The Shape of a Match

A futsal side has at most five players on the court and one of the five must be the goalkeeper.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 3.1 · recall

A match may not start or resume once a team has fewer than three players on the court.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 3.1 · applied

The captain has a degree of responsibility for the team's behaviour but no special status or privileges under the Laws.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 3.12 · applied

One of a team's players must be the goalkeeper; the other roles are tactical choices, not requirements.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 3.1 · applied

Futsal is played on a flat, hard court, typically indoors; grass and artificial turf are not used.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 1.1 · recall

A maximum of nine substitutes may be used in a match played in an official competition under FIFA, a confederation or a national association.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 3.2 · applied

An unlimited number of substitutions may be made during a futsal match, and they are made on the fly.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 3.2 · applied

Each team is made up of a maximum of five players on the court, one of them the goalkeeper.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 3.1 · recall

A match needs at least three players a side to begin; a team may start with fewer than five and add named players as they arrive.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 3.1 · applied

The five-a-side side and the short match are usually traced to basketball; water polo influenced the goalkeeper's role and handball the pitch and goal sizes.

Source: General futsal history · recall

A futsal match lasts two equal periods of twenty minutes of playing time.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.1 · recall

Futsal is timed with a stopped clock: the timekeeper halts it whenever the ball is out of play, so twenty minutes of actual play is longer in real time.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.1 · applied

The timekeeper times the match and signals the end of a period with an acoustic signal distinct from the referees' whistle.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.2 · applied

If there is no timekeeper, the referees confirm that the playing time has elapsed and signal the end of the period themselves.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.2 · applied

Players are entitled to a half-time interval not exceeding fifteen minutes, with its exact length set by the competition rules.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.4 · applied

When a penalty kick or a sixth-foul free kick is awarded as a period ends, the period is considered over only once that kick has been completed.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.2 · applied

Playing time is not extended in any case other than to allow a penalty or sixth-foul kick already awarded to be completed.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.2 · applied

Every stoppage pauses the clock, so a twenty-minute period of playing time takes well over twenty minutes on the wall.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.1 · recall

The twenty-minute period may be reduced only if the competition rules permit it; otherwise it is fixed.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.1 · applied

The period ends when the timekeeper's acoustic signal sounds, whether or not the referees also whistle.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.2 · applied

The team scoring the greater number of goals during the match is the winner.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 10.2 · recall

If both teams score the same number of goals, or none, the match is drawn; a tie-break is used only when the competition needs a winner.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 10.2 · applied

The only permitted procedures are the away-goals rule, two equal periods of extra time, and kicks from the penalty mark, and they may be combined.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 10.2 · recall

Extra time is two equal periods not exceeding five minutes each, with the exact length set by the competition rules.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 10.2 · applied

Kicks from the penalty mark are taken after the match has ended and are not part of the match.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 10.3 · recall

A player who has been sent off during the match is not permitted to take part in kicks from the penalty mark.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 10.3 · applied

Warnings and cautions issued during the match are not carried forward into kicks from the penalty mark.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 10.3 · recall

If one team has more players than the other when the match ends, it reduces its number to equal its opponents before kicks from the penalty mark begin.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 10.3 · applied

An abandoned match is replayed unless the competition rules or organisers determine otherwise.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.5 · applied

Law 11 for futsal contains only the statement that there is no offside, so a goal is never disallowed because of where an attacker was standing.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 11 · applied

The team that wins the toss decides whether to take the kick-off in the first or second period; the home team, unless rules say otherwise, chooses which goal to attack first.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 8.1 · recall

At half-time each team changes benches so that its bench is on the side of the court it is now defending.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 8.1 · applied

For the second period the teams change ends and attack the opposite goals.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 8.1 · recall

After a goal, the kick-off is taken by the other team, that is, the team that conceded.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 8.1 · applied

All players except the one taking the kick-off must be in their own half of the court.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 8.1 · applied

The opponents of the team taking the kick-off must be at least three metres from the ball until it is in play.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 8.1 · recall

A goal may be scored directly against the opponents from the kick-off.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 8.1 · applied

If the ball goes directly into the kicker's own goal from the kick-off, a corner kick is awarded to the opponents.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 8.1 · applied

The ball is in play at a kick-off when it is kicked and clearly moves; it must be stationary on the centre mark beforehand.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 8.1 · applied

A kick-off starts both periods, both periods of extra time, and restarts play after a goal; the dropped ball is used only when no other restart applies.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 8.1 · recall

Juan Carlos Ceriani, a physical education teacher, devised an indoor five-a-side game in 1930.

Source: FIFA Futsal Coaching Manual (2025), Ch. 2 (History of futsal) · recall

The game was created at the YMCA in Montevideo, Uruguay.

Source: FIFA Futsal Coaching Manual (2025), Ch. 2 (History of futsal) · recall

"Futsal" comes from the Spanish "fútbol sala" and Portuguese "futebol de salão", meaning indoor or hall football.

Source: General futsal history · recall

Ceriani adapted football to be played indoors on hard courts, borrowing court and goal sizes from other indoor sports.

Source: General futsal history · recall

FIFA took up the indoor game and staged its first Futsal World Championship in 1989.

Source: General futsal history · recall

FIFUSA, the international federation for "fútbol de salón", was formed in 1971 and ran the game before FIFA adopted it.

Source: General futsal history · recall

FIFA governs futsal, while the AMF continues the FIFUSA tradition, so the wider indoor game has two international bodies.

Source: General futsal history · recall

Futsal spread quickly through South America and Brazil became its early competitive stronghold.

Source: General futsal history · recall

The small court, heavy ball contact and tight space force frequent touches and fast choices, which is why many federations use futsal in player development.

Source: FIFA Futsal Coaching Manual (2025), Ch. 2 (History of futsal) · recall

FIFA publishes and approves the Futsal Laws of the Game; the 2025/26 edition took effect on 5 September 2025.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Notes on the Futsal Laws of the Game · recall

Each team is entitled to one one-minute timeout in each period of the match.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.3 · recall

The request comes from the team officials on the bench, not from the players on the court.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.3 · recall

The request goes to the third referee, or to the timekeeper when there is no third referee, on the form provided.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.3 · recall

A timeout is granted only when the ball is out of play and the team that asked for it will take the restart or receive the dropped ball.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.3 · applied

An unused timeout does not carry over: a team that took none in the first period is still entitled to only one in the second.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.3 · applied

During a timeout the players may remain on or off the court; the substitutes stay off it and the officials may not give instructions on the court.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.3 · applied

Players may stay on or off the court during a timeout, but to have a drink they must leave it.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.3 · applied

Substitutions may be made only after the signal marking the end of the timeout has sounded.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.3 · applied

The request is handed in, the timeout is granted only at a stoppage where the requesting team will restart, the timekeeper signals it, and play resumes after the minute.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.3 · applied

A timeout lasts one minute, a period of extra time at most five minutes, the half-time interval at most fifteen and a period of play twenty.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Laws 7.1, 7.3, 7.4 and 10.2 · recall

Each match is controlled by two referees, the referee and the second referee, both with full authority to apply the Laws.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 5.1 · recall

Whenever the two disagree, the decision of the referee prevails over that of the second referee.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 5.2 · applied

The timekeeper and the third referee work off the court, level with the halfway line, on the same side as the substitution zones, at the timekeeper's table.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6.1 · applied

The timekeeper starts the clock at a correct kick-off, stops it when the ball goes out of play and restarts it when play resumes.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6.2 · recall

The third referee records the players taking part, the goalscorers' numbers, the timeouts and the accumulated fouls.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6.2 · recall

For international matches a second referee, a third referee and a timekeeper are all mandatory.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6.3 · recall

The compulsory equipment is at least one whistle, red and yellow cards, a notebook or other means of recording the match, and at least one watch.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 5.6 · recall

The fourth referee replaces the third referee if a referee or the third referee cannot start or continue, can stand in for the timekeeper, and assists with records and reports.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6.4 · applied

The referees signal the foul, the third referee records it in the team's tally, and the timekeeper, once told, sounds a signal that the team has reached five.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6.2 · applied

Once the whole ball is over the line the referees signal the goal, the third referee notes the scorer's number, and the team that conceded restarts with a kick-off.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Laws 6.2, 8.1 and 10.1 · applied

Subject to the early finish, both teams take five kicks before the shoot-out goes to one kick each.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 10.3 · recall

The kicks are taken alternately by the two teams.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 10.3 · recall

Kicks continue, one per team, until one team has scored a goal more than the other from the same number of kicks.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 10.3 · applied

All players and substitutes are eligible except those who were sent off or had left the match injured when it ended.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 10.3 · recall

Each team chooses its kickers and their order itself; the referees do not need to be told the order.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 10.3 · applied

All eligible players except the kicker and the two goalkeepers stay within the centre circle or on or close behind the halfway line.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 10.3 · recall

Each kick is taken by a different player, and all eligible players must kick before anyone takes a second.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 10.3 · applied

White have scored three and grey none; with two kicks left grey could reach only two, so no more kicks are taken.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 10.3 · applied

After five kicks each the shoot-out goes to one kick per team; white kick and score, grey reply and miss, and white win.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 10.3 · applied

The ball is placed on the penalty mark and kicked after the referee's signal; the kick is complete once the ball stops moving or goes out of play, and the kicker may not play it again.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 10.3 · applied

When the ball goes out over the touch line, futsal restarts with a kick-in taken with the foot.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 15 · recall

Futsal's Law 11 exists only to say that there is no offside.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 11 · recall

A futsal period is twenty minutes of playing time: the clock stops when the ball is out of play and restarts with play.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.1 · recall

Each futsal team may take a one-minute timeout in each period; eleven-a-side football has no team timeouts.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.3 · recall

The futsal ball is a size 4, 62 to 64 cm round, smaller than the adult football at 68 to 70 cm. A is the smaller ball.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 2.1 · applied

Where football restarts with a goal kick, futsal hands the ball to the keeper, who throws it back into play.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 16 · recall

Futsal keeps each team's accumulated fouls in each period, and from the sixth one the opponents get a free kick with no wall.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 13.4 · recall

In futsal the team is short for two minutes of playing time, or until the opponents score; in eleven-a-side football it stays short for the rest of the match.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 3.8 · applied

The futsal half-time interval is at most 15 minutes, a period 20, the whole match 40, while a half of eleven-a-side football lasts 45.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Laws 7.1 and 7.4 · recall

A futsal side has at most five on the court and may use up to nine substitutes in an official match; an eleven-a-side team has eleven players.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Laws 3.1 and 3.2 · recall

The Laws cap each extra-time period at five minutes but leave the exact figure to the competition's own rules.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 10.2 · recall

There is no formal interval between the two periods of extra time, only a drinks break of at most one minute: the teams change halves and the officials and substitutes switch benches.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.4 · recall

The referee tosses a coin, and the team that wins decides whether to kick off in the first or the second period of extra time.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 8.1 · recall

Unless competition regulations say otherwise, the home team chooses which goal to attack in the first period, and in the first period of extra time.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 8.1 · recall

The rule for penalty and sixth-foul kicks at the end of a period applies to extra time too: the period ends once the kick is completed.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.2 · applied

The timekeeper signals the end of each period, including the periods of extra time, with an acoustic signal different from the referees' whistle.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.2 · recall

The Laws allow only two full equal periods of extra time, the away-goals rule and penalties to find a winner; there is no golden goal.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 10.2 · applied

There is no interval between the periods of extra time, but a short drinks break, not more than one minute, is allowed at half-time in extra time.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 7.4 · applied

When a winner is needed, a level match can go to extra time and, if it is still level, to a penalty shoot-out, which is not part of the match.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Laws 7, 8 and 10 · applied

Before extra time the referee tosses a coin to decide who kicks off; at half-time in extra time the teams simply change ends and benches, with no full interval, only a short drinks break.

Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 8.1 · recall