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Romania: The New Kid on the Block Who Isn’t Afraid of the Big Boys
Romania: The New Kid on the Block Who Isn’t Afraid of the Big Boys Romania Drone Soccer, the newest member of the FIDA European Union © Romania Drone Soccer A newcomer to the European scene, the Romania Drone Soccer association is waiting for just one thing before diving fully into Drone Soccer: the official granting of its FIDA license. Launched in May by Mihai Costea and Mihai Santa, the Romanian association will even be competing in the European Championship in a few days. But before that, they must be careful not to rush things… It all began with a simple idea. As an operator at the event company Adventure Studio, Mihai Costea was looking for new activities to add to his “team building” program for clients. Eager to explore FPV drones, it was no coincidence that the Romanian discovered Drone Soccer. After a bit of research, the first Droneball was purchased, and “Mihai” contacted Pascal Roignau, the FIDA representative for Europe. The First Meeting In April 2026, Pascal Roignau arrived in Brașov with all the equipment needed to launch the project in the country. But beyond a simple delivery, it was above all a rich exchange of knowledge that set the two Mihi on the right path: “Pascal’s arrival was very enriching. Beyond his knowledge of the sport, he’s someone who, just like us, launched his business through the events sector in France. He explained to us how to grow through all aspects of Drone Soccer—competition, relationships with the national education system, and even corporate services,” says the younger of the two. Mihai Santa (left) and Mihai Costea (right) flanking Pascal Roignau in Brasov last April © Romania Drone Soccer But this event was also the perfect opportunity to make their debut on the international competitive stage. In fact, Drone Soccer France is organizing the very first European Drone Soccer Championship next June. It is the perfect chance to gain international recognition and join FIDA: “When he told us about participating in this championship, we could hardly believe it. That’s when you realize that anything is possible in Drone Soccer. It’s the perfect opportunity to have our first competitive experience right after just getting started. We understand we’ll be the oldest team in the competition; I hope we don’t get humiliated by the middle schoolers,” Mihai Costea quips. Building a Connection with Education Closely linked to education and STEM, Drone
America. Tim Ingram: « The objective is to host the World Cup within the next three years.”
America. Tim Ingram: « The objective is to host the World Cup within the next three years.” For this year’s festival, the Palm Springs Drone Fest once again hosted its traditional international Drone Soccer tournament © Palm Springs Drone Fest From April 30 to May 2, the palm trees of the Palm Springs Drone Fest welcomed the Skyfence team led by Tim Ingram, president of FIDAUSA, for the International Drone Soccer Grand Championships. A major event on the FIDAUSA calendar, this tournament serves above all as the perfect international showcase for Tim and his teams to demonstrate American progress in Drone Soccer. “What better way to introduce the world to Drone Soccer than at the biggest drone event in the U.S.?” said Tim Ingram, president of FIDAUSA, at the conclusion of this year’s International Drone Soccer Grand Championships. An event that has grown over the years, it now allows American teams to compete against international teams from the FIDA programme. This year, it was Jamaica, which recently became a “FIDA member,” that emerged victorious, living up to its ambition to become the team to beat on the American continent. Having been incredibly dedicated to their development over the past several months, Jamaica has made its mark on the competitive scene by winning the Class 40 tournament © Irie FM </ The Nearly Perfect School System span>The Nearly Perfect School System Despite its lofty ambitions, FIDAUSA is still a very new member of the FIDA programme. After joining the Korean institution in 2023 and participating in the World Cup last September, Tim Ingram and his teams continue to strengthen the ties between FIDAUSA and school districts: “It’s still a bit new here in the U.S. But while we may not have the Koreans’ history, we have the ambition to train young people through an educational system that can only benefit the sport. Through our relationships with school districts, we hope to train and support young Drone Soccer talent throughout their entire academic journey, from middle school to college.” A Vision for the Future While the Class 40 remains a more complex, expensive, and challenging category to develop, Class 20 is, for Tim, the perfect balance between competitiveness, fun, and learning in schools: “The key is the educational system. Without it, it immediately becomes much harder to set up clubs across the U.S. Every kid has held a controller in their hands. And
Africa. Abdesslam Mekouar: “In Morocco, drones are still a hobby that’s too expensive for most people. Drone Soccer could change that.”
Africa. Abdesslam Mekouar: “In Morocco, drones are still a hobby that’s too expensive for most people. Drone Soccer could change that.” Since its launch in Morocco, Drone Soccer has enjoyed the support of Medhi Bensaïd (left), Morocco’s Minister of Youth, and Abdesslam Mekouar (right), president of Drone Soccer Morocco. © dronesoccermorocco Since 2023, Drone Soccer has taken root on the African continent, starting in Morocco. Behind this innovative initiative on a rapidly developing continent, Abdesslam Mekouar spoke about the barriers hindering the sport’s growth in Morocco, as well as his solutions. A drone pilot for 14 years, Abdesslam Mekouar first discovered Drone Soccer in 2021 at a trade show in Dubai. While working as an instructor for drone pilots, he met Pascal Roignau, president of Drone Soccer France, and Lee Bum Su, one of the founding members of FIDA: “When I saw that Drone Soccer booth, I was obviously intrigued. As someone who knew drones inside out, this sport broke all the rules. Pascal Roignau and Lee Bum Su came to meet me, and I quickly became interested in the history and values of the sport. I came home with a whole bunch of ideas!” exclaims the former pilot. “Here, drones are seen more as a professional tool than a hobby.” But upon returning to Morocco, Abdesslam’s ambitions were confronted by the realities surrounding drones in the country. While drones initially gained popularity as a hobby, their development is now shifting toward the professionalisation of the sector. These are barriers specific to Morocco that inevitably hinder Abdesslam’s projects: “Before launching Drone Soccer Morocco in 2023, I encountered quite a few obstacles along the way. Here, drones are seen more as a professional tool than a hobby. It is a costly and highly regulated field. While the government is investing heavily in drones, the share of investment dedicated to recreational use remains too small to make it accessible to everyone,” laments the Moroccan. The French Alphonse Daudet School was the first team to join Abdesslam’s program, here at the 2025 World Cup in Jeonju, South Korea © dronesoccermorocco Every problem has a solution To adapt to this challenging situation, Abdesslam Mekouar carefully studied the regulations of the DAC (Civil Aviation Authority) and drew inspiration from the Korean model. He developed indoor drone soccer to circumvent outdoor flight bans and focused his efforts on young people. His vision is simple: to adapt
LE Drone soccer
Né en 2016 en Corée du Sud, le Drone Soccer est LA nouvelle discipline techno sportive.
S’apparentant au Quidditch de la saga Harry Potter, le Drone Soccer est le mélange parfait entre le fait de s’amuser, dans un environnement futuriste, et le fait d’apprendre des choses sur plusieurs domaines (électronique, robotique, aéronautique).
La discipline est destinée à plaire à toutes et à tous, favorisant l’inclusion des personnes en situation de handicap, la mixité et l’intergénération.
L’Association Drone Soccer France est honorée d’être la seule entité française membre de la FIDA (Federation of International Drone Soccer Association). Cette reconnaissance souligne notre dévouement envers les normes internationales et notre volonté de représenter la France dans le monde compétitif du Drone Soccer.
Grâce à notre partenaire fondateur Faireplay, qui depuis 2018 apporte son soutien inconditionnel à l’association et à son développement, nous nous distinguons aujourd’hui en tant que pionnier du vrai Drone Soccer en France.
Nous sommes les seuls à développer cette discipline coréenne de manière authentique, en respectant les règles et les équipements validés et homologués par la FIDA.
Vers la fédération : un avenir prometteur
Drone Soccer France ne se contente pas d’être une simple association, nous aspirons à devenir une fédération, renforçant ainsi notre légitimité et notre leadership dans le paysage du Drone Soccer en France et sur le continent européen.
Nous avons ouvert des portes vers des partenariats avec la Belgique, les Pays-Bas, le Royaume-Uni, et au-delà. Ensemble, nous travaillons à la mise en place d’une ligue européenne de Drone Soccer.
Des championnats organisés par FIDA France et son écosystème sont également à prévoir, offrant aux passionnés de Drone Soccer une plateforme nationale, européenne et internationale pour rivaliser et se connecter.
Drone Soccer European Championship
📅 24, 25 & 26 juin 2026 📍 Bologne, Italie 🇮🇹
Une première historique qui sera présenté à We Make Future, le plus grand salon de l’IA en Europe! Le tout premier Championnat d’Europe de Drone Soccer pose ses valises à Bologne pour trois jours de spectacle, d’innovation et de compétition intense 🤖🔥
Des équipes venues de toute l’Europe s’affronteront dans une discipline spectaculaire où technologie et stratégie se rencontrent dans les airs.
🎯 Au programme : • Matchs de haut niveau • Démonstrations technologiques • Ambiance assurée • Passion, innovation et adrénaline !
Merci à nos partenaires pour leur confiance : Michelin Inflatable solutions, Amtech, We make future, APF France Handicap et Faireplay. 🌟
La première Coupe du Monde en 2025
Drone Soccer France Association sélectionnera lors de rencontres et championnats jusqu’en 2025, les meilleurs joueurs pour représenter la France lors de cette première coupe du monde !
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