The countdown to kick-off has now begun for the TUI Socca Champions League, which will be held in Rethymno for the third consecutive year. The city has now earned recognition as the world's most popular destination for mini football.

The countdown marks the fact that exactly three months remain until Rethymno puts on its finest attire and opens its arms to host the premier club competition in socca, an event expected to bring around 2,500 visitors to the city.

In 2026, the competitions taking place under the responsibility of the International Socca Federation (ISF) and with sponsorship from tourism giant TUI will increase from three to four. Alongside the TUI Socca Champions League (15-18 October) and the men's and women's national team tournaments, the Aegean Cup (19-20 October), the programme will also include the Socca Diamonds Cup (17-18 October).

This newly established competition is an international development tournament for the Under-10 and Under-12 age categories. It was held on a pilot basis last year, while this year it takes on an official format with the participation of 16 Greek and international teams that qualified through national championship competitions around the world.

It is certainly welcome news for football fans, who will have the opportunity to experience and enjoy a six-day football celebration that will capture attention from across the globe.

The TUI Socca Champions League is the world's leading Socca (6x6) club competition, featuring approximately 125 teams from 45 different countries.

The Socca Aegean Cup will feature four men's national teams: Greece, Croatia, Lebanon, and one of Italy, France or Poland.

In the Women's Aegean Cup, the participating nations will be Greece, Lebanon, Poland and Hungary.

The new Socca Diamonds Cup places young players at the centre of the action, further strengthening the international character of the event with teams from many countries, including China.

The matches will be played at the artificial turf pitches of Sohora and Missiria.

As in the previous two years, the tournament will be covered through live and recorded broadcasts by COSMOTE TV, as well as by more than 30 international television networks, in addition to live streaming coverage. The event will also be supported through the Socca App, providing live scores, results, statistics and news.

Rethymno will host Socca events for the fifth time in history, following the miniEuro in 2013, the World Cup in 2019, and the TUI Socca Champions League and Socca Aegean Cup in 2024 and 2025.

All competitions are organised under the responsibility of the International Socca Federation (ISF) and with the patronage and full support of the Ministry of Tourism, the Greek National Tourism Organisation, the Region of Crete, the Regional Unit of Rethymno, the Municipality of Rethymno and EPS Sala, a member of the Hellenic Football Federation (HFF).

For this reason, the Organising Committee warmly thanks Minister of Tourism Olga Kefalogianni, Regional Governor of Crete Stavros Arnaoutakis, Deputy Regional Governor of Rethymno Mary Lioni, Mayor of Rethymno Giorgis H. Marinakis, Secretary General of the Greek National Tourism Organisation Nikos Fiorentinos, and Deputy Mayor for Education and Sports of the Municipality of Rethymno Nikos Proviás for their longstanding support.