Portuguese team Luisa Siqueira and Agatha Salomão secured 3rd place in the European Championship in Graz, Austria
The Portuguese team of Luisa Siqueira and Agatha Salomão achieved a brilliant 3rd place in the European Footvolley Championship 2026 – Women’s Finals, a competition that took place this weekend in Graz, Austria, confirming Portugal among the leading European powers in the sport.
The championship brought together 10 women's teams, representing six countries – Austria, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Switzerland – distributed into two groups of five teams. Throughout the group stage, the favorite teams confirmed their status and secured their place in the decisive phase of the competition, keeping alive their dream of winning the 2026 European title.
In the semifinals, Portugal faced the strong host team, Austria 1, which ended up overcoming the Portuguese team, winning by scores of 18-4 and 18-8, thus guaranteeing their place in the grand final.
In the other semifinal, the experienced Spanish team 1, one of the main contenders for the title, faced Switzerland 1. Despite the difficulties experienced in the first set, the Spanish team managed to impose their quality and won 18-15 and 18-6, securing the second spot in the final.
With the title fight postponed, Portugal focused its attention on the bronze medal match against Switzerland. In an intense and balanced duel, a tie-breaker was needed to determine the winner. The Swiss team started better and won the first set 20-18. With no room for error, Luisa Siqueira and Agatha Salomão responded exemplarily, completely dominating the second set and closing it out 18-7. In the third and decisive set, the Portuguese team once again demonstrated all their quality and determination, managing to overcome their opponents and secure a well-deserved place on the European podium.
The grand final pitted the host team Austria 1, composed of Antonia Missethan and Julia Sauer-Rauch, against the Spain 1 team, represented by the current European champions, Yosy Silva and Keyla Faria.
Fueled by the strong support of the crowd in Graz, the Austrians entered determined and confident. In a balanced first set, they managed to maintain control and won 18-15. In the second set, the superiority of the home duo became even more evident, culminating in an impressive 18-6, a result that guaranteed them the victory and their crowning as European Footvolley Champions 2026.
In addition to the excellent sporting result achieved by Luisa Siqueira and Agatha Salomão, Portugal was also represented at the highest level in the competition's refereeing team. Igor Oliveira once again made his presence felt at one of the most important events on the European Footvolley calendar, reinforcing the international recognition of Portuguese referees. Their participation in the 2026 European Footvolley Championship is yet another demonstration of the quality and credibility of national referees, contributing to Portugal's standing not only on the court but also in the organization and development of the sport at the European level.
For Portugal, the bronze medal won by Luisa Siqueira and Agatha Salomão represents another important milestone for the growth of the sport in the country, reinforcing the competitiveness of Portuguese athletes at the highest European level and confirming the national presence among the best teams on the continent. This result is further enhanced by the prestige achieved through national representation in refereeing, highlighting Portugal's growing relevance in the European Footvolley scene.
