Welcome Message – OC President, Mr. Diogo Braz
It is with great enthusiasm and a deep sense of responsibility that, on behalf of the Portuguese University Sports Federation (FADU Portugal), I welcome you to the Figueira da Foz 2026 FISU World University Championship Beach Sports.
This event represents not only an international competition of excellence but also a celebration of youth, sport, and the connection between academia and the local community. For FADU, hosting the World University Beach Sports Championship is a historic milestone, reflecting the recognition of decades of dedicated work in promoting university sports and organizing high-level events, in close collaboration with FISU and its national federations.
Figueira da Foz, a city of the sea and of sport, provides the perfect setting for this global gathering. Renowned for its hospitality, natural beauty, and unique conditions for sporting activities, the city offers an inspiring environment for athletes, officials, and visitors alike. Its proximity to Coimbra, the quintessential university city and home to the University of Coimbra, which has a campus in Figueira da Foz, further strengthens the bond between academia and sport, two fundamental pillars of this event.
Throughout the Championship, participants will have the opportunity to compete in the five featured disciplines, beach soccer, beach volleyball, beach handball, and beach wrestling, in an atmosphere of fair play, cultural exchange, and celebration of sporting excellence.
Portugal once again reaffirms itself as a country open to the world, capable of combining tradition and innovation, science and sport, youth and community. FADU is proud to be part of this bid and to contribute to making the Figueira da Foz 2026 FISU World University Championship Beach Sports a benchmark in the international university sports landscape.
We look forward to welcoming you all to Figueira da Foz. We look forward to welcoming you to Portugal.
In 2026, the world of university sports heads to the beach!
Diogo Braz
OC President