European Club Athletics Cup Begins in Castellón: 580 Athletes and Title Race. The European Club Athletics Cup returns to Castellón after a seven-year break. 580 athletes from 12 countries will compete at the Gaetà Huguet stadium. Spain expects historic representation and is aiming for medals.
The European Club Championships (ECCC) in track and field will be held in Castellón this weekend, returning to the city after seven years. The Gaetà Huguet stadium will host 580 athletes from 12 countries competing for team titles in both men's and women's categories. This year, Spain is represented more broadly than ever: the participants include the current national champions Diputación de Valencia (women) and FACSA Playas de Castellón (men), as well as the women's team of the host club, which received a special invitation.
The competition will be held in three sessions: Saturday from 15:45 to 20:30, and Sunday from 9:30 to 13:50. The men's tournament features 11 teams, including FACSA Playas de Castellón, OAK Beograd (Serbia), Sporting Clube de Portugal (Portugal), AO TJ Slávia STU Bratislava (Slovakia), Harrow Athletic Club (United Kingdom), Enka Sports Club (Turkey), VSK Univerzita Brno (Czech Republic), CSL-CAL Spora (Luxembourg), Tampereen Pyrintö (Finland), Dundrum South Dublin Athletic (Ireland), and Enterprise Sport & Service (Italy). The main rival for the Spanish team is Sporting Clube de Portugal, considered the favorite to win the tournament.
FACSA Playas de Castellón will compete without two key athletes: long-distance runner Thierry Ndikumwenayo and long jumper Lester Lescay. Despite these losses, the team is counting on home crowd support and squad depth to fight for victory. In the women's competition, 13 clubs will battle for medals, including Diputación Valencia C.A., FACSA Playas de Castellón, Dundrum South Dublin Athletic, AO TJ Slávia STU Bratislava, Harrow Athletic Club, CSL-CAL Spora, Atletica Brescia 1950, Atletski klub Crvena zvezda, Enka Sports Club, Jyväskylän Kenttäurheilijat, Sporting Clube de Portugal, Univerzitni sportovni klub Praha, and Vughtse Sportclub Prins Hendrik. According to forecasts, FACSA Playas de Castellón's women's team is capable of finishing among the top six, and the race for third place promises to be especially intense among the four leading clubs.
On Sunday, after the competitions conclude, the official awarding ceremony will take place at 14:00. For fans who cannot attend the stadium, a live broadcast will be available on Eurovision Sports, as well as on the YouTube channels of European Athletics and FACSA Playas de Castellón.
The European Champion Clubs Cup in athletics is one of the continent's key tournaments, allowing clubs to test their strength against the best teams in Europe. In recent years, interest in such competitions has grown, as also seen in other major club tournaments, such as the Champions Cup rugby final in Bilbao, where a record attendance is also expected (more about the final in Bilbao).
For reference: The European Champion Clubs Cup in athletics has been held since 1975 and is considered the main team event for European clubs. Spanish teams have traditionally been among the favorites, and FACSA Playas de Castellón has repeatedly reached the podium. In 2025, Spanish clubs once again confirmed their status by winning national championships and securing the right to compete on home soil. This year's tournament is expected to attract attention not only from the sports community but also from local residents, for whom this is an opportunity to see top-level European athletics in person.
