Umag Nations Cup 2021 reached the end
After five days and seven matches, the first international futsal tournament Umag Nations Cup, organized by the sports agency B4Sport, came to an end. The event, which is a novelty on the international futsal scene, can be described as a success, not only because of the flawless organisational performance but also the positive feedback from national teams and football associations.
In Istria, six national teams from four countries gathered for a preparatory futsal tournament. France, Slovenia and Slovakia were represented by national teams under 21, and the latter two also competed with Bosnia and Herzegovina with their A teams. The result was not in the forefront for most teams this time. The tournament offered the coaches the opportunity to test their chosen players against quality opponents, offer the opportunity to newcomers or younger players and work out tactical ideas before the upcoming European Championship. For the players, the days spent together in sunny Umag were an opportunity to raise their individual form and strengthen friendly ties with their teammates.
From the organizational point of view, Umag Nations Cup 2021, as the first project of its kind, was a special challenge, which the B4Sport team completed with distinction. The teams had three sport halls at their disposal, in which they spent a total of about 30 hours and which enabled a smooth training process during the competition, and we also took care of 835 meals and 324 overnight stays at the Sol Garden Istra hotel.
Feedback and the response from tournament participants is encouraging. All national teams have confirmed that they would be happy to return to the September competition in Istria. The managements of the national teams recognized our project as a real step towards the promotion of futsal, which indicates that with the first edition of the Umag Nations Cup, we have embarked on the path we have outlined.