Football

Football is the most popular sport in the Mediterranean and needs no introduction: eleven against eleven, two 45-minute halves, a ball to be kicked into the goal using any part of the body except the arms and hands. The simplicity of the rules is matched by a constantly evolving tactical complexity, encompassing playing systems, pressing and transitions. The modern rules were established in London in 1863, when the Football Association definitively separated the game from rugby; the first international tournament took place in 1900 at the Paris Olympics, and the World Cup was introduced in 1930. Football arrived very early in the Mediterranean region via British ports and communities, and has featured at the Mediterranean Games since the inaugural edition in 1951. In international youth and multi-sport tournaments, teams are restricted by age, competing in group stages followed by knockout rounds: few matches, a fast pace and short recovery periods, with squads having to manage suspensions and injuries within a matter of days. At the 20th Mediterranean Games in Taranto in 2026, football will be played from 22 to 31 August at the Erasmo Iacovone Stadium – the same venue as the opening and closing ceremonies – with two titles up for grabs: the competition begins with group stages and culminates in the bronze and gold medal matches.