UEFA Futsal Champions League Elite Round: Europe’s Best Set for Showdown

Top Futsal Teams Advance with Eyes on the Finals After a Thrilling Main Round

The 2024 UEFA Futsal Champions League elite round is set, featuring a mix of returning champions and new challengers, each looking to secure a spot in the finals. From established giants like Sporting CP to debuting sides such as Lučenec, these sixteen elite round qualifiers bring top-tier talent and ambitious strategies, igniting excitement among fans across Europe.

Path A: Group Winners

Cartagena Costa Cálida (Spain)
After a successful main round, Cartagena Costa Cálida topped Group 1 and now looks ahead to its elite round debut. Spanish media highlighted Cartagena’s strong group stage performances, particularly their resilience in a high-stakes draw against Sporting Anderlecht, and fans are thrilled to see them join Illes Balears Palma as a second Spanish representative. With Cartagena winning their first Spanish title, they join Palma, making this only the second time (since 2001/02) that the tournament has no representation from traditional Spanish powers Barça, Inter FS, or Murcia FS.

(Main picture: Cartagena Costa Cálida – source: Jimbee Cartagena Facebook page)

Braga (Portugal)
Braga’s stellar play led them to victory in Group 2, a feat celebrated by Portuguese supporters and media alike. Known for their organized defense and cohesive tactics, Braga has proven to be a formidable competitor and aims to represent Portugal alongside Sporting CP in the next stage. Head coach Paulo Tavares credited the “passion and dedication” of both players and fans for their successful main round run, setting high expectations for their performance in the elite round.

Sporting Clube de Braga/AAUM – source of the picture: Official website of the club

Illes Balears Palma (Spain, Holders)
Reigning champions Palma lived up to their title, dominating Group 3 with an undefeated run. Notably, Palma has won the European title in each of their first two seasons—an achievement last seen with Castellón in the inaugural 2001/02 and 2002/03 editions. Spanish futsal fans and the local press have rallied around Palma, especially after they secured the elite round spot while remaining unbeaten across all European fixtures. Coach Antonio Vadillo noted Palma’s focus on maintaining the high standards that earned them the title last season, drawing on their experience and solid support base​.

Kairat Almaty and Semey (Kazakhstan)
Kairat Almaty, a highly respected club in Kazakhstan and a two-time UEFA Futsal Champions League winner, faced stiff competition but ultimately secured a place in the elite round, which continues its record of advancing through UEFA futsal tournaments. Kairat, the first club to enter 21 seasons in UEFA futsal competition, also faced Semey—the team that ended their 20-year reign as Kazakh champions and whom Kairat recently defeated 3-1 in the Kazakhstan Super Cup. Kairat’s forward Arnold Knaub, one of the team’s standout players, was especially praised for his contributions following an impressive world championship performance earlier this year​​.

Semey, a newer but rapidly rising club, managed to join Kairat in the elite round, marking a significant milestone in Kazakh futsal. Their goalkeeper, Leo Higuita, made headlines by leading a strong defensive effort against Sporting CP and became the first goalkeeper to reach 60 appearances in the competition. Additionally, Ferrao’s two goals took his career total to 40 in UEFA futsal club matches, tying him for tenth place in the all-time rankings​.

Path A Runners-up

Sporting CP (Portugal)
Sporting CP, another Portuguese futsal giant, continued to impress, securing their place in the elite round from Group 4. Sporting’s head coach Nuno Dias emphasized the team’s depth and consistency, which have driven their European successes. The club became only the second team to achieve 100 matches in the UEFA Futsal Champions League, following two-time champions Kairat Almaty. In this round, Sporting’s Taynan found the net against his former club, Kairat, adding to his earlier hat-trick scored against debutants Semey, showcasing his influence on Sporting’s campaign​.

Record Bielsko-Biała (Poland)
Record Bielsko-Biała performed strongly in the main round, notably securing a crucial win against Sporting Anderlecht. The Polish futsal champions displayed resilience and tactical prowess, which were key in helping them secure their spot in the elite round. Their match against Cartagena Costa Cálida highlighted their strategic strengths, despite facing strong opposition. This achievement has been celebrated among Polish futsal fans, with excitement growing as the team heads into the elite round with hopes of representing Poland well on the European stage.

United Galati (Romania)
United Galati, representing Romania, performed strongly in the UEFA Futsal Champions League main round, advancing to the elite round. The team competed in Group 3 against prominent clubs, including Palma Futsal, the reigning champions from Spain. The head coach, Ricardo Sobral, known as “Cacau,” expressed optimism before their matchups, emphasizing that each game in the group stage was “like a final.” He highlighted the importance of United Galati’s presence at this level, not just for the club but also for Romanian futsal as a whole, which has been striving for greater recognition in Europe.

Sporting Anderlecht (Belgium)
Sporting Anderlecht’s journey through Group 1 was marked by intensity and resilience, ultimately securing their spot in the elite round. Belgian fans have shown enthusiastic support, backing the team’s ambition to make a significant mark in European futsal. Head Coach Luca Cragnaz described the qualification as “a testament to their focus,” underscoring their goal to reach the finals for the first time. Anderlecht previously reached the Final Four in the 2022–23 season, and they aim to build on this success.

Path B Group Winners

Etoile Lavalloise (France)
Etoile Lavalloise, a growing force in French futsal, led Group 5 in Path B to advance. Head coach Manuel Moya Fernandez and Moroccan pivot Soufiane El Mesrar have been integral to their success. In the UEFA Futsal Champions League, the French club has been impressive, securing the top spot marks their second consecutive elite round qualification, a notable achievement for a club that joined the competition at this level for the first time last year. Etoile Lavalloise’s standout player, Moroccan pivot Soufiane El Mesrar, played a key role, scoring four goals in under five minutes during their game against Uddevalla and ending the main round as the group’s top scorer with seven goals.

Etoile Lavalloise – source: Etoile Lavalloise Facebook page

Riga Futsal Club (Latvia)
Riga Futsal Club first qualified for the UEFA Futsal Champions League elite round in the 2023–2024 season. During that debut season, Riga showed strong performances, advancing through the main round and securing their place among Europe’s top futsal teams. This year, they have replicated that success in the 2024–2025 season with victories over FORCA 5-1, Tigers Roermond 1-3, and KMF FON Banjica 1-5, making it to the elite round once again.

Lučenec (Slovakia)
In the 2024 UEFA Futsal Champions League, Slovakian club Lučenec made significant strides by advancing to the elite round from Group 7. Their journey through the main round included a series of decisive performances. For example, they recorded a notable 3-2 victory over Luxol St. Andrews, highlighting their solid gameplay and tactical organization. This season’s success adds to Lučenec’s reputation, as they have consistently built up their status in both Slovakian and European futsal.

Catania (Italy)
Catania, representing Italy in the UEFA Futsal Champions League for the first time, has had an impressive journey in the 2024 main round, where they hosted and ultimately dominated Group 8. Catania’s victories included a 2-0 win over Differdange, a 7-2 victory over Linz, and a 6-2 win in the decisive match against Kauno Žalgiris. These wins secured their spot in the elite round, marking their debut at this level as the sole representative advancing from the preliminary round.

The Road Ahead

The UEFA Futsal Champions League elite round will commence with a draw at 12:00 CET on Thursday, October 31. This draw, which will be streamed live, will set up four mini-tournament groups from November 26 to December 1, determining the teams that advance to the knockout finals in May. Each group’s host will be chosen from eligible clubs, with Illes Balears Palma, Cartagena Costa Cálida, Sporting CP, Dinamo, and Riga among those having declared interest and fulfilled hosting criteria. The four group winners will secure their places in the season’s final stage, with the final host to be announced.

Draw Format and Elite Round Structure
The draw procedure for this round is carefully designed to avoid conflicts between previous competitors and ensure balanced groups. Path A winners and runners-up from the mini-tournaments will be seeded, drawn into positions 1 and 2, while third-placed teams from Path A and winners from Path B fill positions 3 and 4. Country protection rules prevent certain pairs from being drawn together, such as Palma with United Galati and Kairat Almaty with Sporting CP.

Team Highlights and Historical Milestones
This elite round features a mix of seasoned champions and emerging teams. Palma, the reigning two-time champions, remains unbeaten across 19 European matches, marking them as formidable contenders. Kairat Almaty, who became the first club to reach 21 seasons of UEFA futsal and holds the record for elite round appearances, joins Sporting CP as the only teams from last year’s final four returning this season. Sporting CP also became the second club to reach 100 UEFA futsal matches, with the most wins and goals to date. Notable debutants Cartagena, Catania, and Semey are set to make their mark alongside Dinamo and Lučenec, both reaching the elite round for the first time.

In total, this season includes teams from Croatia, Czechia, Latvia, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia—none of which have previously made it to the final four since the 2006/07 competition format. Each of these clubs will aim to secure their place in May’s finals, reflecting futsal’s expansion and the growing competitiveness of Europe’s top clubs. With so many teams having never reached the finals before, the elite round promises to deliver exciting, high-stakes matchups as Europe’s best vie for a chance to make history.

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