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Futsal · Interesting Facts

Chapter 6: Quirky Trivia

10 parts · 10 tests · 100 facts · updated 15 October 2026 · markdown

Odd stories from the indoor game: a 45-year-old football legend at a futsal World Cup, futsal's best player trying football, and a team named after a pigeon.

6.61King Kazu Indoors

Kazuyoshi Miura's futsal year: a league cameo, a debut against Brazil and a World Cup at 45.

Test 1A football legend on the courtTake a test

  1. He never played at a FIFA World Cup in football; futsal gave him his World Cup at last.

    Source: Japan Today, ''King Kazu' finally gets World Cup chance - in futsal'; UEFA, 'Spain lead Europe's Thailand challenge' (2012) · recall

  2. Rodrigo, a Spaniard, was Japan's futsal coach; the JFA backed the invitation.

    Source: Japan Today, ''King Kazu' finally gets World Cup chance - in futsal'; UEFA, 'Spain lead Europe's Thailand challenge' (2012) · recall

  3. The AFC called it a one-match cameo in Japan's F.League.

    Source: AFC, 'King Kazu comes back' (the-afc.com); JFA, 'Kazu marks first futsal goal in win over Ukraine' (2012); Japan Today · recall

  4. Japan beat Ukraine 3-1, and Miura got on the scoresheet.

    Source: AFC, 'King Kazu comes back' (the-afc.com); JFA, 'Kazu marks first futsal goal in win over Ukraine' (2012); Japan Today · recall

  5. Brazil, Portugal, Japan and Libya made up Group C.

    Source: Japan Today, ''King Kazu' finally gets World Cup chance - in futsal'; UEFA, 'Spain lead Europe's Thailand challenge' (2012) · recall

  6. Ukraine won 6-3 to end Japan's run.

    Source: AFC, 'King Kazu comes back' (the-afc.com); JFA, 'Kazu marks first futsal goal in win over Ukraine' (2012); Japan Today · recall

  7. He carried on playing football in Japan for years afterwards.

    Source: AFC, 'King Kazu comes back' (the-afc.com); JFA, 'Kazu marks first futsal goal in win over Ukraine' (2012); Japan Today · recall

  8. 2011-12, October 2012, November 2012 and 2015.

    Source: AFC, 'King Kazu comes back' (the-afc.com); JFA, 'Kazu marks first futsal goal in win over Ukraine' (2012); Japan Today · recall

  9. October friendlies at home, then the World Cup in Thailand in November.

    Source: AFC, 'King Kazu comes back' (the-afc.com); JFA, 'Kazu marks first futsal goal in win over Ukraine' (2012); Japan Today; UEFA · recall

  10. A 3-3 draw with the world champions was a fine start for a 45-year-old.

    Source: AFC, 'King Kazu comes back' (the-afc.com); JFA, 'Kazu marks first futsal goal in win over Ukraine' (2012); Japan Today · recall

6.62Falcão on Grass

The months futsal's greatest player spent at São Paulo FC in 2005.

Test 1A futsal star tries footballTake a test

  1. It was a six-month contract; he had earlier failed a trial at Santos.

    Source: Gazeta Esportiva, 'Você sabia? São Paulo já teve o Rei do futsal no futebol de campo'; Terra (2016); Ludopédio, 'Falcão: de ídolo no futsal a coadjuva; Kickers Futsal · recall

  2. Leão disliked star players, and the two clashed during their months together.

    Source: Gazeta Esportiva, 'Você sabia? São Paulo já teve o Rei do futsal no futebol de campo'; Terra (2016); Ludopédio, 'Falcão: de ídolo no futsal a coadjuvante' · recall

  3. He came on in the 37th minute of the second half.

    Source: Gazeta Esportiva, 'Você sabia? São Paulo já teve o Rei do futsal no futebol de campo'; Terra (2016); Ludopédio, 'Falcão: de ídolo no futsal a coadjuvante' · recall

  4. The club also won the state championship that year.

    Source: Gazeta Esportiva, 'Você sabia? São Paulo já teve o Rei do futsal no futebol de campo'; Terra (2016); Ludopédio, 'Falcão: de ídolo no futsal a coadjuvante' · recall

  5. He left after just under five months and missed the trip to Japan.

    Source: Gazeta Esportiva, 'Você sabia? São Paulo já teve o Rei do futsal no futebol de campo'; Terra (2016); Ludopédio, 'Falcão: de ídolo no futsal a coadjuvante' · recall

  6. Then he returned to futsal, where he was already a world star.

    Source: Gazeta Esportiva, 'Você sabia? São Paulo já teve o Rei do futsal no futebol de campo'; Terra (2016); Ludopédio, 'Falcão: de ídolo no futsal a coadjuvante' · recall

  7. His brother had a connection with the club's president.

    Source: Kickers Futsal, 'Falcão: the god of futsal'; Gazeta Esportiva · recall

  8. All within a few months of 2005, apart from the earlier trial.

    Source: Gazeta Esportiva, 'Você sabia? São Paulo já teve o Rei do futsal no futebol de campo'; Terra (2016); Ludopédio, 'Falcão: de ídolo no futsal a coadjuvante' · recall

  9. Falcão was in the squad for the first two, not the third.

    Source: Gazeta Esportiva, 'Você sabia? São Paulo já teve o Rei do futsal no futebol de campo'; Terra (2016); Ludopédio, 'Falcão: de ídolo no futsal a coadjuvante' · recall

  10. He played a handful of games for São Paulo before returning to the court.

    Source: Gazeta Esportiva, 'Você sabia? São Paulo já teve o Rei do futsal no futebol de campo'; Terra (2016); Ludopédio, 'Falcão: de ídolo no futsal a coadjuvante' · recall

6.63The Kurukuru

The Solomon Islands: a team named after a pigeon, with no court of its own.

Test 1A team like no otherTake a test

  1. Its call is said to sound like 'kuru kuruu kurukruu'.

    Source: Solomon Times, 'What is the Kurukuru?'; Oceania Football Confederation, 'The fighting spirit of Kurukuru' · recall

  2. From there it spread across the Solomons.

    Source: Solomon Times, 'What is the Kurukuru?'; Oceania Football Confederation, 'The fighting spirit of Kurukuru' · recall

  3. They still reached three World Cups.

    Source: FIFA, 'Solomons' crazy, unique journey' (inside.fifa.com, 2016) · recall

  4. Fans also wait at the airport for the players.

    Source: FIFA, 'Solomons' crazy, unique journey' (inside.fifa.com, 2016) · recall

  5. Four of that young squad went on to play at all three of the team's World Cups.

    Source: FIFA, 'Solomons' crazy, unique journey' (inside.fifa.com, 2016) · recall

  6. They qualified for Brazil 2008.

    Source: Oceania Football Confederation; FIFA · recall

  7. Egeta called it his most enjoyable moment.

    Source: FIFA, 'Solomons' crazy, unique journey' (inside.fifa.com, 2016) · recall

  8. 2008, 2012 and 2016.

    Source: FIFA, 'Solomons' crazy, unique journey' (inside.fifa.com, 2016) · recall

  9. A local name for a household pet became a national team's name.

    Source: Solomon Times, 'What is the Kurukuru?'; Oceania Football Confederation, 'The fighting spirit of Kurukuru' · recall

  10. Kurukuru is a local word for the pigeon, a common household pet in the islands.

    Source: Solomon Times, 'What is the Kurukuru?'; Oceania Football Confederation, 'The fighting spirit of Kurukuru' · recall

6.64EURO 2014 in Numbers

The quirks behind the 2014 EURO: a winner 66 seconds from the end, a group stage without conceding and a 3,276-day run.

Test 1Odd numbers from 2014Take a test

  1. Robinho scored it.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA Futsal EURO in numbers' (uefa.com, 8 February 2014) · recall

  2. Earlier in that semi-final Russia had gone ahead, been pegged back and led again inside 40 seconds.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA Futsal EURO in numbers' (uefa.com, 8 February 2014) · recall

  3. They scored only once themselves, a joint-record low.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA Futsal EURO in numbers' (uefa.com, 8 February 2014) · recall

  4. Italy won the title.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA Futsal EURO in numbers' (uefa.com, 8 February 2014) · recall

  5. Andre Lima held the record.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA Futsal EURO in numbers' (uefa.com, 8 February 2014) · recall

  6. Their previous defeat had been 3-1 to Italy at the 2005 EURO.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA Futsal EURO in numbers' (uefa.com, 8 February 2014) · recall

  7. Alesio coached both the club and the national team.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA Futsal EURO in numbers' (uefa.com, 8 February 2014) · recall

  8. 61, 106 and 121.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA Futsal EURO in numbers' (uefa.com, 8 February 2014) · recall

  9. February 2005, December 2005 and February 2014.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA Futsal EURO in numbers' (uefa.com, 8 February 2014) · recall

  10. Ukraine were the team.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA Futsal EURO in numbers' (uefa.com, 8 February 2014) · recall

6.65UEFA's Futsal Oddities

Odd corners of UEFA's futsal history: a committee shared with women's football, five countries in 1978 and a club that vanished in 2020.

Test 1UEFA historyTake a test

  1. It was meant to standardise the sport.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA and futsal: a timeline' (uefa.com) · recall

  2. Futsal had reached western Europe with South American immigrants in the 1970s.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA and futsal: a timeline' (uefa.com) · recall

  3. A questionnaire was then sent to every association.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA and futsal: a timeline' (uefa.com) · recall

  4. The questionnaire went to every UEFA association.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA and futsal: a timeline' (uefa.com) · recall

  5. Eight teams took part.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA and futsal: a timeline' (uefa.com) · recall

  6. The total crowd was 113,820.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA and futsal: a timeline' (uefa.com) · recall

  7. It had been Russian champion eleven times.

    Source: UEFA, 'What's futsal? A beginner's guide' (uefa.com) · recall

  8. 1974, 1978, 1993 and 1995.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA and futsal: a timeline' (uefa.com) · recall

  9. 5, 13 and 27.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA and futsal: a timeline' (uefa.com) · recall

  10. Goalkeepers are more involved in outfield play than in football.

    Source: UEFA, 'What's futsal? A beginner's guide' (uefa.com) · recall

6.66Women with the Whistle

The women who refereed futsal's firsts: Palma and Pinto in 2021, two women on the 2024 list and the 2025 final crew.

Test 1RefereesTake a test

  1. Palma is Chilean and Pinto Argentinian.

    Source: FIFA, 'Pinto and Palma ready to break new ground' (inside.fifa.com, 2021) · recall

  2. It was a Group E match.

    Source: FIFA, 'Pinto and Palma ready to break new ground' (inside.fifa.com, 2021) · recall

  3. She was then offered the chance to referee.

    Source: FIFA, 'Pinto and Palma ready to break new ground' (inside.fifa.com, 2021) · recall

  4. She was too young and had no playing experience, so she began refereeing.

    Source: FIFA, 'Pinto and Palma ready to break new ground' (inside.fifa.com, 2021) · recall

  5. Their work together took a couple of years.

    Source: FIFA, 'Pinto and Palma ready to break new ground' (inside.fifa.com, 2021) · recall

  6. She is from Venezuela.

    Source: FIFA, 'Futsal Women's World Cup final referees: Zambrano and Gutierrez' (inside.fifa.com, 2025) · recall

  7. The two final referees learned of their appointment as it was announced.

    Source: FIFA, 'Futsal Women's World Cup final referees: Zambrano and Gutierrez' (inside.fifa.com, 2025) · recall

  8. 2021, 2024 and 2025.

    Source: FIFA, reports on referees at the 2021, 2024 and 2025 World Cups (inside.fifa.com) · recall

  9. Early 2024, 26 May, 4-13 September and 14 September.

    Source: FIFA, 'Global game represented by FIFA Futsal World Cup 2024 referee list' (inside.fifa.com, 2024) · recall

  10. Noelia Gutierrez was her partner on the court.

    Source: FIFA, 'Futsal Women's World Cup final referees: Zambrano and Gutierrez' (inside.fifa.com, 2025) · recall

6.67EURO 2026 Firsts and Streaks

Surprises and streaks at EURO 2026: Armenia's first finals, Belgium back after 30 years and Spain through every group stage.

Test 1Streaks in 2026Take a test

  1. Portugal, Spain and Ukraine.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA Futsal EURO 2026: the top eight under the microscope' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

  2. They had been 2-0 down to Denmark within ten minutes of their first qualifier.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA Futsal EURO 2026: the top eight under the microscope' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

  3. Italy reached the 2026 quarter-finals.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA Futsal EURO 2026: the top eight under the microscope' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

  4. Their quarter-final record before 2026 was six wins from six.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA Futsal EURO 2026: the top eight under the microscope' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

  5. That year they reached the semi-finals.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA Futsal EURO 2026: the top eight under the microscope' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

  6. It held Spain, Slovenia, Belarus and Belgium.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA Futsal EURO 2026: the top eight under the microscope' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

  7. Mihran Dermenjyan was player of the match.

    Source: UEFA, 'Every Futsal EURO 2026 player of the match' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

  8. Armenia went through to the quarter-finals.

    Source: UEFA, 'Every Futsal EURO 2026 player of the match' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

  9. 2018, 2014, 2016 and 2012.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA Futsal EURO 2026: the top eight under the microscope' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

  10. Antonio Perez won it in the quarter-final and the final.

    Source: UEFA, 'Every Futsal EURO 2026 player of the match' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

6.68The Pandemic Years

How COVID-19 changed futsal: closed-door finals, a postponed Women's EURO, eight-team finals in Zadar and a 1,250 crowd at a EURO final.

Test 1Futsal in the pandemicTake a test

  1. COVID-19 suspended much of the season.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA and futsal: a timeline' (uefa.com) · recall

  2. It was played behind closed doors.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA and futsal: a timeline' (uefa.com) · recall

  3. It came with the move to a 16-team EURO.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA and futsal: a timeline' (uefa.com) · recall

  4. The finals in Zadar used single-leg knockouts.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA and futsal: a timeline' (uefa.com) · recall

  5. Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Georgia and Slovakia.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA and futsal: a timeline' (uefa.com) · recall

  6. Numbers were limited by COVID-19 rules.

    Source: UEFA, 'Who has won Futsal EURO? Champions, teams, players, scorers and more' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

  7. UEFA also announced an eight-team Women's EURO from 2027.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA and futsal: a timeline' (uefa.com) · recall

  8. 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA and futsal: a timeline' (uefa.com) · recall

  9. 4, 16 and 50 of UEFA's 55.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA and futsal: a timeline' (uefa.com); UEFA, 'What's futsal? A beginner's guide' (uefa.com) · recall

  10. It was the first final between two Spanish clubs.

    Source: UEFA, 'UEFA and futsal: a timeline' (uefa.com); UEFA, 'Who has won Futsal EURO? Champions, teams, players, scorers and more' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

6.69Odd Records of EURO Finals

The odd records of the EURO finals: a golden goal, a single clean sheet and a hat-trick 30 years in the waiting.

Test 1Finals recordsTake a test

  1. Spain beat Ukraine 2-1.

    Source: UEFA, 'Who has won Futsal EURO? Champions, teams, players, scorers and more' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

  2. Vicentin had scored four in the 1996 final.

    Source: UEFA, 'Who has won Futsal EURO? Champions, teams, players, scorers and more' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

  3. It was the only final decided by a golden goal.

    Source: UEFA, 'Who has won Futsal EURO? Champions, teams, players, scorers and more' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

  4. Spain became the first team to retain the title.

    Source: UEFA, 'Who has won Futsal EURO? Champions, teams, players, scorers and more' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

  5. Kike and Luis Amado won their fifth two years later.

    Source: UEFA, 'Who has won Futsal EURO? Champions, teams, players, scorers and more' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

  6. Spain won a fourth title in a row.

    Source: UEFA, 'Who has won Futsal EURO? Champions, teams, players, scorers and more' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

  7. Ukraine lost their second final in a row.

    Source: UEFA, 'Who has won Futsal EURO? Champions, teams, players, scorers and more' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

  8. 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2005.

    Source: UEFA, 'Who has won Futsal EURO? Champions, teams, players, scorers and more' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

  9. 3,600, 4,845, 6,000 and 10,491.

    Source: UEFA, 'Who has won Futsal EURO? Champions, teams, players, scorers and more' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

  10. Italy were the last host nation to win the EURO.

    Source: UEFA, 'Who has won Futsal EURO? Champions, teams, players, scorers and more' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

6.70Golden Boot Stories

Who scored the most at the EURO, from Eremenko's 11 in 1999 to a shared award in 2026.

Test 1Top scorersTake a test

  1. Only goals at the finals counted.

    Source: UEFA, Futsal EURO 2026 top scorers report (uefa.com, 7 February 2026) · recall

  2. He also scored twice in the quarter-final against Italy.

    Source: UEFA, Futsal EURO 2026 top scorers report (uefa.com, 7 February 2026) · recall

  3. He scored a hat-trick in the quarter-final against Ukraine.

    Source: UEFA, Futsal EURO 2026 top scorers report (uefa.com, 7 February 2026) · recall

  4. He scored a hat-trick against Belarus.

    Source: UEFA, Futsal EURO 2026 top scorers report (uefa.com, 7 February 2026) · recall

  5. He played for France.

    Source: UEFA, Futsal EURO 2026 top scorers report (uefa.com, 7 February 2026) · recall

  6. Ricardinho was the sole winner in 2018, with seven.

    Source: UEFA, Futsal EURO 2026 top scorers report (uefa.com, 7 February 2026) · recall

  7. Lithuania were making their EURO finals debut.

    Source: UEFA, Futsal EURO 2026 top scorers report (uefa.com, 7 February 2026) · recall

  8. 6, 7, 8 and 11.

    Source: UEFA, Futsal EURO 2026 top scorers report (uefa.com, 7 February 2026) · recall

  9. 10, 11, 12 and 14.

    Source: UEFA, Futsal EURO 2026 top scorers report (uefa.com, 7 February 2026) · recall

  10. Kazakhstan went out to Ukraine in the quarter-finals that year.

    Source: UEFA, Futsal EURO 2026 top scorers report (uefa.com, 7 February 2026); UEFA, 'UEFA Futsal EURO 2026: the top eight under the microscope' (uefa.com, 2026) · recall

Sources

Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: FIFA, the AFC, the JFA, Japan Today, UEFA, Gazeta Esportiva, Terra, Ludopédio, Solomon Times, the OFC. Falcão's and the Solomon Islands' World Cup results and football stars who grew up on futsal are asked in Knowledge Testing and left out on purpose.

  • UEFA, 'UEFA and futsal: a timeline' (uefa.com)15
  • UEFA, 'Who has won Futsal EURO? Champions, teams, players, scorers and more' (uefa.com, 2026)11
  • UEFA, 'UEFA Futsal EURO in numbers' (uefa.com, 8 February 2014)10
  • UEFA, Futsal EURO 2026 top scorers report (uefa.com, 7 February 2026)9
  • Gazeta Esportiva, 'Você sabia? São Paulo já teve o Rei do futsal no futebol de campo'; Terra (2016); Ludopédio, 'Falcão: de ídolo no futsal a coadjuvante'8
  • UEFA, 'UEFA Futsal EURO 2026: the top eight under the microscope' (uefa.com, 2026)7
  • AFC, 'King Kazu comes back' (the-afc.com); JFA, 'Kazu marks first futsal goal in win over Ukraine' (2012); Japan Today6
  • FIFA, 'Solomons' crazy, unique journey' (inside.fifa.com, 2016)5
  • FIFA, 'Pinto and Palma ready to break new ground' (inside.fifa.com, 2021)5
  • Solomon Times, 'What is the Kurukuru?'; Oceania Football Confederation, 'The fighting spirit of Kurukuru'4
  • Japan Today, ''King Kazu' finally gets World Cup chance - in futsal'; UEFA, 'Spain lead Europe's Thailand challenge' (2012)3
  • FIFA, 'Futsal Women's World Cup final referees: Zambrano and Gutierrez' (inside.fifa.com, 2025)3
  • UEFA, 'Every Futsal EURO 2026 player of the match' (uefa.com, 2026)3
  • UEFA, 'What's futsal? A beginner's guide' (uefa.com)2
  • AFC, 'King Kazu comes back' (the-afc.com); JFA, 'Kazu marks first futsal goal in win over Ukraine' (2012); Japan Today; UEFA1
  • Gazeta Esportiva, 'Você sabia? São Paulo já teve o Rei do futsal no futebol de campo'; Terra (2016); Ludopédio, 'Falcão: de ídolo no futsal a coadjuva; Kickers Futsal1
  • Kickers Futsal, 'Falcão: the god of futsal'; Gazeta Esportiva1
  • Oceania Football Confederation; FIFA1
  • FIFA, reports on referees at the 2021, 2024 and 2025 World Cups (inside.fifa.com)1
  • FIFA, 'Global game represented by FIFA Futsal World Cup 2024 referee list' (inside.fifa.com, 2024)1
  • UEFA, 'UEFA and futsal: a timeline' (uefa.com); UEFA, 'What's futsal? A beginner's guide' (uefa.com)1
  • UEFA, 'UEFA and futsal: a timeline' (uefa.com); UEFA, 'Who has won Futsal EURO? Champions, teams, players, scorers and more' (uefa.com, 2026)1
  • UEFA, Futsal EURO 2026 top scorers report (uefa.com, 7 February 2026); UEFA, 'UEFA Futsal EURO 2026: the top eight under the microscope' (uefa.com, 2026)1