Malta funds football clubs competing in UEFA competitions

VisitMalta has struck a deal with the Malta Football Association to back Maltese football and futsal clubs competing in UEFA competitions, providing each eligible club €15,000 to cover participation costs. Floriana FC competes in the UEFA Champions League, while Ħamrun Spartans, Marsaxlokk, and Valletta vie for the UEFA Europa Conference League. Mġarr FC's women's team enters the UEFA Women's Champions League, Luxol St Andrews lines up in the UEFA Futsal Champions League, and Valletta also receives support for their UEFA Youth League campaign.

The VisitMalta brand will appear on each club's kit during UEFA fixtures. Tourism Minister Jo Etienne Abela announced the agreement. "The geographical smallness of our country should never be an obstacle to the aspirations of Maltese sport," Abela said.

"On the contrary, it should serve as a motivation to be more proactive and encourage more sports entities to go beyond our shores. " Malta Tourism Authority CEO Carlo Micallef said the partnership uses sport as a strategic platform to promote Malta abroad, with Maltese clubs serving as ambassadors for the country. He added that sports tourism carries strong economic potential and can help attract visitors while promoting Maltese identity internationally.

MFA President Bjorn Vassallo welcomed the collaboration between the association, the Ministry for Tourism, and the Malta Tourism Authority, and thanked the Ministry and the MTA for their support towards the development of Maltese football and futsal.