, Very Old Salesians B battled hard after the restart and showed greater organisation in the second half, but Maruru's control of the game never looked in doubt. Antonio Torres Adrouer added the fifth and final goal to complete a convincing opening win and underline Maruru's credentials as early contenders in Group A. For Very Old Salesians B, despite the heavy defeat, the match offered a valuable first taste of tournament football and experience they will hope to build on in the games ahead.

Defending champions Ecuador 100% Vets began their latest title defence with a hard-fought 2–1 victory over familiar rivals Maruru in one of the standout early fixtures in Group A. Returning under their traditional Ecuador 100% Vets name after lifting the trophy in 2024 as Aston Birra, the holders were immediately tested by an experienced Maruru side in a match that brought back memories of the 2018-2019 era of this tournament.

At the September 2018 edition of this tournament Maruru and Ecuador 100% met in the Cup Final which Maruru won 5-0. 8 months on at the May 2019 edition of the tournament both teams reached the Cup Final again with Ecuador 100% being victorious this time, winning 6-0.

In contrast to those one-sided finals, the opening half was a tight and competitive affair, with both teams showing plenty of organisation and discipline. Ecuador 100% Vets gradually began to edge control of possession and found the breakthrough through Andres Dorado, whose composed finish gave the champions a 1–0 lead going into halftime. Maruru, however, remained dangerous throughout and continued to threaten on the counterattack.

Maruru's persistence was rewarded in the second half when Juan Hagenaers levelled the scores, setting up a tense finale between two sides with significant tournament history. Just as the game appeared to be drifting towards a draw, Andres Dorado struck again to restore Ecuador 100% Vets' advantage and secure all three points for the reigning champions. It was a statement victory for Ecuador 100% Vets, while Maruru showed enough quality to suggest they will remain strong contenders as the group stage progresses.

After difficult opening defeats, both Very Old Salesians B and Purple Nurple entered their second Group A fixture looking for a response and, just as importantly, their first goals of the tournament. With the two English debutants both still searching for their first points, the match carried extra significance as an opportunity to reignite their campaigns and settle early nerves.

Very Old Salesians B made the brighter start and quickly began to impose themselves on the game. Mark Higgins broke the deadlock with the team's first-ever goal in the tournament, a moment that visibly lifted confidence throughout the side. Purple Nurple struggled to recover from the setback, and the Salesians continued to press forward with greater composure and energy.

Steve Robbens doubled the advantage midway through the half before Higgins struck again to complete a superb opening period for Very Old Salesians B. By halftime they held a commanding 3–0 lead with Purple Nurple still unable to find a breakthrough at the opposite end. The second half was more evenly contested, but Purple Nurple could not find a way back into the game despite showing greater determination after the interval. Dan Eckford added a fourth goal to seal an impressive 4–0 victory and hand Very Old Salesians B their first points of the tournament in convincing fashion. For Purple Nurple, it was a second successive defeat and another frustrating period in front of goal, leaving them with work to do in the remaining group matches.

Skidmarks and defending champions Ecuador 100% Vets met in a hugely anticipated Group A clash that already carried the feel of a potential group decider and could easily be the line-up for the Cup Final later in the day. Both sides had impressed in their opening fixtures. With quality and experience spread across both squads, the game promised to be one of the standout contests of the group stage.

The opening exchanges were tight and fiercely competitive, with neither side willing to give away space in what quickly became a tactical battle. Ecuador 100% Vets enjoyed periods of possession, while Skidmarks looked dangerous whenever they broke forward with pace and purpose. Chances were limited early on, but the intensity and organisation from both teams highlighted why they are regarded so highly within the tournament.

The decisive moment arrived in the first half when Richard Keeley continued his impressive scoring run by finding the breakthrough for Skidmarks. His finish separated the two teams after a finely balanced opening period and gave Skidmarks a narrow 1–0 lead heading into halftime. Despite the setback, Ecuador 100% Vets remained firmly in the contest and continued to threaten with their movement and experience.

The second half saw the defending champions push hard for an equaliser, forcing Skidmarks into a disciplined defensive display. However, Skidmarks managed the game expertly, limiting clear-cut opportunities and showing the composure of a side with a long history of tournament success. With no further goals after the break, Keeley's first-half strike proved enough to secure a significant 1–0 victory and cement Skidmarks' position as one of the leading contenders for the 2026 Mallorca Veterans 5-a-side title.