Corporate football and team building in Budapest

A football game is one of the easiest team-building events to organise: an hour on a pitch, mixed teams and a drink afterwards. The hard part is the admin: booking a pitch, collecting money and finding a tenth player when someone drops out. This guide shows how companies in Budapest run a regular team game with PitchUp.

How a private company game works

• Apply to host. Anyone with a PitchUp account can apply. We reply within 24 to 48 hours.
• Post the game. Choose the venue, time, format (5v5, 6v6 or 11v11) and the price per player.
• Make it private. A private game is listed like any other, but only people with your invite link or code can book.
• Share the link. Post it in your team channel. Colleagues book in a tap and get a reminder before kick-off.

You can switch a game between private and public at any time. If you're short of players, open it up and players across Budapest can fill the empty spots.

Pick the right format

• 5v5 (10 players): the easiest to fill. Fast, lots of touches, ideal after work.
• 6v6 (12 players): the most common format in Budapest and a good size for a team or department.
• 11v11 (22 players): a full-size pitch for a bigger office or a company day, usually at weekends.

Where to play

Choose a pitch close to the office so people come straight from work. BME Sporttelep in Újbuda (XI.) and Városliget Mini Arena (VI.) suit evening games after work. Panoráma Sportközpont (II.) and Budapest Garden FC (XIV.) have changing rooms and showers, and Panoráma has a café for afterwards.

Cost

The host sets the price per player, and players see it in forints before they book. Most games in Budapest cost 2,000 to 3,000 Ft a spot. For now, players pay the host in cash at the venue. Card payments and the PitchUp Wallet are coming soon.

Make it a regular thing

A one-off game is fun; a weekly slot builds a team. Keep the same day and time, and regulars plan around it. After each game, players vote for the MVP, and everyone's player card grows with their games.

Take it further: a company tournament

Hosts can run leagues and cups in the app, with fixtures, standings and a bracket that update as results come in. A summer cup between departments, or against other companies, gives the weekly game something to play for.

Common questions

Do colleagues need to be good at football?

No. Games are mixed level, and small-sided formats work for beginners and regulars alike.

What if someone cancels?

Players can cancel from the app. With 24 hours' notice or more they get a full refund, between 6 and 24 hours 50%, and under 6 hours none. If the host cancels, everyone gets a full refund.