By Noah Konorty | August 31st, 2026
FTY LAB welcomed one of street football’s biggest names as professional street footballer and Red Bull athlete Séan Garnier brought his Global Ballers squad to Mississauga for two days of preparation ahead of the Red Bull Four 2 Score Global Final in Toronto.
The visit presented a unique challenge. Garnier’s Global Ballers had been assembled from players selected across five different countries, bringing together five talented footballers with different styles, backgrounds and experiences just days before they were set to compete against some of the best teams in the world.
With limited time to turn a collection of individual talents into a connected team, Garnier brought the squad to FTY LAB.
The first day was all about communication, chemistry and learning how to play together.
The Global Ballers stepped onto Pitch 2.0 at FTY LAB, where some of Toronto’s top footballers were brought in to provide a competitive test for the newly assembled squad.
Rather than simply running through drills, Garnier put his players into live game situations where they were forced to communicate, adapt and understand each other’s tendencies on the pitch.
It didn’t take long for the talent to show.
The Global Ballers delivered an impressive performance throughout the evening, combining individual creativity with a rapidly developing understanding of one another. Their flair, confidence and ability on the ball quickly drew the attention of those watching as the team began to establish an identity heading into the tournament.
For a group that had only recently come together, the session offered an important opportunity to accelerate the process of becoming a team.
The following day, Garnier and the Global Ballers returned to FTY with a different focus.
The session began away from the pitch as the group reviewed film from the previous night. Garnier and his players broke down what had worked, identified areas to improve and used the footage to continue developing their understanding of how they wanted to play.
From there, it was back onto the field.
The team took over Pitch 1.0 for a structured training session, continuing to build chemistry and prepare for the unique demands of the Red Bull Four 2 Score format.
Then came something different.
The Global Ballers marched into The LAB.
Using FTY’s technology-driven training environment, the players put their abilities to the test through exercises focused on close control, passing, awareness and reaction time. The session challenged players to process information quickly, execute technically under pressure and react to constantly changing situations.
For a team preparing for a fast-paced 4v4 competition, those skills would be critical. Red Bull Four 2 Score features 10-minute games with no goalkeeper, while goals scored during the opening and closing 60 seconds count double, creating a format built around quick decisions, creativity and constant pressure.
Of course, a training camp featuring Séan Garnier couldn’t end without some creativity.
The group finished its time inside the LAB with a trick-shot competition on the Panenka Wall, giving the Global Ballers an opportunity to showcase the flair and personality that had become a defining part of the team.
Following two days of preparation at FTY LAB, Garnier and his squad headed into the Red Bull Four 2 Score Global Final in Toronto with plenty of momentum.
The Global Ballers quickly became one of the teams to watch.
They produced an impressive run through the tournament and even handed defending champion Mexico its only loss of the entire competition.
Their pursuit of the title ultimately came to an unfortunate end in the semifinals, where they were eliminated by the same Mexican side that would go on to successfully defend its title and become back-to-back Red Bull Four 2 Score Global Champions. Mexico defeated Japan 3-0 in the final to capture the 2026 mixed championship.
While the Global Ballers fell short of lifting the trophy, their run demonstrated just how quickly Garnier was able to bring together players from across the world and turn individual talent into a team capable of competing with the very best.
For FTY LAB, hosting Garnier and the Global Ballers provided another showcase of how the facility can be used beyond traditional training.
From live competition on Pitch 2.0 and tactical work on Pitch 1.0 to film study and technology-driven development inside the LAB, the two-day camp brought together every aspect of preparation in one environment.
And just days later, the results were on display on the global stage.
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