Curly Joe Sets Sights on New League & 2027 World Cup
IslandStats.com
Leroy "Curly Joe" Wilson has officially issued a call to arms for Bermuda's veteran footballers, announcing the launch of a competitive walking football league designed to propel the island toward the 2027 Walking Football World Cup.
Speaking recently at the Bermuda College Gym, Wilson—a former Dandy Town and Wolves coach—revealed that tryouts and open practice matches will be held throughout January and February. The move comes on the heels of a successful inaugural overseas tour to the UK last November, where Curly’s Walking Football Club secured a 4-2 victory in their final round-robin match against Merseyside-based opposition.
"We’re trying to start a league that will be more competitive because it’s our goal to get to the World Cup," Wilson stated. "We need to have a league so we can have more competition and better players."
The Walking Football World Nations Cup, organized by the Federation of International Walking Football Associations (FIWFA), is the premier international event for the sport. Following the 2025 tournament held in Torrevieja, Spain—where England dominated across multiple age categories—the third edition is tentatively scheduled for late summer 2027.
While the 2027 host location is yet to be decided, Bermuda's new league is intended to serve as a high-performance pipeline for a national team selection. The proposed local league is set to officially kick off on March 7th, with sessions held every Saturday morning at the Bermuda College Gym.
Walking football is a fast-growing variant of the "beautiful game" designed primarily for men over 50 and women over 40. The rules are strictly enforced to ensure safety and accessibility: The "One Foot" Rule: Players must have at least one foot in contact with the ground at all times; running is strictly forbidden. No Contact: Minimal physical contact is allowed, with no shoulder charges or slide tackling permitted. Height Restriction: The ball must generally remain below head height (typically 6 feet or crossbar height) to prevent collisions.
The Bermuda program, introduced in 2020 with support from local legend Clyde Best, has already garnered sponsorship from Polaris Holding Company Ltd. to help realize its international ambitions.
"It’s nice to see the older people being involved," said Best. "This will help with your fitness, keep you safe, and keep you sharp".
Bermudians interested in joining the movement or trying out for the 2027 national squad can attend training sessions at the Bermuda College Gym every Saturday from 9:00 am to 10:30 am.
