Malta’s First Nations Cup: Building from Dreux
Malta Paintball made its Nations Cup debut in Dreux, France, on 2 and 3 September 2026, marking the first time a Maltese national team competed at the UPBF World Championship Nations Cup.
For a small programme still developing its player base and training opportunities, getting a national squad onto the field was an important milestone. The tournament gave us the opportunity to represent Malta, test ourselves against established national teams and understand what it will take to become more competitive.
A demanding introduction
Malta faced Great Britain, Belgium, South Africa and Switzerland. We did not come away with a match victory, but scored points against South Africa and Switzerland, including taking the opening point against the Swiss team.
The difference in competitive experience was clear. Over the past two seasons, Malta Paintball has primarily competed in Divisions 4 and 5 of the Central Premier Paintball Series in the United Kingdom. In Dreux, we faced national squads drawing players from professional, semi-professional and divisional competition, including some of Europe’s leading professionals.
Great Britain and Belgium proved particularly tough opponents. Against South Africa and Switzerland, we found more opportunities to compete within individual points and put our preparation into practice.
We returned with a clearer view of our strengths, the gaps in our game and the work needed before our next international campaign.
One team, connected by Malta
Under UPBF Nations Cup requirements, players must hold citizenship or residency of the country they represent. Our squad brought together members of the Maltese diaspora living abroad and players based in Malta and Gozo.
Malta’s first Nations Cup players were Jordan Alden, Karl Camilleri, Chris Cioffi, Jesmond Cioffi, Michael Earley, Jay Guarino, Kyle Magri and Tristan Setzer. Gavin Scott and Austin Setzer supported the team as staff.
Bringing that group together showed how a national paintball programme can connect our local community with players overseas. It also creates opportunities for more eligible players to become involved as the programme grows.
The support that got us there
A huge thank you to VisitMalta for supporting our first Nations Cup campaign and helping us take Malta onto the international stage.
Thank you to Anthrax Paintball for getting our national uniforms to us on time. Wearing the Maltese cross in Dreux was a proud moment for the squad.
We are also grateful to the friends and families who helped us get there, and to the players and volunteers who committed their time, money and effort to making the campaign happen. Beyond the support received for the Nations Cup, much of our training and international participation has been funded by the players themselves.
At home, we thank the Authority for Integrity in Maltese Sport, AIMS, for guiding us through registration within Malta’s sporting framework, and SportMalta for supporting our efforts to establish a place to train and develop the sport.
Turning experience into progress
Preparing for Dreux without a permanent tournament training ground meant relying on travel, overseas competition and limited opportunities to train together.
Consistent practice at home is essential for the next stage. We are working towards a temporary training ground with removable infrastructure, where existing players can develop and newcomers can learn competitive paintball.
Our priorities also include growing women’s participation and developing referees and officials. A stronger domestic programme will give more people a route into the sport and help future national teams prepare properly for international competition.
Looking towards 2027
Planning has already started for the 2027 season. We hope to return to the Nations Cup with two teams, competing in the men’s and women’s categories.
We are also developing plans for further CPPS participation, including opportunities for newer players to gain their first tournament experience, and exploring NXL Europe events and a possible trip to compete in Penang, Malaysia.
These plans will depend on player availability, funding and training opportunities. Our first Nations Cup has given us a practical starting point and a clearer understanding of what we need to build.
If you are based in Malta or Gozo, or part of the Maltese diaspora abroad, and interested in participating in the 2027 season, reach out to Malta Paintball. We welcome enquiries from experienced players and newcomers, as well as people interested in refereeing, volunteering or supporting the teams.
Photography and image use
Photos courtesy of Facefull Magazine and the Facefull photographers who captured the event. Thank you for generously providing these images and helping us share Malta’s first Nations Cup experience.
These photographs are not for commercial use. Paintball brands, sponsors and other businesses must obtain express permission from Facefull Magazine before using them for advertising, product promotion, posters, campaigns or similar marketing purposes. Please respect the photographers’ work and retain the original credits when sharing.