The district of Leiria made a significant impact during the opening of the competitive Torneio-Piloto da Taça Nacional de Walking Football, with six local teams competing in the Zone 3 stage on October 31. Representing the region in this tournament were Dragões do Oeste, CD Os Andorinhas, SC Pombal, SU Alfeizerense, CD Rainha, and Caldas SC.
Dragões Do Oeste and CD Rainha Secure Dominant Opening Victories
Organized by the Lisbon Football Association under the direction of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF), the Zone 3 competition featured 12 teams, each playing two matches. The results highlighted a strong start for several Leiria-based squads.
Dragões do Oeste secured a dominant start, recording two victories by defeating Planalto das Cesaredas 8–0 and Caldas SC 13–2. CD Rainha also maintained a perfect record during the opening rounds, edging out both the Casa do Povo de Mouriscas and the Fundação Benfica with identical 1–0 scorelines.
SU Alfeizerense finished the double-header without a defeat, drawing 2–2 with SG Sacavenense and securing a 2–0 win against CD Os Andorinhas. For their part, CD Os Andorinhas and SC Pombal split their results. The Andorinhas defeated SC Pombal 2–0, while the Pombal side bounced back to beat SerraDura 2–1. Caldas SC struggled in their encounters, falling 1–6 to Fundação Benfica and 2–13 to Dragões do Oeste, as reported by the Leiria Football Association.
Tournament Divides Participants into Five Geographical Zones
The tournament structure divides these participants into five specific geographical zones. While Zone 3 covers Coimbra, Leiria, Lisboa, and Santarém, other zones are managed regionally, such as Zone 1 (Bragança, Guarda, and Viseu), Zone 2 (Aveiro, Braga, Porto, and Viana do Castelo), Zone 4 (Algarve, Beja, and Setúbal), and Zone 5 (Angra do Heroísmo, Madeira, and Ponta Delgada), the latter beginning play on November 13 and 14, 2026.
Pilot Edition Leads to National Final at Cidade Do Futebol
The FPF reports that the tournament involves more than 650 participants across 48 teams from 17 district and regional associations. This pilot edition is structured into two phases: an inter-district group stage across five geographical zones, followed by a national final scheduled for July 18 and 19, 2027, at the Cidade do Futebol.
The Leiria Football Association noted that the high level of participation from district clubs reflects the growing popularity of walking football as a vehicle for physical activity and social engagement. The district’s representatives are set to return to the pitch on November 21 for the third and fourth rounds of the competition. The association explicitly expressed that it felicita todos os seus representantes pela participação e agradece à Associação de Futebol de Lisboa a organização destas primeiras jornadas.
Competition Remains in Group Phase Across Geographical Zones
The competition remains in the group phase, with further matches scheduled to determine the standings within the five geographical zones. We do not yet know how the competitive balance will shift as teams adapt to the tournament format throughout the remaining inter-district rounds.
