The province of Almería has hosted a pioneering event in walking football, a sports modality designed for people over 55 that prohibits running and lifting the ball above the waist. The Club Deportivo Almería Fútbol Andando welcomed the Vélez Walking Football team in the first interprovincial match of this discipline, thus consolidating its expansion.
This historic encounter, which took place in Almería, consisted of three matches played between the squads of both clubs, with the aim of ensuring the participation of all players. The referee, an Almerian official, applied the rules established by the Andalusian Football Federation. The final result was two victories for the Málaga team and one for the Almerian team, in an atmosphere of great cordiality and camaraderie.
The walking football modality is characterized by being low-impact and very beneficial for physical and mental health. It does not allow direct contact, aggressive tackles, running, or balls above the waist. Furthermore, the same player cannot touch the ball more than three times, which promotes dynamic and collaborative play. The Almerian club trains on Mondays and Thursdays evenings at Juan Rojas.
“"We invite all interested parties to join and participate. We also urge support and training to create a Provincial League."
The CD Almería Fútbol Andando project, which already includes women, seeks to grow and form mixed teams. The main short-term goal is for UD Almería to integrate this section into its structure, following the example of other professional clubs in Spain such as Athletic de Bilbao, Real Betis, Granada, or Getafe, which have already promoted provincial leagues of this modality.
“"It is a project of fraternization, human, supportive, which also invites women who want to join because we want to grow and incorporate different activities."
Since its first event at Juan Rojas in June 2025, walking football has proven to be an enriching experience both sportingly and humanly, prioritizing camaraderie over competitiveness. The organization hopes that more people will join this growing initiative.
