Where can you play football on the Costa Blanca (and sign your kids up)?

You can play football all year round on the Costa Blanca, whatever your level: rent a 7-a-side pitch from around 15 euros an hour, join an amateur federated club that recruits every summer, or sign the kids up through one of three routes, municipal schools from age 4, federated neighbourhood clubs, or the academies of the province's pro clubs.

Playing as an adult without a club

The simplest option is to rent a 7-a-side pitch and bring your own group. Municipal polideportivos in your town rent pitches at reasonable public rates, either through the local Sports Department or, in Alicante, the Patronato Municipal de Deportes, and plenty of private complexes offer evening slots too.

Arriving on your own with no team? That is true for roughly half of expats. Pay-to-play match apps such as Fubles or CeleBreak organise open games: you book and pay for your spot, you turn up, you play, and you meet people. It is one of the best ways to build a social circle after you land.

Joining a federated amateur club

If you want real competition, look for a club affiliated to the FFCV, the Comunitat Valenciana football federation. Senior leagues run from regional level all the way up to the national divisions, with a season that stretches from September to June.

Tryouts (the pruebas) usually take place in late August or early September: just email the club or show up to a training session. The club sorts out your licence, so bring ID. A passport is normally enough to get started, an NIE makes life easier down the line, and some clubs will also ask for a medical certificate.

Getting kids into football

There are three ways in, from the most accessible to the most selective:

• Municipal sports schools in your town, open from age 4, with sign-ups in spring and modest fees.
• A federated neighbourhood club, the most common route: training two or three times a week plus a weekend match, playing in FFCV championships by age category.
• Academies and camps run by the province's pro clubs. Elche CF and Hércules CF both run schools and holiday camps for ages 5 to 16, a good way to test the water before committing.

Cost of a season

A season at a club for a child runs roughly from 75 to 400 euros a year, depending on the club, the age group and what is included (kit, federative sports insurance, travel). Municipal schools stay the cheapest option, while the top private academies are the most expensive.

Either way, sign up early: pre-registration opens in spring and the most popular age groups fill up before the summer.

Watching football

The province has two clubs worth following. Elche CF, back in the top flight (Primera División), plays at the Estadio Martínez Valero, a 33,000-seat ground in Elche. Hércules CF, in Alicante, play in Primera RFEF (the third tier) at the legendary Estadio José Rico Pérez, which staged a 1982 World Cup match.

Taking the kids on a Sunday afternoon doubles as a real-life Spanish lesson, and tickets stay affordable depending on the fixture.

Frequently asked questions

How young can a child start at a club?

Many clubs take players from 4 or 5 in the querubín category, and municipal schools start at age 4. Before the age of 6 it is more about getting comfortable with the ball than serious competition.

My child does not speak Spanish, is that a problem?

No. The pitch does the work: instructions are simple, the actions are universal, and coaches are used to newcomers. In practice it is one of the most effective language accelerators there is.

What about girls?

Girls' football is growing fast. There are mixed teams for the youngest, girls' sections at neighbourhood clubs and dedicated FFCV championships, so just ask about a club's girls' section.

Do I need an NIE to get a licence?

The club will ask for ID to arrange the FFCV licence: a passport is usually enough to start and an NIE simplifies things later. The club handles the federal paperwork for you.

Sources

• Elche CF, Estadio Martínez Valero, elchecf.es/estadio
• Hércules CF, official site, herculesdealicantecf.com
• FFCV, Comunitat Valenciana football federation, ffcv.es

Information verified in July 2026. Prices and sign-up details change every season: always check with the club before committing. The Daily Costa Blanca is an AI-assisted publication with human editorial review and responsibility.