UMECIT closed Promise Stars 2026, an inter-faculty futsal tournament that made sport a space to meet, share and strengthen the bonds between students from different majors.

For six weeks, the gymnasium at the International Bilingual Institute hosted 123 students, organized into 10 teams and representing 16 different majors. Physiotherapy, Physical Education and Personal Training, Radiology and Medical Imaging, Maritime and Port Administration, Law and Political Science, Criminalistics and Forensic Science, Nursing, Systems and Programming, General Psychology, Accounting, Bilingual Tourism, Graphic Design, Marketing and Advertising, English, Electrical Engineering Technician, and Building Technician were all represented in this edition.

That diversity was an important part of Promise Stars: students who usually meet in different academic spaces found in sports an opportunity to get to know each other, share and team up.

Brazil, champion of Promise Stars 2026

Ten teams represented Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Spain, France, Ghana, Panama, Portugal and Uruguay.

In the semifinals, Brazil beat Uruguay 6-5. In the second match, Ghana and Argentina drew 3-3, and Argentina secured their place in the final in a penalty shootout.

The final kept the excitement alive until the very last moment. Brazil defeated Argentina 7-6 and was crowned champion of UMECIT Promise Stars 2026.

Awards for this edition

The closing ceremony also provided an opportunity to recognize the performance, commitment, and leadership demonstrated during the tournament.

Eimy Barrios, a student of the Bachelor of Law and Political Science, was recognized as Best Female Player.

Eduardo Gutiérrez, a student of the Bachelor's Degree in Physiotherapy, received the recognition as Top Scorer.

José Gómez, a member of the Ghana team, received the award for Best Goalkeeper.

Harold Billard, a student of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy, was recognized as Best Technical Director, after leading the Uruguay team, which reached the semifinals of the competition.

The team behind every match

Promise Stars was also built off the court. Each day required coordination, technical support, refereeing, organization, communication, and the commitment of many people who contributed from their different roles.

We especially thank the Coordination of the Faculty of Humanities and Educational Sciences and the teacher Rogers Yela, who is also part of the UMECIT FC technical team, for their support and for taking care of the technical aspects of the competition.

We also extend our gratitude to the team of certified referees who officiated the matches. Among them was Reinaldo Arnaldo Austin, a graduate of the Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education in July 2026, who returned to the field in a new role and had the opportunity to put his training, skills, and sporting experience at the service of the university community.

Our scholarship student Evelyn Jiménez, from the Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education and Sports Training, also joined the team, supporting the tracking of results, organization, and logistics of the tournament. Her participation made Promise Stars a learning experience through hands-on practice, responsibility, and teamwork.

They are different contributions, but all necessary. Students, teachers, alumni, and collaborators made it possible for there to be a team behind each match, ready to support and ensure the experience unfolded in the best possible way.

Promise Stars was also experienced beyond the court

We thank UMECIT Radio for joining this experience and broadcasting the semi-finals and the grand final live, bringing the tournament closer to students, teachers, administrative staff, family members and other members of our community who could not join us in person. Relive the semi-finals and the grand final of UMECIT Promise Stars 2026

When sport adds up and unites

At the end of these six weeks, Promise Stars leaves behind something that goes beyond sporting results.

On the field we saw discipline, respect, leadership, values, cooperation, and teamwork. Off the field, it was also necessary to put those same values into practice to organize, support, and sustain each day.

And perhaps therein lies one of the greatest lessons of this experience: sport has the ability to bring us closer together, generate bonds, and allow people from different careers, roles, and areas to find a common purpose.

From University Welfare, we thank every student, teacher, graduate, collaborator, and department that joined Promise Stars 2026. Our role was to support and coordinate an initiative that grew thanks to everyone's commitment.

Brazil takes the cup; we are left with 123 students, 10 teams, 16 careers represented and many people who decided to contribute to make this experience possible.

We will continue to support sport as a cornerstone of well-being that allows us to meet, participate and feel part of the same community.

Thanks to everyone who was part of the team.