Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1543884
7 gozotoday | FRIDAY • 13 MARCH 2026 SPORTS GOZO Weekender 2026 marks one of the key milestones in the opening phase of the Malta Premier League season (MPL). The league said that following last year's success, it is fully committed to matching and hopefully surpassing those achievements this year. For 2026, the Gozo Week- ender will be spread over two separate weekends: Weekend 1 (April 11–12): The three Top 6 matches from Match Week 28 will be held at the Gozo Stadium — two on Saturday and one on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Bot- tom 6 fixtures from the same match week will be played in Malta. During the following mid- week, Match Week 29 fixtures will be scheduled in Malta. Weekend 2 (April 18–19): Then, the weekend that fol- lows, the Bottom 6 matches from Match Week 30 will be hosted at the Gozo Stadium, (two on Saturday, one match on Sunday), while the Top 6 matches for that round of fix- tures will be played in Malta. As one of MPL's new initia- tives for the year, it will be in- viting all MPL clubs to assem- ble a youth team (U10 – U12) to participate in a friendly tournament in Gozo. This event will also feature Gozitan clubs of the same age groups and aims to strength- en the collaboration between clubs through football and community spirit. "This initiative allows us to cross over to Gozo once again and give the Gozitan publicthe opportunity to watch Malta's top division matches up close," said Malta Premier League CEO Alan Abela. According to a study commis- sioned by the Malta Premier League (MPL), last year's Gozo Weekender generated more than 2,300 bed nights in Gozo. "This year we estimate that the initiative will generate around €600,000 for the Gozitan econ- omy," Abela added. One of the main innovations for this year is that the Gozo Weekender will be spread over two weekends. The three matches from the Top Six will take place on 11 and 12 April, while the three matches from the Bottom Six will be played on 18 and 19 April. The draws for the Closing Round – Top & Bottom 6 will take place 16 March, when it will be determined which matches from Match Week 28 and Match Week 30 will be played in Gozo. A midweek round of matches (in between), will meanwhile be played in Malta (Match Week 29). For the first time, Football Video Support (FVS) will also be used in Gozo. FVS is back for the next phase (Top / Bot- tom), meaning it is back for the Gozo Stadium showpiece in Match Week 28 Top 6 en- counters, after the internation- al break. "We remain committed to continuing to raise the profile of the Malta Premier," Abela said. "Attendances are increas- ing year after year, and dur- ing this Opening Round alone we registered an increase of 23,000 spectators compared to the same period last season." Gozo Weekender gives Gozitans chance to watch Malta's top division matches The Gozo Stadium is located in Xewkija