Press Conference and Official Draw Held at Gezira Sporting Club; Diplomatic Football Tournament to Run May 1 to May 16, 2026
Sixyards, in partnership with the German Embassy in Cairo, today officially announced the launch of the 8th edition of the Diplomatic Football Tournament. The announcement was made during a press conference and official draw ceremony held at Gezira Sporting Club, marking the beginning of one of Egypt’s most distinguished international sporting events.
The tournament will take place from May 1 through May 16, 2026, at the Gezira Sporting Club Center Court, under the patronage of H.E. Jürgen Schulz, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Arab Republic of Egypt.
The press conference was attended by a distinguished delegation of foreign ambassadors and diplomats accredited in Cairo, alongside representatives of international institutions and members of the press. Egyptian football icon and former national team captain Ahmed Hassan attended the event as a guest of honor.
In his remarks, Ahmed Hassan stated that the tournament reflects Egypt’s standing as a nation of security and peace, and underscored the role of football as a universal language capable of uniting peoples and strengthening relations between nations.
About the 8th Edition of Diplomatic Football Tournament
The 2026 edition of the Diplomatic Football Tournament will feature 32 teams representing more than 30 embassies and 6 international institutions, with 425 registered players, including 310 foreign diplomats and officials. The competition follows a 5-a-side format built around the concept of “Unified Squads,” in which multiple embassies form mixed teams as a representation of diplomatic collaboration.
The official draw was conducted during the press conference in a FIFA-style format, reflecting the professional organizational standards that have come to define the tournament under Sixyards’ leadership.
Grand Opening Ceremony
The tournament will be inaugurated on Friday, May 1, 2026, with a Grand Opening Ceremony at the Center Court Stadium. The opening night will include three landmark moments: the official opening match of the tournament, an exclusive live concert by world-renowned Egyptian composer Maestro Omar Khairat, and a special celebration honoring the bicentennial of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, marking 200 years of Egyptian diplomatic service. Official welcome remarks will be delivered by H.E. Ambassador Jürgen Schulz.
The Final Match and Closing Ceremony will take place on May 15, 2026, featuring the trophy presentation and live closing entertainment.
About Sixyards
Sixyards is a passionate team of creative and strategic thinkers focused on developing both the sports landscape and the event management experience in Egypt. The company tailors new projects that deliver integrated brand experiences and uplifts the local market through interactive smart designs paired with highly professional execution.
The Diplomatic Football Tournament operates under its founding values of sports, respect, unity, and cultural exchange, offering a full-day festival experience that includes international food stalls, entertainment corners, cultural activations, fan zones, and VIP networking lounges throughout the duration of the event.
