Top-level polo returns to Piazza di Siena for the seventh consecutive year for a very special occasion; in fact, the national teams of four major countries on the international polo scene will vie for their colours for the first time on the field set up at the Galoppatoio. In this way, the Rome Piazza di Siena CSIO in Villa Borghese reaffirms its status as a premier stage for this sport’s international stars, characterised this year by another quality quantum leap with the first edition of the FIP Arena Polo European Championship – U.S. Polo Assn. Trophy.

Eight months after the FIP Arena World Polo Championship held in the United States, Europe’s finest players are set to compete in this new continental tournament organised by the International Polo Federation (FIP) and FISE, the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation, featuring teams from Italy, France, England and Switzerland.

The Arena Polo will be again the format of choice, featuring a smaller sand competition ground and three-player teams. The Galoppatoio will be transformed into a striking night-time arena lit by floodlights, combining the adrenaline of the matches and the free-admission stands with the glamorous charm of the Polo Garden.

The curtain will rise on the event at Villa Borghese on the afternoon of Tuesday May 26 with the traditional opening parade of players on their horses: the teams will set off from Piazzale delle Canestre accompanied by the Fanfare of the 4th Mounted Carabinieri Regiment, they will go through Via delle Magnolie, Piazzale dei Martiri and Viale dell’Orologio until they reach the Terrazza del Pincio.

The tournament will start on Wednesday May 27 at 9.30 pm with the first match of the qualifying round. The second match is scheduled for Thursday May 28, again at 9.30 pm, whilst the semi-finals will be played on Friday 29th, at 8.30 pm and 9.30 pm. The finals will take place on Saturday May 30, starting at 8.30 pm.