Four of the world’s best futsal teams – Sporting, Benfica, Inter Movistar and AFC Kairat – will be taking part in the International Masters Futsal competition which will be held at the Portimão Arena next weekend (August 24-25).
“This is an excellent opportunity for sports lovers to see four world-class teams in action,” says Portimão council, one of the event’s organisers.
Sporting is the current European futsal champion, Benfica won the national title back in June, Inter Movistar is home to the world’s perennial best futsal player Ricardinho and Kairat made it to the final of the UEFA Futsal Champions League where they were beaten by Sporting.
Although the International Masters is a pre-season friendly competition, it has gained quite a reputation due to the high quality of the teams it attracts.
The International Masters Futsal is one of the highlights included in Portimão’s ‘European City of Sport’ programme, which has already promoted 370 sports events in the town.
Apart from the matches that will be played, there will be a funzone outside the Portimão Arena where there will be stalls selling food and drinks, bouncy castles and more.
Before the competition begins, there will be a match between local team Portimonense (which was promoted this season to Portugal’s first division for the first time) and Kairat which will be free to attend on Thursday, August 22 at 9pm.
The International Masters matches will begin on Saturday, August 24 as Benfica faces Kairat at 11am and Sporting takes on Inter Movistar at 3pm.
On Sunday, Kairat will try to avenge its defeat in the Champions League final against Sporting at 11am while Inter Movistar and Benfica will face off at 3pm.
Tickets cost €5 per match and can be purchased at the Portimão Arena ticket office, Portimão Museum, TEMPO theatre, online at www.bol.pt, or at Fnac, Worten, El Corte Inglés and Serveasy.
All matches will be aired live by CMTV.
