The Name
Futsal comes from the Portuguese futebol de salão and from the Spanish fútbol sala or fútbol de salón (all translatable as “indoor football”). During its second world championships held in Madrid in 1985, the Spanish name fútbol sala was used. The World Futsal Association registered the name futsal in 1985, following a dispute with FIFA over the name fútbol. Since then, futsal has become the officially and internationally accepted name, and FIFA has also started using the term.
The History
Futsal comes from the Portuguese futebol de salão and from the Spanish fútbol sala or fútbol de salón (all translatable as “indoor football”). During its second world championships held in Madrid in 1985, the Spanish name fútbol sala was used. The World Futsal Association registered the name futsal in 1985, following a dispute with FIFA over the name fútbol. Since then, futsal has become the officially and internationally accepted name, and FIFA has also started using the term.
The Benefits
Futsal is a form of fast flowing five-a-side football that allows the promotion of individual close ball skills. These skills are developed through an increased number of touches and reduced amount of space, demanding players to have heightened reflexes and make rapid in game decisions.
The game has been designed to promote the use of attacking flair, providing an intense, all-action game that allows players to be at their most creative.
Futsal has also had a hand in developing footballing superstars, with the top three from the 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2017 Ballon D’or awards Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi (2009 and 2011) and Neymar (2015 and 2017) all starting their football careers playing in futsal.