Futsal fever builds as Baltic hosts discover EURO 2026 opponents

The draw for the 2026 UEFA Futsal EURO took place today at Kaunas Arena, revealing the opponents for co-hosts Latvia and Lithuania. The two Baltic nations were spared the toughest possible matchups, successfully avoiding European futsal giants Spain and Portugal, the current top-ranked teams on the continent.

This edition of the tournament will feature sixteen national sides divided into four groups of four, setting the stage for an exciting start to the new year. Latvia, who were pre-assigned to Group A as one of the hosts, received what many will see as a manageable draw. Instead of facing one of the heavyweights, Latvia drew France from the first pot – one of the more favorable options among the elite teams. They will also face Croatia, currently 15th in the world rankings, and Georgia, a team they defeated in a friendly match last year.

Lithuania’s draw was similarly kind. The hosts were matched with Ukraine from the top pot, an opponent they know well after meeting twice in recent friendlies. They were also grouped with the Czech Republic, ranked 17th globally, and Armenia, one of the debutant nations at this championship.

Elsewhere, Slovenia, the tournament’s third host nation, will have a difficult path after being drawn with Spain, Belarus, and Belgium. Defending European champions Portugal were placed in a group alongside Italy, Poland, and Hungary, setting up some high-profile encounters early in the competition.

The Latvian national team will play all of its group matches at the Xiaomi Arena in Rīga on January 21, 25, and 28, while Lithuania will compete at Kaunas’ Žalgiris Arena on January 22, 25, and 28. Both hosts’ potential quarter-finals are scheduled for February 1.

Ticket sales for the 2026 UEFA Futsal EURO will open next Monday, and with both Baltic nations competing on home soil, the tournament promises to be one of the most exciting sporting events in the region’s recent history.