The National Futsal Series was established in 2019 and incorporates 43 teams in five divisions across England, including both men’s and women’s teams. Futsal is an exciting, five-a-side fast-paced form of the game with small-sided teams, which places emphasis on technical skill in restricted spaces. It has helped develop the skills of the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, while professional Futsal players like Ricardinho have amassed millions of views on YouTube with his skills and tricks.

The coverage includes all playoffs and finals and over a typical weekend will see BT Sport broadcast four matches live from each of the men’s and women’s competitions. This means that 110 hours of futsal will be played on BT Sport across the season, split equally between the women’s and men’s game. The first match weekend to be broadcast live on BT Sport is the weekend of October 9 and 10 which will see a match up for the two powerhouses of English futsal: London Helvecia and Bloomsbury futsal. A repeat of this year’s Summer Showdown final, which saw London Helvecia clinch their place in the UEFA Futsal Champions League. Men’s Tier 1 matches not televised on BT Sport will be made available to all via the National Futsal Series YouTube channel.

Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said: “Today’s news deepens BT Sport’s support for all levels and versions of football, with our coverage spanning grassroots, semi-professional, disability and elite forms of the game. We are looking forward to helping the top-flight futsal league in England reach new heights and support the long-term ambitions to drive more participation in the sport.”

Paul Szumilewicz, Managing Director of the National Futsal Series, said: “This is the biggest broadcast commitment ever in the history of English futsal league competitions and we are delighted that BT Sport has recognised the potential of futsal. The increased visibility the deal will bring to the NFS will help the league and the sport of futsal connect to new and wider audiences. We’re looking forward to working with BT Sport to take futsal to a whole new level never seen before in this country.”

Courtesy of BT Sport via Pitch

Bespoke to the male and female College categories, the introduction of the alternative small sided format represents another exciting opportunity for people around the country to get involved in the nation’s largest and most inclusive 5-a-side football tournament.

Its inclusion follows The FA and Football Foundation’s launch of a £300,000 fund announced last September, aimed at developing the sport of Futsal in England.

With roots originating from South America, Futsal is a version of 5-a-side football normally played on a flat indoor pitch with hockey-sized goals and a ball that has a reduced bounce.

The game is based on close-control, quick passing and fast thinking and has famously been played by some of the world’s most skillful footballers.

The fast-paced game is the only small sided format officially recognised by both UEFA and FIFA and is played across the world at various levels, from grassroots pitches to official FIFA Futsal World Cup and UEFA Futsal European Championships.

Speaking about the introduction of the Futsal category into The FA People’s Cup, Michael Skubala, England Futsal Head Coach, said: “Futsal is an incredibly exciting format in its own right which also encourages skillful, creative play. We are delighted that more people will have the chance to experience it through The FA People’s Cup. Most importantly, it creates a brilliant opportunity for College students around the country to get involved in the competition, regardless of their existing ability”.

Andy Dyke, The FA’s National Participation Manager said: “We are delighted to be able to offer a bespoke Further Education Futsal category in this season’s FA People’s Cup. With the growth of Futsal in recent years it was important to look at how we could incorporate it into the competition and this is the perfect fit.  Working alongside AoC Sport we look forward to welcoming colleges to the FA People’s Cup and can’t wait to see some great matches come kick off in February.”

Registration to The FA People’s Cup is now open to amateur players of all ages and abilities. Teams and individuals are able to enter the tournament by visiting The FA  where they can find more details on the competition and how to sign up.

You can watch a short film explaining more about futsal here.

Report courtesy of The FA

It continues a landmark year for the Sport Performance student, which saw her make her senior international football debut for Wales and win the FA Women’s Futsal Cup with Bristol City Ladies.

Evans was also one of four University of Bath student volunteers who took part in the Zambia IDEALS project this summer, delivering PE lessons in Zambian schools and villages as well as set up sporting competitions between neighbouring communities.

She was recently invited to take part in a trial with Sinnai, based in Sardinia, and signed her first professional contract with them this week after playing for Wales against Norway in a UEFA Women’s Euro qualifier.

“I haven’t had a chance to let it all sink in just yet,” Evans told futsalfocus.net. “Whenever anyone mentions it I can’t help but smile and get all excited.

“I know it’s going to be an incredible experience, a big learning curve and will definitely push me out of my comfort zone being in a different country. The league itself will be very challenging, which I look forward to as I love being busy.”

Evans – who will defer her studies for a year while in Italy – played football and futsal for the University of Bath Women’s Football Club and also represented Yeovil Town Ladies in the FA Women’s Super League.

She flew out to Italy on Thursday and will be joined at Sinnai by Brazil’s Vanessa Pereira, voted three times as the world’s best futsal player.