Top 10 Futsal Teams In The World

Futsal, an indoor sport heavily based on association football (soccer), is one of many lesser-known but rising sports in the athletic world.  Extremely popular in South America and Europe, futsal has expanded over the years to achieve a similar level of popularity as soccer and is often played before equally devoted crowds.  With that in mind, what are the Top 10 futsal teams in the world?  Read on to learn all about the best-performing futsal teams across the globe!  

Which Countries Have the Best National Futsal Teams?

1. Brazil
2. Spain
3. Argentina
4. Portugal
5. Italy
6. Russia
7. Iran
8. Kazakhstan
9. Paraguay
10. Croatia

1. Brazil

Based on team accolades and seasonal rankings, Brazil is the best-ranked futsal team in the world. Their national futsal team is called Seleção (The National Team) and Verde-Amarela (The Green and Yellow) and consists of talented players that consistently shock the futsal community. They have been victorious with three straight championships in the past (1989, 1992, 1996) and are considered to be one of the world’s strongest teams competing in the FIFA Futsal World Cup. The Brazilian team has played in every FIFA Futsal World Cup since it was founded in 1989, and they have earned five gold medals, a silver, and two bronze at the tournament, for a total of eight medals in 10 appearances, more than any other national team. They are currently the biggest threat in the game and are seemingly unbeatable.

2. Spain

The Spanish National Futsal Team has consistently been a powerhouse in worldwide competitions. Simply put, they are one of the best futsal teams in the world after their Brazilian comrades. In international meetings with other teams, this team represents the Spanish Football Federation. This team is easily the most successful on the entire continent of Europe, with a total of seven victories in the European Futsal Championships (UEFA). They have also won two FIFA Futsal World Cups, in the years 2000 and 2004, the second-highest number of gold medals after Brazil’s five. In addition to these gold medals, Spain has finished second at the Futsal World Cup three times and finished third once. Along the way, they have had to beat some of the world’s greatest teams, such as Italy, Russia, and Portugal, and they have been successful in most of their endeavors.

3. Argentina

Another dominant team that comes from the continent of South America is the Argentinian National Futsal Team. This team is overseen by the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino, a very important and influential governing body for sports located in Buenos Aires. In their team’s history, Argentina has both engaged in and qualified for a total of nine FIFA Futsal World Cup tournaments. In the tournament’s history, they rank third overall, with a championship win in 2016 and a second-place finish in 2021, when they lost to Portugal. Additionally, they have made multiple appearances in Copa América de Futsal and have been victorious on two occasions. This team is certainly a real threat to its competitors.

4. Portugal

The Portuguese National Futsal Team is a stellar group of athletes that have shown up in worldwide rankings for many years. This team is constantly participating in the most prestigious competitions that the sport offers. They have qualified for or played in a total of six FIFA Futsal World Cups, but their participation in the UEFA European Futsal Championships has been just as impressive. They have competed in a total of nine championships and were victorious in the 2018 championship that took place in Slovenia. Prior to 2021, the team earned a bronze medal at the 2000 FIFA Futsal World Cup. Portugal's success has continued recently, taking home the championship at the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup and the 2022 UEFA Futsal Championship. 

5. Italy

The Italian National Futsal Team is a talented group of athletes that have consistently been a highly competitive team in Europe and the world. This team is controlled by the Italian Football Federation (IFF), the body that represents Italy in all international futsal competitions around the world. Oddly enough, many of the players on the team historically have not been from Italy but rather other popular futsal countries like Brazil. This team has qualified for several FIFA Futsal World Cups and has often finished in the top three, with a second-place finish in 2004 and two third-place finishes in 2008 and 2012. Most of Italy’s success has come from their 12 UEFA European Futsal Championship appearances, two of which they won.

6. Russia

The Russian National Futsal Team is a world-renowned group that has seen great success since its establishment. They are completely controlled and operated by the Russian Football Union, a governing body that looks over many related teams and franchises in the country. Their national futsal team has qualified for a total of seven FIFA Futsal World Cups in the years 1992, 1996, 2000, 2008, 2021, 2016, and 2020. Of these, they earned one second-place finish (2016) and one third-place finish (1996). Additionally, they have qualified for and appeared in UEFA European Futsal Championships every year since their team was formed. They were formerly managed by retired Russian soccer player Sergey Skorovich, who was expected to continue bringing them great success, though the team’s head coaching position is now vacant, and the team has been suspended from play for the foreseeable future as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

7. Iran

The Iranian national futsal team is a phenomenal team that has been recognized as the best team on the continent of Asia for several decades, winning the title at the AFC Futsal Asian Cup in 12 of their 16 appearances. This team has been controlled by the Futsal Commission of the Iranian Football Federation since its formation and representation of the country of Iran. This team has historically been one of the strongest and most consistent in the world. Iran’s best result at the FIFA Futsal World Cup was in 2016 when they finished third. They are constantly competing in FIFA Futsal World Cups and have a dozen championship titles from the Asia Futsal Championships.

8. Kazakhstan

The Kazakhstan National Futsal Team is a team that has found its rhythm in recent years. They are controlled and operated by the Kazakhstan Football Federation (KFF), a governing body of futsal in the country that also represents the country in international meetings with other teams, such as the FIFA Futsal World Cup and UEFA European Futsal Championships. They have only qualified for three FIFA Futsal World Cups and two UEFA European Futsal Championships, but that is because they have only recently begun to turn into a real powerhouse team. The 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup saw their best finish ever, as Kazakhstan earned fourth place. In the coming years, they are expected to place in most worldwide tournaments.

9. Paraguay

The Paraguay National Futsal Team is an outstanding futsal group that has been a dominant force in worldwide competitions for many years. They are governed by the Paraguayan Football Association, which represents them in international matches. They have qualified for or played in seven FIFA Futsal World Cups, and they went to their fifth in a row in 2021, making it to the quarterfinals. They are ranked as the South American nation with the third most appearances at the event. They have been very successful in the Copa América de Futsal as well, winning the championship title in all but one of their appearances in history.

10. Croatia

The Croatian National Futsal Team is a renowned and respected team worldwide. When they participate in international futsal competitions, they represent the Croatian Football Federation (CFF). They have only recently begun to reach international success, and they can be considered a threat on the rise. So far, they have only appeared in two FIFA Futsal World Cups and five UEFA European Futsal Championship tournaments. Their greatest worldwide success was in 2012 when they went to the semifinals of the UEFA tournament. They also won the Mediterranean Cup Championship in 2010.

Honorable Mentions

United States of America

The United States National Futsal Team experienced a period of dominance in the 1980s and 1990s, from which it has largely receded. However, there have been recent signs of a resurgence. In existence since 1984, the US team is governed by the United States Soccer Federation and competitively affiliated with CONCACAF. 

The team’s best results at the FIFA Futsal World Cup were a third-place finish in 1989 and runner-up in 1992. The United States has achieved greater success in the CONCACAF Futsal Championship, taking the title in 1996 and 2004. After failing to qualify in 2016, the US finished runners-up in 2021.

Netherlands

The Netherlands national futsal team was responsible for organizing the first FIFA Futsal World Cup in 1989, where they finished runners-up to Brazil. This was their best showing in the tournament, and the team has seen limited success since 2000.

Governed by the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), the Netherlands national team competes in the UEFA European Futsal Championship. The team’s UEFA championship record mirrors its World Cup record: of its six appearances, the best result was a fourth-place finish in 1999. The Netherlands was the most recent host of the UEFA European Futsal Championship in 2022. The team automatically qualified as hosts but was eliminated in the knockout round, losing two of their three matches.

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