The 15th Annual Global Challenge will take place in Pula, Croatia on July 16 through July 19, 2019 for u18 and u23 teams from around the world. Pre tours will start July 10th.
The mission of the Global Challenge is to provide teams international playing experience and exposure. Past tournaments participants have included club and country federation teams from Slovenia, Russia, Romania, Germany, Bosnia, Montenegro, China, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Italy, Denmark and Puerto Rico, plus USA regional HP, youth national, junior national, and collegiate national teams.
Last year’s U17 division Global Challenge proved to be a volleyball showdown between Croatia’s Youth National Team and Slovenia’s Nova KBM Branik. In the U23 final match the USA College National Team toppled the Mountain West Conference All-Star Team. To gain insights from players and coaches in attendance at last year’s tournament, be sure to watch these video interviews on our live blog.
In preparation for tournament play Pre-tours will take place throughout Europe between July 5th-8th. Opening ceremonies will take place on July 9th in Pula, Croatia, a town marked by 3,000 year old Roman ruins including one of the last remaining fully intact Roman Colosseums in the world dating back to 68 AD. All teams, regardless of their nationality, stay in close quarters at the beach front Hotel Pula to encourage a cultural exchange between players and coaches. The hotel is perfectly positioned within walking distance to both the competition arena and the crystal teal water of the Adriatic Sea.
Competitive international volleyball is what you get at the Global Challenge year after year. If you’re a volleyball player, coach or fan who loves to travel, there’s no better place in the world to be in July than Pula, Croatia. For more tournament information and results, head over to the 2018 Global Challenge Tournament website here.