Latvia targets EuroVolley 2028 hosting rights with €4 million budget

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Latvia is working to secure the right to host one of the pools at the 2028 Men’s European Volleyball Championship, but the project hinges on whether the necessary financial support can be secured. The Latvian Volleyball Federation estimates that organising the group-stage matches would cost approximately €4 million, with up to €2.5 million expected to come from the state budget.

According to figures presented by federation president Arnis Tunte, the proposed venue is Arena Riga, whose rental costs would account for a substantial part of the overall budget. The remaining funding would have to come from ticket sales, contributions from local authorities and sponsorship agreements.
The federation has therefore outlined a financing plan that combines public support with revenue generated through the event itself.
The debate surrounding the bid also reflects the potential economic and promotional benefits of hosting a major international sporting event. Tunte has pointed to the different experiences of the Latvian national team during EuroVolley 2026, comparing the atmosphere in Romania, where Latvia played its pool matches, with the reception in Sofia, Bulgaria, during the knockout stage.

“In Bulgaria, the streets were full of advertisements and every taxi driver knew which national teams were playing that day,” Tunte said.

According to the Latvian federation president, the tournament had a much lower public profile in the Romanian host city, while the attendance figures he cited averaged around 2,000 spectators in Romania compared with nearly 5,000 in Finland. He also highlighted the stronger presence of travelling supporters in Finland. These comparisons form part of the federation’s argument that hosting a European Championship can attract international visitors and generate wider benefits beyond the matches themselves.
However, securing the required funding remains a significant obstacle. Aleksandrs Samoilovs, director of the sports department at Latvia’s Ministry of Education and Science, has indicated that the necessary amount cannot be covered by the existing sports budget alone. Potential alternatives include funding through the planned State Sports Fund or a dedicated government allocation approved specifically for the event. Neither option should be considered secured until the relevant decisions have been made.

The federation wants a final decision by the end of 2026 so that preparations can move forward during 2027.
An application to use Arena Riga has already been submitted, while arrangements involving hotels, catering providers and training facilities will also need to be developed. Further delays would leave organisers with less time to coordinate the many practical requirements involved in hosting an international tournament.
Tunte has said that an oral understanding regarding Latvia’s hosting plans is in place, but this does not amount to a formal allocation of the rights by the European Volleyball Confederation (CEV). The financial arrangements and official approval therefore remain crucial steps before the project can move into its implementation phase.

Montenegro is currently the only confirmed host country for the 2028 Men’s EuroVolley.
In March 2026, the CEV approved the Montenegrin federation’s application to stage a group of the tournament, with matches scheduled for the Morača Sports Centre in Podgorica. The other host countries are yet to be finalised, and the competition’s exact dates have not been announced.
EuroVolley 2028 is planned to follow the multi-country format used in recent editions, with four nations sharing hosting responsibilities. For Latvia, joining that group would offer an opportunity to bring Europe’s leading national teams to Riga, increase the sport’s visibility at home and attract visiting supporters from across the continent.

For now, however, the ambition remains dependent on funding. The coming months will determine whether the Latvian federation can turn its plans into a formally approved hosting project and give Riga a place on the map of European volleyball in 2028.

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