Futsal facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids
Futsal
Characteristics
International futsal match between Argentina and Egypt at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympics
Highest governing body	FIFA
First played	1930, Montevideo, Uruguay
Contact	Yes
Team members	5 per side
Mixed-sex	No, separate competitions
Type	Team sport, ball game
Equipment	Futsal ball Futsal shoes Shin guards Kits
Venue	Futsal court
Presence
Country or region	Worldwide
Olympic	No (except the Youth Olympics since 2018)
Paralympic	No

Futsal is an exciting team sport. It's like a fast-paced version of association football (soccer). Two teams of five players each compete on a smaller court. The court is usually indoors, and it's smaller than a regular soccer field.

The main goal is to score by kicking a special futsal ball into the opponent's net. Each team has a goalkeeper and four other players. Futsal matches have two halves, each lasting 20 minutes. The team with more goals at the end wins! If scores are tied, it's a draw.

Futsal uses a smaller, heavier ball that doesn't bounce as much as a soccer ball. This helps players control the ball better in tight spaces. Many soccer coaches use futsal to help players improve their ball skills and quick thinking. It's played all over the world, especially in South America and Spain.

What's in a Name?

The word "Futsal" comes from Portuguese and Spanish words. These words mean "indoor football" or "hall football." It's a perfect name because the game is often played indoors!

In the 1980s, there was a disagreement between two sports organizations, FIFA and FIFUSA. They both wanted to use the word "football" for their indoor game. To solve this, FIFUSA started using "futsal" for its big tournaments. Later, FIFA also began using the name. Now, "futsal" is the official name for this exciting sport around the world.

How Futsal Began

The Birth of an Indoor Sport

Futsal started in 1930 in Montevideo, Uruguay. A physical education teacher named Juan Carlos Ceriani invented it. He wanted a version of football that could be played indoors. This was perfect for places like the YMCA.

Ceriani created the rules for futsal in 1933. He mixed ideas from different sports. He took the number of players (five per team) and game time from basketball. Goalkeeper rules came from water polo, and substitution rules from hockey. The field and goal sizes were inspired by handball.

Spreading the Game

The YMCA helped futsal become popular across South America. It was easier to play than outdoor football. It also helped athletes stay fit all year. A Brazilian named João Lotufo brought the game to Brazil. He helped adapt it for physical education classes.

In 1956, the rules were updated in Brazil. This allowed more people, including older players, to enjoy the game. Soon, other South American countries adopted these new rules. In 1965, the South American Futsal Confederation was formed. This helped organize tournaments and spread the sport even further.

An indoor futsal competition in Guatemala City.

Futsal Goes Global

In 1971, the International Federation of Indoor Football (FIFUSA) was created. This group organized the first Futsal World Championship in 1982. Soon, FIFA, the world's main football organization, also became interested in futsal.

There were some discussions between FIFUSA and FIFA about who would manage the sport. Eventually, the name "futsal" became widely used. This helped avoid confusion and made the sport easier to recognize everywhere.

Over time, many national futsal groups joined FIFA. FIFUSA later became the World Futsal Association (AMF). Both organizations continue to promote futsal and host their own tournaments.

Futsal is now a huge sport worldwide. More than 30 million people play it! It's easy to set up and helps players improve their skills. On 7 September 2014, a record 56,483 fans watched a friendly match between Brazil and Argentina in Brasília.

FIFA also launched a women's version of the World Cup. The first-ever Women's Futsal World Cup was held in the Philippines from 21 November to 7 December 2025. This was a big step for women's futsal!

How Futsal is Played

The Basics of Gameplay

Futsal follows special "Futsal Laws of the Game." These rules are similar to those in regular soccer. The game uses a round ball, about 62-64 centimeters around. Two teams of five players try to score goals. The team with more goals at the end wins!

The main rule is that players, except the goalkeeper, cannot use their hands or arms. Players mostly use their feet to move the ball. But they can use any other part of their body.

The Futsal Ball and Court

A futsal ball is smaller and heavier than a soccer ball. It also bounces less. This means the ball stays closer to the ground. Players focus on controlling the ball and making quick passes.

Futsal is often played indoors on a hard court. The boundaries are marked with lines, not walls. This is different from some other indoor football games.

Player Roles and Teamwork

Players work together to create chances to score. They might dribble the ball, pass to teammates, or shoot at the goal. Opponents try to get the ball back by intercepting passes or tackling. Physical contact is limited in futsal.

The game flows quickly, stopping only when the ball leaves the court or a rule is broken. There is no offside rule in futsal, which keeps the game moving fast!

While there are no fixed positions, players often take on roles. These include a defender (fixo), two wingers (alas), and a forward (pivot). Players can switch positions anytime. Sometimes, a goalkeeper might even join the attack, becoming a "flying goalkeeper." This often happens when a team needs to score late in a match.

Futsal matches usually have more goals than soccer games. This is because the court is smaller. The game is also very fast-paced, with unlimited substitutions allowed. This means players can come on and off the court freely. Futsal is all about quick thinking, creativity, and great ball control!

Futsal Rules

Both the AMF and FIFA have their own official rules for futsal. This section focuses on the FIFA rules.

FIFA publishes the "Futsal Laws of the Game." These laws cover everything about how the game is played. Many rules are like those in soccer. However, some are unique to futsal.

Quick Look at Key Rules

Court Size: Courts are usually between 25x16 meters and 42x25 meters.
The Ball: A futsal ball is size 4 for players aged 13 and up. It weighs 400-440 grams.
Game Time: Matches have two 20-minute halves. The clock stops when the ball is out of play. There's a 15-minute break between halves. Each team gets one 1-minute timeout per half.
Players: Each team has five players on the court, including the goalkeeper. Teams can have up to 9 substitutes. Substitutions are unlimited and can happen anytime.
Fouls: Kicking, pushing, tripping, or holding an opponent are fouls. Deliberately touching the ball with hands (except the goalkeeper) is also a foul. After five fouls in a half, all future fouls result in a direct kick from 10 meters.
Cards: Referees use yellow cards for warnings and red cards to send players off. If a player gets two yellow cards, they get a red card. A player sent off must leave the game. Their team plays with one less player for two minutes, or until the other team scores.
Free Kicks: Direct free kicks are for serious fouls. Indirect free kicks are for less serious fouls. Opponents must be 5 meters away from the ball.
Penalty Kicks: A penalty kick is taken 6 meters from the goal for fouls inside the penalty area.
Goalkeeper Rules: The goalkeeper has 4 seconds to release the ball. They cannot touch the ball again with their hands until another player touches it.
Kick-in: Instead of a throw-in, futsal uses a kick-in. The ball is placed on the sideline and kicked back into play within 4 seconds. You cannot score directly from a kick-in.
Goal Clearance: The goalkeeper throws the ball from the penalty area to restart play after an attacking player sends the ball over the goal line.
Corner Kick: If a defending player sends the ball over their own goal line, the other team gets a corner kick.
Referees: Two referees control the match. A timekeeper and a third referee also help in international games.

Players, Gear, and Officials

Each team has five players on the court, including the goalkeeper. Teams can make unlimited substitutions. A player coming off must leave the court before the new player enters. If a team has fewer than three players, the game stops.

Players wear a jersey, shorts, socks, and shin guards. They also wear special futsal shoes with rubber soles. Goalkeepers wear different colored uniforms. Players can wear safe protective gear like gloves or knee pads. No jewelry is allowed.

The game is managed by a main referee and a second referee. Their decisions are final. A third referee and a timekeeper help keep track of fouls and time, especially in big matches.

The Brazil national futsal team lines up before a match.

The Futsal Pitch

A futsal pitch

Futsal courts are usually made of wood or artificial material. For international matches, courts are 38-42 meters long and 20-25 meters wide. Many handball courts can be used for futsal.

Goals are placed in the middle of each goal line. They are 3 meters wide and 2 meters high. Nets are attached to the goals.

In front of each goal is a penalty area. This area is where the goalkeeper can use their hands. The penalty mark is 6 meters from the goal. A second penalty mark is 10 meters from the goal. This is used for direct free kicks after a team commits too many fouls.

A futsal arena in Tokyo

Game Length and Tie-Breaking

A standard futsal match has two 20-minute periods. There's a 15-minute break between halves. Each team can call one 1-minute timeout per half.

If a game needs a winner, like in a tournament, extra time might be played. This is usually two 5-minute periods. If it's still a tie, a penalty shootout decides the winner.

Starting and Restarting Play

A coin toss decides which team starts the game. Play begins with a kick-off at the center of the court. Kick-offs also restart the game after a goal is scored.

If the ball goes out of bounds, play restarts with a kick-in or a goal clearance. If it hits the ceiling, it's also a kick-in. All restarts must happen within 4 seconds.

No Offside Rule

Unlike regular soccer, there is no offside rule in futsal. This helps keep the game fast and exciting!

Misconduct and Cards

Players are cautioned with a yellow card and sent off with a red card.

Fouls like kicking, tripping, or pushing an opponent can lead to a direct free kick. Handling the ball (unless you're the goalkeeper in your area) is also a foul. These are called "accumulated fouls." After five accumulated fouls in a half, the other team gets a direct free kick from the second penalty mark (10 meters).

A yellow card is a warning for bad behavior. This includes arguing with the referee or delaying the game. If a player gets two yellow cards, they receive a red card and are sent off.

A red card means a player must leave the game immediately. This happens for serious fouls, violent actions, or using offensive language. If a player is sent off, their team plays with one less player for two minutes. However, if the other team scores during those two minutes, the team with fewer players can bring a substitute on right away.

Who Manages Futsal?

The two main international groups for futsal are the Asociación Mundial de Futsal (AMF) and Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). AMF is the newer name for FIFUSA, the original futsal organization. FIFA became interested in futsal later. Both groups organize their own tournaments.

FIFA has its headquarters in Zürich, Switzerland. It works with six regional groups around the world:

Asia: Asian Football Confederation (AFC)
Africa: Confederation of African Football (CAF)
Europe: Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)
North/Central America & Caribbean: Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF)
Oceania: Oceania Football Confederation (OFC)
South America: Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL)

These groups and national football associations help manage futsal in different countries. They make sure the game is played fairly at all levels.

Major Futsal Competitions

There are many exciting futsal competitions around the world for both national teams and clubs.

National Team World Cups

Men: The AMF Futsal World Cup and the FIFA Futsal World Cup are the biggest tournaments for men's national teams.
Women: The AMF Futsal Women's World Cup and the FIFA Futsal Women's World Cup are the top competitions for women's national teams. The first FIFA Women's Futsal World Cup was held in 2025.

There are also many regional championships, like the AFC Futsal Asian Cup in Asia, the Futsal Africa Cup of Nations in Africa, and the UEFA Futsal Championship in Europe.

Club Competitions

Clubs also compete in major tournaments. The Intercontinental Futsal Cup is a top club competition. In South America, clubs play in the Copa Libertadores de Futsal for men and the Copa Libertadores Femenina de Futsal for women. European clubs compete in the UEFA Futsal Champions League.

FIFA Futsal World Ranking

On 6 May 2024, FIFA started its official FIFA Futsal World Ranking. These rankings show which national teams are the best in the world. They are used to help seed teams in the FIFA Futsal World Cup. Brazil was ranked first in both the men's and women's rankings when they were first released.

Men's Rankings

The top 20 men's teams according to the FIFA Futsal World Ranking are:

FIFA Futsal World Rankings as of 4 April 2025.
Rank	Change	Team	Points
Top 20 rankings as of 7 December 2025
1		Brazil	1655.54
2		Portugal	1549.51
3	1	Spain	1530.82
4	1	Argentina	1518.65
5	1	Iran	1488.67
6	1	Morocco	1468.4
7	2	Kazakhstan	1439.09
8		Russia	1409.11
9		Ukraine	1399.12
10		France	1394.52
11		Thailand	1318.68
12		Paraguay	1267.33
13		Japan	1267.21
14		Georgia	1250.42
15	2	Croatia	1247.6
16	2	Italy	1244.36
17	2	Venezuela	1228.03
18	2	Czech Republic	1215.93
19	3	Poland	1207.2
20	11	Armenia	1197.87
*Change from 6 May 2024