It has almost become a tradition for the Polish team to win the Euroasmus and Friends CUP 2026 tournament. On Thursday, 14 May, during the 13th edition of the tournament, the red-and-whites defended their title for the fifth time in a row!
- "I really like the tournament and its atmosphere. I appreciate the purpose behind its creation, as it allows us to bond with people of other nationalities. I love my mates from Nigeria; they’re the apple of my eye". – Kerem from Turkey.
Launched in 2012, the International Football Tournament at the POSiR Rataje ground attracted around 80 participants. This year, seven national teams, including South Korea, Nigeria, Palestine, Rwanda, Ukraine, Poland and two teams from Turkiye. It is worth noting that the players came from a total of 20 countries, as some teams also included players of other nationalities (according to the rules, at least four players had to be citizens of that country). As always, everyone played in keeping with the motto: “We play together, we cheer together, we celebrate together!”
– "The tournament gave us the chance to meet people of other nationalities. There are as many as 20 countries represented here, including Spain, France, Rwanda and South Korea. I am very pleased with the organisation of the event; we received all the information from the organiser in advance, making it much easier for us to participate. As a souvenir, we received T-shirts for the whole team, emphasising the serious approach to the competition." – Julius from Nigeria
In total, 16 matches were played throughout the day, initially divided into two groups. The top four teams then progressed to the semi-finals, before going on to compete in the third-place play-off and the grand final. As was the case last year, the final featured teams from Poland and Palestine.
- "Sometimes we do better, sometimes worse. The tournament is amazing; I really like the initiative itself. We’ve been taking part in it for five years now. Unfortunately, we’ve never managed to win the competition, but we’re giving it our all, and we’ll keep trying until Palestine comes first. Last year, we made it to the final, but unfortunately, we lost to the Polish team," – Nedjm from Palestine
After a match lasting two 8-minute halves, it was the Poles who were ultimately able to lift the trophy for the best team once again, winning 2–1. In a fiercely contested third-place play-off, in which players from Ukraine and South Korea faced off, the Ukrainians ultimately emerged victorious with a 3-1 win. The Ukrainian player was named the tournament’s best goalkeeper, whilst the Polish representative was named the best player.
"I love everything about it: the people, the relaxed atmosphere, and the chance to learn about cultures from other countries – their habits and languages. Both the participants and the organisers are very friendly and chatty. I’m really glad I was able to spend my time this way," says Armel from Rwanda
The EUROASMUS AND FRIENDS CUP has enjoyed great popularity among the international academic community for years. First organised in 2012, to coincide with the European Championships held in Poznań, the tournament continues to attract many eager participants and demonstrates that the legacy of UEFA Euro 2012 is still very much alive.
The tournament also serves another purpose: it brings together students from all over the world who are studying in Poznań and promotes the city globally.
The event was organised by Wielkopolska Pracownia Pomysłów.
