Futsal in Calgary

Futsal Calgary, a not-for-profit society, promotes the game of futsal in Calgary & areas. Futsal Calgary tells stories of local talents and contributors; in addition, they also broadcast games via live-streaming on social media. Follow them to get the latest game actions.

Calgary United Soccer Association is the administrator of local Futsal leagues, both in men’s & women’s. Follow them on if you want to join the leagues.

Calgary’s regional champions can advance to the National Futsal Championships. In 2022, Calgary’s Callies FC captured Bronze by beating the Yukon Selects.

Why is it called Futsal?

The term FUTSAL® is the international term used for the game. It is is a word derived from the Spanish or Portuguese word for “soccer”– FUTbol or FUTebol, and the French or Spanish word for “indoor” — SALon or SALa. Futsal is an association football-based game played on a hard court smaller than a football pitch, and mainly indoors. It has similarities to five-a-side football and indoor soccer.

“During my childhood in Portugal, all we played was futsal. The small playing area helped me improve my close control, and whenever I played futsal I felt free. If it wasn't for futsal, I wouldn't be the player I am today."

Cristiano Ronaldo Portugal International

Is Futsal popular?

Futsal is the only “Official form of Indoor Soccer” as approved by the Internationale de Football Association FIFA. It is played in all the continents of the world by over 100 countries with 12 million players. Futsal is played on a gymnasium hard-wood floor or all-purpose sports flooring.

“As a little boy in Argentina, I played futsal on the streets and for my club. It was tremendous fun, and it really helped me become who I am today.”

Lionel Messi

Argentina International

Futsal vs Soccer

Soccer is normally played as an outdoor game on large fields, whereas Futsal is a type of soccer that is played indoors on a much smaller court. The smaller field size ensures a game of Futsal is fast-paced and more intense, with more opportunity for goal scoring.

A brief history of Futsal

The Canadian national futsal team is a futsal team that represents Canada at international competitions. It is controlled by the Canadian Soccer Association and affiliated with CONCACAF.

What became futsal was developed in 1930s Uruguay by a teacher named Juan Carlos Ceriani, originally to play on a basketball court. In writing the laws he took the five-a-side team sizes and 40-minute match duration from basketball, pitch and goal dimensions from handball, and goalkeeper rules from water polo.

The game soon spread throughout South America, where the rules were standardised and the first international confederation was formed in 1965. In 1989, FIFA took over as the sport’s governing body, holding the first edition of its World Cup that January in the Netherlands, Brazil beating the hosts in the final.