Competition is now underway at the European Universities Games 2026 in Salerno, with the opening men's Futsal matches alongside the first men's and women's Volleyball matches.

Following months of preparation and the arrival of delegations from across Europe, the focus now shifts to the action on the field of play.

While the opening matches mark the beginning of the sporting programme, preparations continue behind the scenes for the disciplines set to follow. 

The first whistle has blown, the opening serves have been made, and the race for qualification is on. Men's Futsal and both men's and women's Volleyball launched the competition programme with a full schedule of group-stage matches, as universities from across Europe fought for a strong start to their European Universities Games campaigns. Every point proved valuable as teams looked to build early momentum towards the knockout rounds.

The men's Futsal tournament opened with an action-packed programme of group-stage matches, as universities from across Europe began their pursuit of the European title. Every goal carried significance, with teams eager to secure an early advantage in their groups. Strong performances from each of the universities highlighted a competitive opening day.

Volleyball competitions got underway with a busy schedule of opening-round matches. Teams wasted no time settling into the tournament, producing high-intensity rallies and determined performances as they competed for their first victories. Universities such as Charles University, Technical University of Munich, University of Minho, University of Zagreb and University of Ljubljana were among those beginning their European Universities Games journeys.

In continuation, preparations for other disciplines were also happening in parallel with the competitions. The General Technical Meetings (GTMs) for Women's Futsal and for the Table Tennis competition brought together team representatives, EUSA officials and members of the Local Organising Committee to confirm competition procedures, review technical regulations and ensure all participants are ready for the start of their respective tournaments.

The GTMs served as a key step before each sport begins, providing athletes, coaches and officials with the latest competition information while ensuring the smooth delivery of the Games. As new teams continue to arrive in Salerno, excitement is building across the various competition venues.

The first matches in Men's Futsal and Volleyball set the tone for two weeks of university sport, where thousands of student-athletes will compete for European titles across a diverse sporting programme. 

With every whistle, serve and goal, the European Universities Games 2026 continue to bring together Europe's university sport community in a celebration of excellence, friendship and fair play.

For more information, please see eug2026.eu