The UMB World Cup 3-Cushion comes to Porto / Matosinhos from 12 to 18 July 2026. The tournament has not started yet, but it is already one of the most interesting World Cup stops on the 2026 calendar because it follows a strong run of international events and brings many of the best three-cushion players back to Portugal.

For fans, Porto is a useful event to follow from the first qualification rounds. The field is strong, the schedule is clear, and the event connects directly with the wider World Cup race. On BilliardToday, this page will sit next to the tournament page, player rankings, news updates and the PORTO World-Cup comparison, so readers can move easily from the preview to results and statistics when the matches begin.

When and where it takes place

The tournament is scheduled from Sunday, 12 July 2026 to Saturday, 18 July 2026. The official information sheet lists the venue as Pavilhao da Bataria, at Complexo Desportivo Leca da Palmeira, Rua Bataria 225, Leca da Palmeira, Matosinhos.

Matosinhos is close to Porto and close to Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport, which makes the event easier for travelling players and visitors. The official information also points players and delegates toward nearby hotels around Porto Exponor and Matosinhos.

Why this World Cup matters

The World Cup is not a single tournament. It is a season of stops where players collect ranking points and build momentum. That is why Porto matters before a ball is played. A good run here can help a player climb the rankings, protect a seeded position, or arrive at the next major event with confidence.

The event also comes after the Ankara World Cup, where Myung Woo Cho beat Dick Jaspers 50-49 in a dramatic final. That result gave the season a strong storyline. Cho remains the player everyone is chasing, while Jaspers, Eddy Merckx, Marco Zanetti, Tayfun Tasdemir and the rest of the top group will all be looking for a deep run in Portugal.

Players to watch

The official UMB player list includes a strong seeded group: Myung Woo Cho, Eddy Merckx, Dick Jaspers, Tayfun Tasdemir, Marco Zanetti, Sameh Sidhom, Martin Horn, Berkay Karakurt, Tran Thanh Luc, Frederic Caudron, Tran Quyet Chien, Jeremy Bury, Glenn Hofman and Kim Haeng Jik.

There is also local interest. The list includes Portuguese organizer wildcards Jose Miguel Soares and Rui Manuel Costa. For the home crowd, that gives the event a local story as well as the international World Cup race.

How the tournament is played

The event begins with qualification rounds. PPPQ and PPQ are scheduled for 12 and 13 July in groups of three, played to 30 points with equal innings. The PQ round follows on 14 July and is played to 35 points. The Q round is scheduled for 15 July and is played to 40 points.

The final tournament starts on 16 July with 32 players. That stage begins with groups of four, played to 40 points. After that, the last-16, quarterfinals, semifinals and final move to knockout matches to 50 points without equal innings.

Tables, equipment and broadcast

The official information sheet lists eight Gabriels billiards, Simonis 330 Prestige cloth and Aramith Prestige balls. These details matter in three-cushion because table conditions can affect rhythm, scoring and confidence across a long week.

Official broadcasting is listed through SOOP. UMB also provides the event page, player list, groups and timetable documents. As the event gets closer, those official pages are the best place for confirmed updates.

Follow Porto on BilliardToday

You can follow the event through the Porto / Matosinhos 2026 tournament page. For previous Porto editions and stage averages, use the PORTO World-Cup comparison. For player form and ranking context, use the Player Lab.

This preview is the first article for Porto 2026. More updates can follow before and during the event: players to watch, schedule notes, qualification updates, main draw stories, the final recap and the ranking impact after the tournament is finished.

Sources: UMB Porto / Matosinhos 2026 event page, UMB general information sheet, UMB players list, SOOP billiards live streaming, Wikimedia Commons photo.