After 55 days of an intensive summer programme, another season of B4 Summer Camps has come to an end. A total of 27 clubs from 12 countries travelled to Slovenia for their preparations, while we also organised 92 friendly matches involving 66 different teams from 20 countries.
The numbers primarily demonstrate the scale of the summer. More importantly, however, they show what is required to ensure that so many teams can complete their preparation programmes to a high standard within a relatively short period of time.
Every Club Requires Different Conditions
Preparing a professional sports team requires much more than simply combining a hotel with a football pitch or sports hall. Every club arrives in Slovenia with its own sporting programme, a different number of training sessions, plans for friendly matches, and specific requirements regarding recovery, nutrition, transport and infrastructure. For this reason, flexibility is at the core of organising training camps.
This summer, the clubs involved included FC Koper, NK Bravo, FC LNZ Cherkasy, HNK Rijeka, MTK Budapest, NK Celje, Grimsby Town FC, HNK Gorica, Çaykur Rizespor, FK Čukarički, HNK Hajduk Split, Göztepe SK, FC Karpaty Lviv, GNK Dinamo Zagreb, Konyaspor, KF Vllaznia Shkodër, UTA Arad, FC Epitsentr Kamianets-Podilskyi, KF Shkëndija, 1. FC Slovácko, ZTE FC, FC Pyunik, FC Zorya Luhansk, NK Rudeš, FK Rudar Prijedor, NK Rudeš Academy and handball club LL Grosist Slovan.
Different sports, competition levels, calendars and objectives mean that there is practically no universal model for a successful training camp. The key task is therefore to provide conditions that can adapt to each team’s programme and to the changes that arise almost every day during the preparation period.
A Network of Locations Matters More Than a Single Training Base
An important part of the B4 system is its network of training centres and partner sports infrastructure. Teams had access to 14 pitches across our six training centres, FTC Gobele, FTC Čičare, FTC Bled, FTC Lesce, FTC Preddvor and FTC Čatež, while additional capacity was provided through a network of partner locations across Slovenia.
The value of such a system is particularly evident when organising friendly matches.
During the summer of 2026, a total of 92 matches were played across 31 different locations. Športni park Radomlje hosted the highest number with 16 matches, followed by Grosuplje with eight and Kidričevo with seven. Such a broad network provides more options when searching for the right time slot, venue and, above all, a suitable opponent.
This is precisely why organising friendly matches is one of the more demanding parts of the preparation period. Within a limited time frame, the programmes of two teams need to be coordinated alongside pitch availability, location, transport, referees and other organisational requirements.
Slovenia’s Advantage Also Lies in Its Short Distances
Slovenia has an important practical advantage when it comes to organising international sports training camps: within a relatively small geographical area, it offers a variety of training environments and a large number of sports venues.
Clubs can therefore stay and train in one location while playing a friendly match elsewhere without transport significantly disrupting their daily schedule. Short distances also provide access to a larger pool of potential opponents and considerably greater flexibility when arranging matches.
When a larger number of domestic and international clubs are preparing in the same area at the same time, a broader sporting ecosystem also develops. More teams create more opportunities for high-quality friendly matches, more matches increase the demand for quality infrastructure, and together these factors strengthen Slovenia’s position as a destination for professional team training camps.
55 Days Where the Details Matter Most
The outcome of the summer training period therefore cannot be measured solely by 27 clubs or 92 organised matches.
Behind these numbers lies the daily coordination of training sessions and matches, constant schedule adjustments, cooperation with hotels, sports infrastructure operators, local clubs, referees, transport providers and other partners, as well as the ability to respond quickly whenever a team’s programme changes.
The objective remains the same: to provide clubs with an environment in which organisational details do not become their concern, allowing players and coaching staff to focus as fully as possible on preparing for the new season.
After 55 days, this year’s summer programme is coming to an end. A new competitive season is beginning for the clubs, while at B4 we are already preparing for the next projects and the new teams that will complete their training programmes in Slovenia.
