Račišće Spectacle Draws 600 Spectators
Caffe bar Kocka clinched the title in a dramatic final against MNK Sveti Antun, with over 600 spectators creating an unforgettable atmosphere.
Caffe bar Kocka clinched the title in a dramatic final against MNK Sveti Antun, with over 600 spectators creating an unforgettable atmosphere.
The Račišće futsal tournament, which locals proudly call the 'tournament of all tournaments,' once again proved its iconic status on the island of Korčula. This year's edition, which reached its climax on August 2, 2026, attracted over 600 spectators to the grand final, a number that surpasses the attendance of many SuperSport HNL league matches. The tournament is slowly but surely returning to the top of summer sports events on the island, after being successfully revived last year following a multi-year hiatus caused by the pandemic.
The winning trophy ultimately went deservedly to Caffe bar Kocka, who edged out MNK Sveti Antun 3:2 in a nail-biting final. The hero of the match and the entire tournament was Nikola Čepo, who scored two goals for the winning side, while Nikola Petković added the third. For the runners-up, the talented Špiro Brčić netted both goals.
Čepo wasn't just a scorer in the final; his performances throughout the competition earned him a double individual accolade. He was named the tournament's best player and top scorer, cementing his status as the undisputed MVP of this year's edition. Third place went to Jadran Smokvica, while Mate Batinović was named the best goalkeeper.
The program in Račišće offered more than just top-tier futsal. During the break between the final matches, an exhibition game between the youth teams of Račišće and Kneža delighted the crowd. The Račišće kids were coached from the sidelines by former Croatian futsal international and MNK Squera coach, Ivo Jukić, while the young players from Kneža were led by island footballer Denis Poša, who also refereed group stage matches alongside Mateo Drušković. The exhibition match ended in victory for Kneža.
After the semi-finals and final were officiated by HNS referees, the party moved off the pitch. The gathering lasted until the early morning hours, with the band Trio Fantastikus entertaining those in attendance.
The organizing team, made up of futsal and Račišće enthusiasts (Franko, Jurić, Žmirić, and Pelin), emphasized that this year's success would not have been possible without the strong support of the local community. The Račiška mladost Association took charge of the catering side of the event, and their work was praised by the organizers' representative, Nikola Botica Pelin.
"The youth association is doing an excellent job for Račišće; we handed over the bar to them so they could earn some money and continue working for our town. They ran the bar to an admirable standard," Botica Pelin told JUGInfo.
Special thanks were also extended to the ŠOK organization for several quick interventions during the tournament, to Elektrojug Korčula for their assistance, as well as to sponsors: ŽLU Korčula, Grad Korčula, Konoba Belin, Konoba Vala, and Ivo Jukić. Photographer Jakov Pecotić captured all the moments.
