Serie I, the corporate soccer league, kicks off again in Rome: the season starts on October 12

Serie I, the corporate soccer league, kicks off again in Rome: it starts on October 12

“A meeting lasts an hour. A game, even less. But on the field, you can tell who’s who… between those who pass the ball and those who keep it for themselves” (#PietroVultaggio)

This is the idea behind Serie I, the corporate soccer league presented on Monday, October 5, at the Olympic Village in Rome. The thirteenth edition kicks off on October 12 under the joint sponsorship of One from Federitaly and one from Roma Capitale, through the Department of Major Events, Sports, Tourism, and Fashion, announced on the very day of the press conference.

What is Serie I, the corporate soccer league?

The project is organized by CUN Sports Management. It is not just another amateur tournament. The format is that of a true championship: groups of nine teams organized by region, 5-a-side, 7-a-side, and 8-a-side soccer tournaments, a regular season, a second phase of playoffs, and qualification for the finals. There are two windows for participation, one in the fall and one in the spring. Teams are also divided by skill level to ensure evenly matched games.

Companies can participate in two ways: as sponsors, or by taking the field with their own team, complete with jerseys and branding.

The goal goes beyond the final score. Trust, collaboration, and the ability to bounce back from a mistake: what a team needs to win is what a workgroup needs to function. Sports and business on the same playing field.

This is the belief of Fabrizio Barbone, who, along with Gianni and Federico Cimino, oversees the organization for Rome and Lazio: “Sports can build bonds even in the workplace, strengthening team spirit and collaboration among colleagues.”(#FabrizioBarbone)

Why Federitaly supports the project

For the Federation, the value lies in taking professional relationships outside the conference rooms. On the field, professional titles take a back seat. Relationships are born from a shared experience, not from an exchange of business cards.

The presentation at the Olympic Village

Enthusiasm, curiosity, and lots of new developments. Matteo Nicholas Tonon, president of CUN Sports Management, opened the meeting by outlining the format and programs for the 2026–2027 season.

This was followed by official greetings. Speakers included Marietta Tidei, leader of the Italia Viva group in the Lazio Regional Council and vice president of the Economic Development Commission; Carlo Verdone, president of Federitaly (who shares only a name with the Roman actor); and Daniele Catalano, leader of the Lega group in the 11th Municipal District. Also present was Anna Maria Pitzolu of the Ozanam Foundation.

Tidei and Verdone emphasized one point: Initiatives like this are important for corporate social responsibility and for fostering social connections, in an era that pushes us toward technological isolation. And they highlight Italian products.

What’s new: television coverage, custom uniforms, and multisport

The production is on a professional level: multi-camera footage, photography, play-by-play commentary, interviews, and player evaluations. The partnership with Sportitalia has been confirmed, which will provide match highlights, television segments dedicated to companies, and a multi-episode special. GG Teamwear will supply the customized game uniforms. The multisport offering is also being expanded with the arrival of the CUN Squid Games.

The teams are ready to go, and the race to the National Finals is on

Among the participating companies is the team featuring the lookalike of striker Donyell Malen, a well-known figure online.

The city trophy is up for grabs. And above all, a spot in the National Finals, scheduled for early June 2027 at the Sportitalia Village in Verano Brianza.

An initiative that puts people first. Starting October 12, coworkers become teammates.

Pietro Vultaggio