MORE THAN 2,000 YOUNG PLAYERS TAKE PART IN NATIONAL EFL FUTSAL TOURNAMENT

More than 2,000 young players from across 60 Club academies have been taking part in the third instalment of the National Youth Futsal Tournaments delivered by the English Football League (EFL).

The national tournaments, designed to help young players at EFL academies develop vital technical and tactical skills, while also giving them their first taste of a knock-out competition, have grown year-on-year and are quickly becoming an integral element of the EFL’s Youth Development Games Programme.

Credit: Photo by Paul Currie/Shutterstock (16757246nl)
The EFL Futsal Tournaments held at St Georges Park
EFL Futsal Finals, Football, St George’s Park, Burton upon Trent, UK – 15 Mar 2026

Observing a need for young players to have more game time, especially in the winter months, the EFL’s Youth Development team launched the youth futsal competition in the 2023/24 season. The pilot season involved U10 players from 24 Club academies and has now grown to involve four age groups (U9, U10, U11 and U12) from more than 60 Club academies up and down the country.

This year’s competition began in November 2025 with 24 regional events held across six weeks, culminating in group winners and runners up securing their places at the National Finals, which have been taking place at St. George’s Park – home to England’s national team – throughout March.

Credit: Photo by Paul Currie/Shutterstock (16757246li)
The EFL Futsal Tournaments held at St Georges Park
EFL Futsal Finals, Football, St George’s Park, Burton upon Trent, UK – 15 Mar 2026

Futsal is a fast-paced, small-sided format that helps younger players develop technical skills in a competitive environment in a way they might not be able to in a traditional game of football. It is also played indoors providing an ideal platform for young players to get crucial game time during the winter months.

This weekend, on the eve of the highly anticipated Carabao Cup final, the Futsal Tournament finals will culminate, with nine Clubs competing in the U12 category.

Darren Wassall, EFL Head of Youth Development, praised the standard on display throughout the competition:

“The Futsal Tournament forms part of the League’s wider work to enhance our Games Programme, ensuring young players have more meaningful competitive minutes to develop their skills and maximise their potential.

“This season’s EFL Futsal Tournament has highlighted just how positively our Academy players have embraced the challenge futsal brings. The format aims to test technical ability and decision-making, placing players in realistic game scenarios that build resilience and a competitive mindset. We’ve seen players thrive – exactly the outcome we set out to deliver this season.”

Credit: Photo by Paul Currie/Shutterstock (16757246iz)
The EFL Futsal Tournaments held at St Georges Park
EFL Futsal Finals, Football, St George’s Park, Burton upon Trent, UK – 15 Mar 2026

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