The Estonian Football Association, the Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum, and Sportland jointly opened an interactive football museum for visitors at A. Le Coq Arena on October 11, the same day the Estonia vs. Italy football match took place at the stadium.

This is a museum that offers activities and discoveries for the whole family. Visitors can explore the rich history of Estonian football along with a variety of exciting hands-on experiences suitable for both young and adult museum enthusiasts.

For example, visitors can test their reflexes in a reaction wall challenge featuring Estonian goalkeeper Karl Jakob Hein, currently playing for Bundesliga club Werder Bremen. They can also step behind the microphone and try their voice at commentating a match together with the legendary Estonian sports journalist Tarmo Tiisler. The statistics booth lets families explore their relatives’ footprints in Estonian football history, and the experience cinema adds an extra spark with impressive special effects.

In the exhibition hall, visitors can admire rare items related to Estonian football history — athletes’ equipment, trophies, and medals — with each display case telling its own story: Estonian football stars, referees, the evolution of game rules, fan culture, international icons, and more. The museum will soon also offer educational programs and exclusive guided tours of A. Le Coq Arena.

“Being nominated for the European Museum of the Year 2024 has marked a new era for the Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum, as we’ve been able to expand our activities across Estonia. It’s been a special joy to do so through the creation of the Estonian Football Museum and in collaboration with excellent partners — the Estonian Football Association and Sportland Estonia,” said Siim Randoja, Director of the Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum. “I believe that both the football community and family visitors will find plenty of exciting and memorable experiences here,” Randoja added.

“Estonian football history is part of Estonian cultural history. A strong football culture is built on a solid foundation, and establishing a football museum is an important part of that foundation. It allows us to reflect on what has been achieved and inspires future generations. We are grateful to the Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum and Sportland, who, like us, see culture as an essential value,” said Aivar Pohlak, president of the Estonian Football Association.

Sportland, the leading sportswear and sporting goods brand and retailer in the Baltics, also contributed to the creation of the new museum. “For Sportland, it is important to support the development of sports, including football, in Estonia. Our mission is to inspire people to move and to value sports culture. The new football museum contributes to this by keeping the spirit of football alive and bringing its story closer to the people. Initiatives like this are a great example of how a shared passion for sport can help grow and strengthen the local football community,” said Remi Aare, CEO of Sportland Estonia.

The Estonian Football Museum, located at A. Le Coq Arena in Tallinn, is open to visitors Monday to Sunday. The new museum is part of the Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum, which is the largest sports museum in the Baltics and is located in Tartu.