UEFA Futsal Champions League: Thrilling Draws Set the Stage for 2024/25 Season

Europe’s Top Clubs from the 24/25 season are Ready for Action as Preliminary and Main Round Groups Announced

The UEFA Futsal Champions League draws have established the groups for both the preliminary round in August and the main round in October. This tournament, which is set to feature 56 entrants, will kick off with the best-ranked eligible associations in the UEFA futsal national team coefficient rankings as of April 2023, represented by two teams each from Portugal, Spain (including the reigning champions Illes Balears Palma Futsal), Kazakhstan, and Croatia. Each of the other participating nations will have one club in the competition.

(Main picture: Laurent Morel, Futsal Competitions, Senior Manager at UEFA – Source of the image: Taken during the draw on the UEFA.com website)

Notably, 24 teams with the highest coefficients, including Palma, receive byes to the main round scheduled from October 22 to 27. The remaining 32 teams will compete in the preliminary round from August 20 to 25, vying for spots in the main round. This main round will then pave the way to the elite round in November and December, culminating in the knockout finals in May.

Preliminary Round Groups: 20–25 August

Group A: KMF Titograd (MNE), Blue Magic FC Dublin (IRL), Futsal Club FORCA (MKD, hosts), Ranger’s FC (AND)
Group B: Futsal Minerva (SUI), Amigo Northwest (BUL, hosts), FC Fiorentino (SMR), Pro Futsal Cymru (WAL)
Group C: Akaa Futsal (FIN), Tirana Futsal (ALB, hosts), TSV Weilimdorf (GER), Ísbjörninn (ISL)
Group D: Tigers Roermond (NED), Yerevan Futsal Club (ARM), Manchester Futsal Club (ENG, hosts), Istanbul Şişli SK (TUR)
Group E: Catania C/5 (ITA), Hjørring Futsal Klub (DEN, hosts), Utleira Idrettslag (NOR), Europa FC (GIB)
Group F: FC Diamant Linz (AUT, hosts), AEL Limassol (CYP), AEK Futsal Club (GRE), Aberdeen Futsal Academy (SCO)
Group G: MNK Široki Brijeg (BIH), NV Georgians (GEO), FC Clic Chişinău (MDA, hosts), Maccabi Netanya Futsal (ISR)
Group H: Araz Naxçivan (AZE), Uddevalla Futsal Club (SWE, hosts), Sillamäe Silla FC (EST), Sparta Belfast (NIR)

The winners of these groups will advance to the main round, Path B.

Source of the image: UEFA Futsal Twitter

Main Round Groups: 22–27 October
Path A

Group 1: Cartagena Costa Cálida (ESP), Sporting Anderlecht Futsal (BEL, hosts), FC HIT Kyiv (UKR), Record Bielsko-Biała (POL)
Group 2: Sporting Clube de Braga (POR), MNK Olmissum (CRO), SK Plzeň (CZE), FC Prishtina 01 (KOS, hosts)
Group 3: AE Illes Balears Palma Futsal (ESP, hosts/holders), Futsal Klub Dobovec (SVN), MNK Futsal Dinamo (CRO), United Galati (ROU)
Group 4: Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR), Kairat Almaty (KAZ, hosts), Haladás VSE (HUN), Futsal Club Semey (KAZ)
The top three teams from each group will proceed to the elite round.

Source of the image: UEFA Futsal Twitter

Path B

Group 5: Etoile Lavalloise (FRA, hosts), FC Stalitsa Minsk (BLR), Preliminary round Group B winners, Preliminary round Group H winners
Group 6: Riga Futsal Club (LVA), KMF FON Banjica (SRB, hosts), Preliminary round Group D winners, Preliminary round Group A winners
Group 7: Luxol St. Andrews Futsal (MLT), Futsal Klub Lučenec (SVK, hosts), Preliminary round Group G winners, Preliminary round Group C winners
Group 8 (hosts tbc): Kauno Žalgiris (LTU), FC Differdange 03 (LUX), Preliminary round Group E winners, Preliminary round Group F winners

The winners of these groups will advance to the elite round.

Source of the image: UEFA Futsal Twitter

Notable Teams and Historical Context

Palma have been dominant recently, winning the European title for the last two seasons, a rare feat achieved in their debut campaigns. This accomplishment was previously matched only by Castellón in the inaugural 2001/02 and 2002/03 editions. Can Palma make history and win it for a third time in a row? Kairat Almaty and Sporting Clube Portugal are both two-time winners, and prominent teams in this year’s competition. Notably, Kairat Almaty is the first club to enter 21 seasons of UEFA futsal competition, while Araz is making its 19th appearance.

This season, Kairat will face Futsal Club Semey, the team that ended their 20-year reign as Kazakhstan champions. Adding to the drama, Semey has recently signed Kairat’s long-time goalkeeper, Higuita. In their previous encounters, Palma defeated Dobovec in the 2022/23 elite round, and Dobovec managed a 3-3 draw with United Galati in the same season’s main round, narrowly securing third place on goal difference.

Historical rivalries also add to the excitement. Sporting CP defeated Kairat 2-1 after extra time in the 2019 final held in Almaty, reversing a main round result from Pristina where Kairat had the upper hand. Sporting also emerged victorious against Kairat in the 2011 semi-finals in Almaty with a 3-2 scoreline.

Riga Futsal Club from Latvia made a stunning entrance into the competition last season. Formerly known as Futsal Club “Petrow” and founded in 2012, the club signed a cooperation agreement with Riga Football Club, resulting in a name change last year. They created a sensation by signing futsal legend Ricardinho, alongside other notable players such as Sergio Willian de Amorim from Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht in Belgium, who helped the club reach the 2022-23 Final Four of the UEFA Futsal Champions League. In 2022, Amorim was recognized as Brazil’s futsal player of the year.

Additionally, the club signed Thalles Henrique Lima Aleixo Flauzino from AD Fundão Futsal in Brazil, further boosting their squad. They added more experience with the acquisition of Constantino Guillermo “Kiki” Vaporaki Tello, a FIFA Futsal World Cup winner with Argentina, and Dylan Vargas from San Lorenzo, who boasts numerous titles, including Copa Argentina 2018 and 2022, Supercopa 2020 and 2021, and Libertadores 2021, among others.

Riga Futsal Club advanced from the preliminary round to the elite round of the competition last season, narrowly missing out on further progression after a close 2-3 defeat to FC Barcelona. Their impressive run has set high expectations, and it will be fascinating to see how far they can go this year.

The last time a French club progressed to the Final Four was in 2022, following the exclusion of Russian participants MFK Tyumen due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. For the past two years, Spanish and Portuguese clubs have dominated the final stage. With Russian clubs barred from competing and Kairat Almaty from Kazakhstan unable to challenge since the 2018-19 season, the question remains: when will another nation, like Belgium, break this cycle of dominance?

Etoile Lavalloise, representing France for the second consecutive season, aims to advance the domestic French game, much like their national team, which has qualified for this year’s World Cup. Do they have what it takes to challenge and disrupt the established order? Such a development would be monumental for French futsal, potentially elevating the sport to new heights in Europe. The French media would undoubtedly give extensive coverage to such an achievement, particularly if their national team performs well in Uzbekistan. This exposure would be wonderful for the sport’s growth and awareness in France.

This season also marks the debuts of several teams, including Aberdeen Futsal Academy, Cartagena, Catania, Clic Chișinău, FORCA, Hjørring, Manchester, Maccabi Netanya, Pro Futsal Cymru, Ranger’s, Semey, Sillamäe Silla, Siroki Brijeg, and Tigers Roermond. Notably, Cartagena joins the competition after winning their first Spanish title, making this only the second edition since 2001/02 that does not feature Barça, Inter FS, or Murcia FS. Jimbee Cartagena’s performances these last two domestic seasons, make their entry to the competition a fascinating one. This team has what it takes to go all the way, could they follow Palma and win the competition in their debut season as well?

Sporting Club Anderlecht Futsal, like Riga Futsal Club, changed their name in 2022. However, unlike Riga, they made a significant impact by knocking Barcelona out of the elite group, drawing with them and winning the rest of their group fixtures, advancing by a single goal difference. Progressing to the Final Four, the end stage of the competition, was a historic achievement for the club, marking the first time a Belgian side had reached that far since Action 21 Charleroi in 2006/07.

Despite this success, they fell short of their expectations in the final stage, finishing in fourth place. In subsequent competition, they struggled to replicate their previous performance, failing to challenge Sporting Clube de Portugal and losing 4-1. Nevertheless, Anderlecht remains a very ambitious club with dreams of shining again in this prestigious competition. The question now is whether their success was a one-off event or if they can once again reach the Final Four.

After a triumphant season in English futsal, where Manchester Futsal Club secured the regular season title, league cup, and league Grand Final for the first time, the club made history once again by being drawn to host Group D in the UEFA Futsal Champions League, marking their debut in this prestigious competition. UEFA’s decision to choose Manchester Futsal Club as hosts is a significant honour, underscoring the club’s remarkable progress.

No other English club has ever hosted the UEFA Futsal Champions League before but last English club to host a European club competition group was Futsal Club White Bear in 2006, who hosted the previous version of the competition called the UEFA Futsal Cup, at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in South London. This information was brought to our awareness by Robert Brassett. Coached by Oleksandr Saliy, the White Bear’s coach later became the Managing Director of Baku United, the only English club to ever become professional and reach the elite round of the competition.

Manchester Futsal Club’s achievement is a testament to their dedication and perseverance over the past 18 years. Their success has not gone unnoticed, with ITV Granada recently featuring the club and celebrating their domestic victories and Champions League qualification. This coverage highlights the significance of their accomplishments and the growing recognition of futsal in England. Hopefully, the channel will continue to follow Manchester’s journey by reporting from their home venue, the Manchester Velodrome, when they host their preliminary round group.

Source of the image: Manchester Futsal Club

The preliminary round showcases the remarkable growth and competitive evolution of futsal, where every group presents a formidable challenge. With 14 clubs making their debut in either the preliminary or main round, it highlights the expanding level of competition across Europe and the exciting balance of talent.

This shift is evident in Spain, with the notable absence of Barcelona, Inter, and ElPozo from the competition, as well as S.L. Benfica. The last time neither Benfica nor Sporting Clube de Portugal were represented was in the 2002-2003 season, when Associação Recreativa de Freixieiro, a professional futsal team from Matosinhos, represented Portugal. Therefore, Sporting Clube de Braga’s inclusion in the competition marks a significant achievement. Assessing their group, they appear to be favorites, in our view, to advance to the elite round.

Calendar:

• Preliminary & main round draw: 4 July
• Preliminary round: 20–25 August
• Main round: 22–27 October
• Elite round draw: 31 October
• Elite round: 26 November–1 December
• Finals draw: TBC
• Finals: 1 or 2 & 3 or 4 May

The UEFA Futsal Champions League promises another season of thrilling matches and intense competition as teams across Europe vie for the prestigious title.

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