In a landmark moment for the sport in Portugal, the city of Funchal hosted a press conference yesterday to announce the first-ever Challenger Teqball League event in Madeira. Scheduled to take place from 25 to 27 July 2025, the tournament will include Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles, marking a significant expansion of Teqball to new territories.

The press conference, held with strong institutional and local support, featured key figures including Duarte Oliveira, Director of the Department of Youth and Sports at Funchal City Council; Adelaide Pereira, President of Clube Escola Levada; David Gomes, Director of the Regional Directorate for Sports; and Rui Marques Leitão, Executive Board Member of FITEQ and Head of the Local Organizing Committee.

“It went really well. It was more than a success,” said Rui Marques Leitão following the event. “Of course, it was different from the one in Santarém — there, I was at home, speaking more about the local club. Here in Madeira, I had to speak in a broader, more global context.”

Leitão emphasized that the true goal of FITEQ isn’t just to bring an event there, but to establish long-term roots for Teqball on the island. “What truly matters is putting down roots, because we don’t want to just come to Madeira and have the event forgotten 15 days later,” he said. “We want to see the growth of Teqball here, with new clubs forming, athletes joining in, and the island embracing the sport in a lasting way.”

In his remarks, Leitão highlighted Madeira’s dual appeal as a sports and tourism destination, noting that “Madeira should be seen not just as a tourist destination, but as a place where tourism and Teqball can go hand in hand. A place where athletes from around the world can enjoy the island's natural beauty and also compete.”

Funchal and the local organisers will not only host the participants of the CTL stop but also the first-ever training camp for the Ukrainian Teqball national team since the war started with 6 athletes, and coaches.

He also presented Teqball as a sport with strong social inclusion and recreational values, as well as a second chance for athletes who may have left high-level competition in other disciplines. “In Teqball, they still have that opportunity,” he explained.

The press conference also included a symbolic moment when Leitão challenged Ruben Micael, Madeira’s celebrated former football international, to start training in Teqball — a nod to the region’s rich footballing heritage and potential as a new breeding ground for Teqball talent.

As preparations continue for the July event, anticipation is building not only for thrilling competition but also for a new chapter in the island’s sporting history. The Challenger Teqball League’s arrival in Madeira is more than a debut — it’s the beginning of a long-term relationship.