Coppa dei Canottieri Cbill

A tournament that pioneered 5-a-side football

The Coppa dei Canottieri Cbill is much more than a summer 5-a-side football tournament: it is the oldest 5-a-side football tournament in Europe. Its roots date back to the 1960s, when Roman sports clubs along the Tiber began the tradition of removing tennis nets to replace them with football goals. From that informal custom, the first organized edition was born in 1965, thanks to the initiative of Gustavo «Babbo» Valiani, considered one of the pioneers of the sport in Italy. The trophy awarded to the winning club still bears his name today.

Where it takes place: Flaminio and the Tiber

The event is held in the City of Rome, capital of the Lazio Region, at the Circolo Canottieri Lazio on Lungotevere Flaminio, in the Flaminio district, just a short walk from Ponte Milvio and the Foro Italico. The pitch, nestled between plane trees and the bend of the river, with the famous monumental fountain in the background, is one of the city's most recognizable sports venues. Matches are played in the evening, when the Roman heat subsides, in front of stands packed with members, families, and curious onlookers.

Nine historic clubs, one trophy

The teams competing for the cup are those of the clubs that have made the history of Roman sport. In the 2026 edition, there are nine:

• Circolo Canottieri Lazio (host club)
• Circolo Canottieri Roma
• Reale Circolo Canottieri Tevere Remo
• Circolo Canottieri Aniene
• Circolo Magistrati della Corte dei Conti
• Tennis Club Parioli
• Circolo Tennis Eur
• Sporting Club Eur
• Villa Flaminia (guest team)

The Babbo Valiani Trophy does not reward a victory in a single category, but rather the club that accumulates the highest number of wins and placements across all competitions: an overall ranking that keeps the tension high until the very last days.

Categories and format

The tournament is divided into several age categories, allowing young players and veterans to alternate on the same pitch: Open, Under 23, Over 35, Over 50, and Over 60. The Under 23 category, reintroduced to encourage the involvement of the clubs' youngest members, is one of the features confirmed for 2026. The overall program includes nearly eighty matches spread over a month, with multiple games held every evening starting from early night.

More than just football: padel and tennis

Alongside 5-a-side football, the Coppa dei Canottieri offers two side competitions that expand the rivalry between clubs: an Over 35 padel tournament and doubles tennis matches. It is a format that reflects the multi-sport nature of the Tiber clubs, where rowing, tennis, swimming, and football have coexisted for generations.

A social event as much as a sporting one

The Cup has always been the moment when Rome's sporting and institutional circles gather pitch-side. Regular attendees include Italian sports executives and well-known football figures: in the 2026 edition, participants included Giovanni Malagò—playing in his fifty-first tournament—and former national team coach Roberto Mancini. Evenings continue with open-air dinners and social gatherings at the club, and the main matches are broadcast via live streaming with commentary.

Why it is worth experiencing

For those visiting Rome in the summer, the Coppa dei Canottieri reveals a less touristy and highly authentic side of the city: that of the clubs on the Tiber, of sporting rivalries passed down from father to son, and of a Roman summer that always begins the same way, with the opening whistle in late June at Flaminio.