Teqball: Ronaldinho and ‘El Presidente' Fernando Fiore in talks to headline gala event in Romania in 2027
Teodor Luca, president of the Romanian Teqball Federation (FRTEQ), told AGERPRES on Friday that the federation is preparing a surprise project for football and teqball fans: bringing legendary footballer Ronaldinho to Romania in 2027, alongside Fernando Fiore, one of the most charismatic figures in sports journalism in the United States.
The FRTEQ president said the project is expected to take place in Bucharest and Timisoara and was discussed during the recent visit Fernando Fiore, nicknamed 'El Presidente' paid to Romania.
Photo: Romanian Teqball Federation
'The plans under discussion go beyond the traditional format of a simple sports gala. FRTEQ is working intensively on an innovative concept for 2027, designed as the perfect blend of sport, entertainment and top-level journalism. If the discussions come to fruition as intended, audiences in Bucharest and Timisoara will witness a spectacular duo: Ronaldinho, who made history with his magic on the pitch, and Fernando Fiore, who has given a voice to the great stories from behind the scenes of football. Romanians will have the exclusive opportunity to hear fascinating behind-the-scenes details about world football and Fiore's encounters with idols such as Maradona, Messi and Pele,' Teodor Luca said.
The FRTEQ president sees this opportunity not only as a sporting achievement but also as an emotional parallel with Romanian values.
'For me, meeting Fernando Fiore also has a strong personal dimension. I make a comparison that I offer with the greatest respect: whenever I have had the opportunity to meet Gheorghe Hagi, I have noticed the same extraordinary passion for football. Hagi speaks about football with unparalleled passion. Fernando Fiore does the same in the world of sports journalism and television. When you listen to him speak, you realise that sport is not just a profession for him,' Teodor Luca stressed.
Through this initiative, Luca said, the Romanian Teqball Federation is demonstrating how a young and dynamic sport can open doors to elite international communities, while Fiore's visit and the prospect of bringing Ronaldinho to Romania reaffirm the federation's central message.
Photo: Romanian Teqball Federation
'Sometimes, it takes someone who has seen the whole world to come to Romania and remind us how much we have to show the world. And if Fernando Fiore has discovered Romania in just a few days, the next meeting could be an opportunity for Romania to discover, through his stories, the extraordinary world of international football. So 2027 could bring a first for Bucharest and Timisoara,' the FRTEQ president concluded.
Visiting Romania for the first time, 'El Presidente,' as he is widely known, said he had been completely captivated by the experience.
'It has been a wonderful trip. Over the past few days, I had the opportunity to visit the beautiful capital, Bucharest, where I spent four hours exploring the outstanding Football Museum. Then I went to Brasov, Sighisoara, Bran, Sibiu and Peles Castle in Sinaia, and now I am heading home. I would have loved to stay longer, but I am also the official radio commentator for Inter Miami's matches. And even though Messi retired from the national team this week, I have to leave to commentate on Inter Miami's match against DC United this Saturday. I hope to return to Romania to visit other places and take part in an event alongside my good friend Ronaldinho. We have organised many events together with this wonderful Brazilian legend and we hope to be back here next year. Thank you, Luca, thank you, Romania! It is a wonderful country and the people are absolutely extraordinary. I will certainly recommend to all my friends that they visit. God bless you and I hope to see you again soon. Viva Romania!,' Fernando Fiore told AGERPRES.
The journalist said that in the 1990s he travelled around the world with a travelling television show and had always wanted to visit Romania but had never had the opportunity until now.
Photo: (c) Fernando Fiore personal archive
'I have been a commentator and presenter for more than 37 years. I have covered ten men's World Cups, two Women's World Cups and several youth World Cups, all in football. I have also reported from a hundred other sporting events around the world: more than 50 world championship boxing events, over ten Super Bowls, tennis tournaments, NBA Finals, All-Star games across various sports and much, much more. In the 1990s, I travelled around the world with a travelling television show. I had always wanted to come to Romania but had never had the opportunity until now. Thanks to Teodor Luca, I have finally managed to visit this wonderful country. We met a few years ago during a teqball tournament, a Teqball World Championship. He invited me here and told me about all the beautiful places in Romania. It has been a wonderful trip,' Fernando Fiore said.
The story behind the project began in Germany at the 2022 Teqball World Championships in Nuremberg.
'Fernando is the kind of person you can talk to for a few minutes and feel as though you have known him for years. He is extremely approachable, charismatic and, above all, speaks about sport with extraordinary passion,' Teodor Luca added.
With a career spanning more than three decades at renowned media networks such as Telemundo and Univision, where he hosted successful programmes including 'Republica Deportiva' and 'Fuera de Serie,' alongside Sofia Vergara, Fernando Fiore has interviewed and formed friendships with sporting greats such as Pele, Diego Maradona, Dunga, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Lionel Messi and David Beckham. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Dorina Matis; EN - writing by: Adina Panaitescu)
The content of the www.agerpres.ro website has the exclusive purpose of public informing.
All the information published on this website by AGERPRES is protected by relevant legal dispositions.
It is forbidden to copy, reproduce, recompile, decompile, distribute, publish, display, modify, create derived components or products or full services, as well as any exploitation of the site's content.
Details in the section Terms of Use. If you are interested in picking up AGERPRES news items, please contact the Marketing Department – marketing@agerpres.ro.
The use of the Comments section entails your obligation to respect the AGERPRES terms and conditions in regards to the publishing of comments on the www.agerpres.ro.
Other news in category
President Dan on National Holocaust Remembrance Day: Turning to memory and history is crucial
President Nicusor Dan said on Friday, on Romania's National Holocaust Remembrance Day, that turning to memory and history is crucial to understanding how the crimes and atrocities committed on Romanian territory were possible, with the involvement of the Romanian state authorities and the complicity of those who remained indifferent. 'Today, we pay tri
Artestry World Of Flowers Festival brings world champions of floral design to Bucharest
World and European floral design champions, artists and leading figures from the flower industry will gather in Bucharest on 12 and 13 October for the fourth edition of Artestry World of Flowers, the International Floral Art Festival. The event, organised by the Faculty of Horticulture at the University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Buchares
Senate's Abrudean at Holocaust Memorial: Romanian state must take responsibility for past actions
Senate President Mircea Abrudean said on Friday, at the annual Holocaust victims' commemoration ceremony, that the Romanian state must take 'historical responsibility' for the actions of that time. 'Today, we find ourselves in a place of silence and remembrance. We are here to pay tribute to those whose lives were shattered by hatred and discri
FinMin Nazare: Romania is determined to stay on a path to a narrow budget deficit
Romania is determined to meet its commitments to narrow its government deficit and continue the process of fiscal consolidation, Romania's Finance Minister Alexandru Nazare told the European Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Valdis Dombrovskis, during an informal discussion on Friday in Luxembourg. 'This morning I participated in the working b
Romania's economy grew by 1.1% in 2024 (final data)
Romania's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 1.1% in 2024 compared with 2023, according to final data published on Friday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS). Compared with the semi-final estimate, GDP growth was revised upwards by 0.2 percentage points. GDP for 2024 was estimated at 1,767.517 billion lei at current prices, 8.334
BrancusiYear/Over 40 speakers to attend 'The Philosophy of Form' international conference in Targu Jiu, under UNESCO patronage
Targu Jiu will become the setting for an international dialogue on Constantin Brancusi from 22 to 26 October, when the international conference 'The Philosophy of Form,' held under the patronage of UNESCO, and the exhibition 'Brancusi. Photography: The Invisible Studio,' featuring original photographs by Brancusi from the David Grob Collection in London, will
Bill on educational rights of national minorities, challenged by associations of Romanians in Ukraine
Three organizations defending the interests of Romanian citizens in Ukraine have submitted a memorandum to the authorities in Bucharest, urging urgent intervention with the leadership in Kyiv to amend draft law no. 16.119 regarding the educational rights of national minorities. The memorandum was sent to Nicusor Dan; the interim Minister of Foreign Affairs, Oa
Focsani student awarded money as prize by municipality for winning gold at International Applied Chemistry Olympiad
Student Cezar Beniamin Rentea, from the 'Al. I. Cuza' National College Focsani, will be awarded 3,000 lei by the Focsani Municipality, after he won the Special Jury Prize and the Gold Medal at the 2026 edition of the International Applied Chemistry Olympiad (IACHO), held in Bandung, Indonesia. The Focsani City Council approved, on Thursday, in an extra
Fourth Romania - Japan Innovation Forum to take place Oct 20 - 23 in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe
The fourth edition of the Romania - Japan Innovation Forum, which will take place from October 20 to 23 in four Japanese cities - Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe - is a platform for dialogue and cooperation aimed at strengthening economic, technological and innovation ties between the two countries. According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (M
Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas visits Bucharest as counterpart Ciucu aims to revive twinning ties
Ankara Mayor Mansur Yavas is paying an official visit to Bucharest at the invitation of Bucharest Mayor Ciprian Ciucu. Yavas is due to be welcomed at the airport by Ciucu on Thursday evening. Talks on issues of interest to residents and the two cities will begin on Friday, with the Turkish delegation remaining in Bucharest until Saturday evening, the Bucharest
PNL is open to voting Niculescu Gov't but does not intend to rule with PSD (Bolojan)
The PNL does not intend to participate alongside the PSD in the government proposed by Prime Minister-designate Luca Niculescu, but is open to granting it an 'investiture vote,' with a final decision to be made next week, PNL President and Interim Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan announced on Thursday. 'I listened to Prime Minister-designate Luca Nicule
Investors from eight countries express interest in 'Why Mures' opportunities showcased at EXPO REAL Munich
More than 50 international organisations and companies from eight European countries expressed interest in the opportunities presented by the 'Why Mures' delegation, which brought together local and county authorities, the business community and academia at EXPO REAL Munich, one of the continent's leading trade fairs dedicated to investment, real estate developme
MEP Dan Barna: Building a stable parliamentary majority is practically impossible now
AGERPRES special correspondent Tudor Martalogu reports: Romania is currently facing such a deep political crisis that forming a stable parliamentary majority is practically impossible, MEP Dan Barna (Renew Europe Group) told AGERPRES on Thursday, stressing that early elections are an option for overcoming the current deadlock. Referring to the talks Prime Mini
CNR-CME DirGen: Romanian consumers can rest assured, energy security is guaranteed
Stefan Gheorghe, director general of the Romanian National Committee of the World Energy Council (CNR-CME), told AGERPRES on Thursday that Romanians can rest assured this cold season, as energy security is guaranteed. 'Romanian consumers can rest assured, energy security is guaranteed. As for the rest (the price - ed. n.), I cannot guarantee that,' Ste