Zaragoza is preparing to welcome three European Universities Championships (EUCs) in 2027, with Futsal, Chess and Rugby 7s set to bring university athletes from across Europe to the Spanish city. 

From 18 to 22 October 2026, EUSA representatives visited Zaragoza to inspect the proposed sports venues and accommodation facilities, meet with the Local Organising Committee and discuss the key organisational aspects of the upcoming championships.

The visits come at a particularly special time for the city, which will hold the title of European Capital of Sport in 2027. The University of Zaragoza, with a tradition spanning more than 550 years, is also making history under the leadership of Rector Rosa Bolea Bailo, the first woman to hold this position in the university's history. Hosting three European Universities Championships offers a wonderful opportunity to celebrate this milestone and contribute to a memorable year for sport, education and the local university community.

Futsal inspection reviews sports halls and university facilities

The first inspection visit, dedicated to Futsal, took place from 18 to 20 October. EUSA Technical Delegate for Futsal Tomasz Aftanski joined the inspection programme, which included visits to the Xior Pontoneros and Bravo residences, the historic Paraninfo building, the Siglo XXI and Alberto Maestro sports halls, and the University Sports Centre and San Francisco Campus.

The delegation reviewed the proposed competition venues, changing rooms, medical facilities, work areas and spaces for officials, as well as possible locations for accreditation, media operations and the opening ceremony. The accommodation visits provided an opportunity to assess arrangements for student-athletes and officials, including dining services, laundry facilities and match-analysis areas.

EUSA representatives worked closely with Ruben Gonzalez García, Area Director, and key members of the university's organising team, including Alberto Sanchez Biec, Technical Director of the University Sports Services; Pablo Concha Sanchez, Competitions Coordinator; and Rocío Alegre Domingo, Communications and Social Media Coordinator.

The technical visits also involved local sports facility representatives. Pepe Oseira, Head of the Facilities Service at Zaragoza City Council; César Salinas, Director of the Siglo XXI Sports Hall; Olvido Puertas, Director of the Alberto Maestro Sports Hall; and José Manuel Villuendas, a member of the Aragonese Committee of Football Referees, contributed to discussions on the facilities and their suitability for the championship.

The delegation was also welcomed at the Paraninfo by Rosa Bolea Bailo, Rector of the University of Zaragoza, and Marian Franco Sierra, Vice-Rector for University Community and Social Commitment.

Chess and Rugby 7s inspections take place in parallel

From 20 to 22 October, the inspection programme continued with visits dedicated to Chess and Rugby 7s. EUSA Sports Manager Miha Zvan was joined by the respective EUSA Technical Delegates, Oleksander Sulypa for Chess and Michal Czerwiowski for Rugby 7s. The parallel programme allowed the teams to assess the specific requirements of each sport while addressing shared organisational and logistical matters.

For Chess, the delegation visited the Xior residence and the Paraninfo building, where the proposed competition set-up and supporting spaces were reviewed. These included areas for technical meetings, press operations, accreditation and the playing hall. The discussions involved Ruben Cajo Esteban, President of the Aragon Chess Federation, and Cristobal Ramo, Vice-President of the Spanish Chess Federation.

The inspection also provided an opportunity to finalise the adjustment to the Chess championship dates. The competition will move from 2-6 July to 3-7 July 2027, aligning the schedule more closely with Rugby 7s and making the logistical arrangements more convenient for the local organiser.

The Rugby 7s inspection covered two proposed venues: a military sports facility and the David Canada sports ground associated with Fenix Rugby Club. At the military venue, the delegation met Lieutenant Colonel Alfonso Dieste, Colonel Ignacio García del Olmo, Secretary of the University Defence Centre, and German Segura Garcia, Military Rugby Coordinator. The visit covered the playing field, changing rooms, rest areas and operational spaces.

At the David Canada venue, the delegation was accompanied by Joaquín Jiménez, President of the Aragón Rugby Federation; Juan Arias, President of Fenix Club; Fernando Tagle, Operations Director of Fenix Club; and Jesus Gimeno Alonso, Sports Facilities Director at Zaragoza City Council, together with Alberto Alberdi Ramón, Sports Complex Manager at the City Council. The review focused on the playing and warm-up areas, changing rooms, water points and the technical requirements needed to support competition delivery, spectator services and live streaming.

Accommodation arrangements for Rugby 7s were also reviewed during a visit to the Bravo residence, including its capacity and the possibilities for adapting catering services to the needs of the championships.

Coordinating preparations for 2027

Beyond the individual sports and venues, the visits included meetings to coordinate the wider preparations. Representatives discussed the competition programme, transport, sports equipment, results and accreditation systems, website and streaming arrangements, access control, medical services, sustainability, protocol, trophies and medals, and the cultural programme.

The wider university team included Juan Carlos Casterad, Head of Sports Activities at Campus Huesca; Diego Alvarez Belenchon, Area Director and Sustainability Coordinator; and Alberto Calleja Romero, Healthy Campus Coordinator. Sergio Castel, representing Zaragoza's European Capital of Sport 2027 initiative, also joined the meeting with the university leadership. The discussions brought together the university, city, sports facilities and federation representatives to review the preparations and identify the remaining priorities ahead of the championships.

The inspection visits marked an important step in the preparations for the three events. With Zaragoza set to celebrate its European Capital of Sport title in 2027, the European Universities Championships will provide an opportunity to welcome university communities from across Europe and showcase the city's sporting facilities, university heritage and commitment to university sport. Together, Futsal, Chess and Rugby 7s will be a fitting part of a landmark year for Zaragoza and the University of Zaragoza.

Explore the dedicated pages of the respective European Universities Championships (EUCs) in Rugby 7s, Futsal and Chess for more information.