2029 European Universities Football Championship will be held at MAKÜ

Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKÜ) will host the 2029 European Universities Football Championship.

According to the official letter sent to the university by the European University Sports Association (EUSA), the EUSA Executive Board decided to award the organization of the championship to MAKÜ after evaluating the candidacy file in its meeting on October 24, 2026.

In a letter dated October 26, 2026, sent from Ljubljana and signed by EUSA President Haris Pavlatic and Secretary General Matjaz Pecovnik, it was announced that the championship would be held in Burdur. The letter thanked MAKÜ for its continuous contributions to the development of university sports in Europe and congratulated the university.

International meeting goal for Burdur

MAKÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar stated that they evaluate the university's sports investments together with the development of students and the international promotion of Burdur, using the following expressions:

“We are very pleased that the 2029 European Universities Football Championship has been awarded to our university. We see the awarding of the championship to us as an expression of the trust in the accumulation we have created in this field. We view university sports as an area where our students develop themselves, take responsibility, and meet peers from different countries.”

Dalgar emphasized that they also consider the championship important in terms of their long-term goals, stating, “Our goal is to make Burdur an international meeting point in university sports and sports tourism. We want this organization to provide our students with international experience, lay the groundwork for new collaborations between universities, and strengthen our city's position in sports tourism. We will evaluate the process leading up to 2029 in a way that creates lasting gains for our university and our city.” 

European championship experience is being transferred to football

MAKÜ also hosted the 13th European Universities Table Tennis Championship organized by EUSA from September 11-16, 2025. In the organization carried out under the coordination of the Turkish University Sports Federation (TÜSF), 132 athletes from different countries in Europe competed.

The university was awarded the International Organization Organization Award by TÜSF due to its organizational success in the mentioned championship.

MAKÜ, which also hosts inter-university organizations in football, hosted the ÜNİLİG Football Turkey Championship from May 12-20, 2026, and the ÜNİLİG Women's Football Turkey Championship, which included seven university teams, from May 19-23.

Sports infrastructure also supports students' education

The university's sports infrastructure includes the MAKÜ Stadium with a capacity of 14,500 spectators, natural grass training fields, multi-purpose sports halls, an athletics track, and semi-Olympic swimming pools. The Lavanta Tepesi Hotel, Spa & Camp Center also provides accommodation and camp services to athletes and teams.

Sports organizations held at MAKÜ also provide practical experience for students' vocational training. Students from the Faculty of Sports Sciences gain experience in the execution of organizations and athlete support services, while students from the Faculty of Tourism gain experience in accommodation and event management.