The Croatian National Tourist Board and the Istria Tourist Board successfully showcased Croatia and Istria’s tourism offer at The TruckScout24 EHF FINAL4 Men 2026, the final tournament of Europe’s most prestigious club handball competition, held in Cologne from 12 to 14 June.

The competition is organized by the European Handball Federation (EHF), with the Croatian National Tourist Board and the Istria Tourist Board being official destination partners of this elite sporting event. The partnership agreement with the EHF Champions League Men was signed in the 2023/24 season for a three-year period, running through the conclusion of the 2025/26 season. 

Throughout the tournament weekend, Croatia and Istria enjoyed a prominent presence at the impressive LANXESS Arena, where they welcomed visitors at a specially branded promotional stand located in a prime position within the Fan Village, directly beside the main stage. Fans and visitors enthusiastically participated in a range of interactive activities, tested their knowledge and skills through engaging prize games, and won a variety of attractive souvenirs.

This year’s EHF FINAL4 also set a new attendance record. The arena, which accommodates more than 20,000 spectators, was completely sold out, underlining the competition’s immense popularity among handball fans across Europe. 

The project was further supported by the Poreč Tourist Board and the Umag Tourist Board, which actively contributed to promotional activities and participated in events organized by the EHF at destinations throughout Europe. Poreč and Umag were chosen as partner destinations due to their long-standing sporting tradition and their important role in the development of handball in Istria.

Adding to the excitement of the handball weekend, two Kahoot! quizzes dedicated to Croatia and Istria drew significant interest from visitors. The first was held on Friday ahead of the official team presentations on the main stage, while the second took place on Sunday just before the final match. Participation was exceptionally high, with the top-performing contestants winning valuable prizes, including airline tickets to Croatia and two-night stays for two people in Istria.

[June 2026]