Slovenia outlines goals ahead of UEFA Futsal Euro 2026

Ljubljana will stage the majority of fixtures at the UEFA Futsal Euro 2026 between 21 January and 7 February, including the final.

Slovenia's primary goal is to make it at least to the quarter-finals, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.

The country emerged as a host of the tournament for a second time since 2018 even though it was not part of the initial plan.

The tournament was supposed to be held solely in Latvia and Lithuania, but since these countries ban matches involving Belarus from taking place on their territories, the host associations refused to accommodate the Belarusian team.

In June, a compromise solution was reached as Slovenia, a country willing to host Belarus, was added as a third co-host. The fact that Slovenia successfully staged the UEFA Futsal Euro 2018 and has the infrastructure needed to organise such an event also contributed to the decision.

Belarus will play in group C along with Slovenia, Spain and Belgium. Ljubljana will also host group stage fixtures in group D, which features Italy, Hungary, Poland and defending champions Portugal.

Latvia, Croatia, Georgia and France will face off in group A in Riga, while Lithuania, Armenia, the Czech Republic and Ukraine will play in group B in Kaunas.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals.

The opening match will be played in Riga, and the final in Ljubljana's Stožice Arena. The Slovenian capital will host a total of twelve fixtures in the group stage, as well as two of the quarter-final matches, both semi-finals, the final and the bronze medal game. Most of them will take place in Stožice Arena, but two will also be held in Tivoli Arena.

Slovenia's main objective making it to quarter-finals

"The national team is very young but competitive," Radenko Mijatović, president of the Slovenian Football Association, told reporters.

According to him, Slovenia are in a very difficult group and will need the support of fans.

"The primary goal is to make the quarter-finals, and then, if possible, the semi-finals. But this is not an imperative."

Another goal is to trump the number of spectators recorded at the Futsal Euro 2018 in Ljubljana, which topped 90,000.

This will be Slovenia's eighth UEFA Futsal Euro appearance. They have made it to the quarter-finals twice, in 2014 and 2018.

They will play their opening match against powerhouse Spain at Stožice on 23 January, which Mijatović says will be a challenge.

"Let's look forward to it and hope for a surprise."

Day tickets, which include admission to both matches on a given day, cost €20 for the first category and €15 for the second category of seats. Admission is free for children under the age of 14, but they must be accompanied by an adult and have a ticket with a designated seat.

On 5 December, the newly designed trophy for the European futsal champions will be displayed in Ljubljana's Mestni Trg Square and there will a juggling skill challenge that will earn the best participants tickets for next year's tournament.

The football association and Ljubljana municipality hope the tournament will help popularise futsal and sports in general.

Photo: Nebojša Tejić/STA