Serbia to stage Futsal EURO 2016

Serbia will stage the UEFA Futsal EURO 2016 final tournament in Belgrade, the UEFA Executive Committee announced today in Istanbul.

The bid from the Football Association of Serbia (FSS) was selected ahead of others from the Bulgarian Football Union (BFS) and the Football Association of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FFM). The proposed venues are the 6,000-seater Pionir Arena and the 18,386-capacity Belgrade Arena but details are to be confirmed, with the event in principle to be played in early 2016.

Having qualified for the last three final tournaments in 2007, 2010 and 2012, Serbia have a rich tradition in futsal, going back to the former Yugoslavia. Nor will UEFA Futsal EURO 2016 be the first continental final tournament hosted by Serbia following the 2011 UEFA European Under-17 Championship held there, partly in Belgrade, last May.

Prior to the event in Serbia, Belgium will stage UEFA Futsal EURO 2014 in Antwerp in February that year. Serbia and Belgium will be following in the footsteps of previous Futsal EURO hosts Croatia (2012), Hungary (2010), Portugal (2007), Czech Republic (2005), Italy (2003), Russia (2001) and Spain (the first UEFA European Futsal Championship of 1999 and also the 1996 UEFA European tournament).