Fresh Corner Cup in Hungary: Zagreb Opens the Season
Four leading Central European clubs, including Croatian champions RK Zagreb, will gather on August 13-14 in Tatabánya for the inaugural edition of the tournament named after the MOL Group brand.
Four leading Central European clubs, including Croatian champions RK Zagreb, will gather on August 13-14 in Tatabánya for the inaugural edition of the tournament named after the MOL Group brand.
The inaugural Fresh Corner Cup, a tournament bringing together four of Central Europe's top handball clubs, will take place on August 13-14, 2026 in the Hungarian city of Tatabánya. With the support of the MOL Group, the trophy will be contested by RK Zagreb, Poland's Industria Kielce, Slovenia's Celje Pivovarna Laško, and hosts MOL Tatabánya KC.
The tournament is designed as a curtain-raiser for the new season and aims to lay the groundwork for a new regional handball tradition that is expected to be held annually. Three of the four participants will compete in the EHF Champions League in the 2026/27 season, while MOL Tatabánya KC will play in the EHF European League, giving fans a unique opportunity to see some of the region's strongest teams live before the official season begins.
Péter Pantl, Vice President of Corporate Communications at MOL Group, emphasized the importance of handball to the region and explained the motives behind launching the tournament.
"Handball is one of the most popular sports in Central Europe, which is why it represents a strategic platform through which MOL Group creates long-term value for sport, fans, and local communities. The Fresh Corner Cup brings together leading clubs from four of our strategic markets in a unique regional competition and further strengthens MOL Group's position as one of the leading supporters of sport in Central Europe," said Pantl.
Ahead of the tournament, optimistic notes are coming from the Croatian champions' camp. Filip Glavaš, Croatian international and RK Zagreb player, sees the tournament as ideal preparation for the challenges ahead.
"The Fresh Corner Cup will be excellent preparation for the new season and our Champions League campaign. We expect very strong opponents, and I believe that with good preparation, we can reach the final. I'm particularly looking forward to meeting Luka Lovre Klarica, who recently moved to Kielce. We're glad to have received an invitation to such a tournament, and we can't wait to step onto the court," said Glavaš.
Zagreb's coach Hrvoje Horvat is aware that his team faces a serious test, but he believes in the quality of his players.
"If we want to reach the final in Tatabánya, we'll have to play our best handball. This tournament will be an extremely valuable test for us ahead of the new season," Horvat emphasized.
The semifinal matches are scheduled for August 13, while the third-place match and the final will be played the following day, August 14, at the Multifunctional Arena in Tatabánya. For those unable to attend the matches in person, the tournament will be broadcast in Hungary on Sport1, and organizers have prepared a rich side program with fan activities under the Fresh Corner brand for visitors.
