Football in Malta | |
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Country | Malta |
Governing body | Malta Football Association |
National team(s) | men's national team women's national team |
First played | 1863 |
Clubs | 54 |
National competitions | |
Club competitions | |
International competitions | |
Men's Champions League Women's Champions League Europa League Europa Conference League Super Cup FIFA Club World Cup FIFA World Cup (Men's National Team) Men's European Championship (Men's National Team) UEFA Nations League (Men's National Team) FIFA Women's World Cup (Women's National Team) Women's European Championship |
Football in Malta is run by the Malta Football Association and was introduced to Malta during British rule in the mid-19th century.[1] The sport at the time was new to England, and was used as a means of entertainment for the soldiers stationed in Malta at the various barracks around Malta at the time. In 1863 a football association was formed which governed rules and regulations for this quickly changing sport, which was still in amateur competition stage and played in an un-scheduled format until 1909 when a league format was introduced.
The association runs the men's national football team, the women's national team, as well as administering the semi-professional[2] Maltese Premier League, Maltese Women's League and the respective cups for club sides.[3]