Preview: Futsal State Cup 2025
For the third straight year, NorCal Premier Soccer will host its Futsal State Cup, a competition that pits roughly 200 teams from across the state against each other in the fast-paced version of the sport that experts around the world credit with developing both technical skills and decision making at a high rate.
After beginning the event back in 2022, the Futsal State Cup has grown by roughly 50 percent each year, with this year offering more age groups, teams, and courts, for what’s expected to be a fun and festive atmosphere at Cal Expo in Sacramento this Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
The Futsal State Cup is a continuation of NorCal’s desire to offer more futsal programming–the event comes off NorCal’s first-ever Futsal Playdate hosted last month in Martinez, as well as the NorCal Winter Futsal Festival hosted in Santa Clara in December.
NorCal is also expanding the number of divisions in each age group to provide more even competition and expanding the number of age groups. This year, teams from the U9-U15 ages will participate.
“One of the greatest joys of hosting the Futsal State Cup for our member clubs is seeing players and teams return year after year, with some teams now competing for the title three years in a row,” said NorCal State Cup Coordinator Brian Voltattorni. “Futsal continues to grow as more clubs recognize its benefits. NorCal Premier remains committed to expanding futsal competitions, creating a pathway for futsal and soccer to work together in advancing player development..”
Futsal continues to grow as more clubs recognize its benefits. NorCal remains committed to expanding futsal competitions, creating a pathway for futsal and soccer to work together in advancing player development.
This year, 58 different clubs have signed up to send teams to the Futsal State Cup, with clubs like CV Futbol Academy, De Anza Force, Diablo Valley FC, OV Toros, SF Elite, Sheriffs FC, Stanislaus United, Walnut Creek Surf, and Woodside Crush sending a multitude of teams for the third straight year.
Andrew Ziemer: WSC Crush, Executive & NPL Director
“Futsal is the 2nd phase of our year-round soccer programming for highly motivated players. Players are expected to have fun, play with confidence and express themselves by executing high level skills under pressure from opponents. The skills and tactics utilized in futsal directly translate to our WSC Crush style of play.”
Jack McMullen: OV Toros, General Manager
“OV Toros FC has implemented a Futsal training program within the competitive program over the past three Winters, with a focus of developing decision-making, ball control, fitness/agility and teamwork. The club’s future vision is to have every competitive player playing Futsal over Winter.”
ABOUT FUTSAL
A five-on-five variation on soccer, futsal was first invented in South America in the 1930s.
The sport uses a heavier and smaller ball and is played on a hard surface roughly the size of a basketball court. Unlike indoor soccer, there are no walls with futsal and the ball can travel out of bounds, forcing players into a more game-like situation in the small confines provided.
For decades youth players in South America got their start in soccer by playing futsal, the game has spread globally in the past few decades, with FIFA staging the first men’s Futsal World Cup in 1989 and the first Women’s Futsal World Tournament in 2010.
Proponents of the sport credit it for helping develop close control, dribbling, and quick passing skills thanks to the conditions the sport is played under.
Speaking at the NCYSA Soccer Symposium last month, legendary North Carolina head coach Anson Dorrance, winner of 21 NCAA titles, expressed the importance that futsal plays on helping improve players.
“The way the US will stay on top of the world is if we can push this unique brand of the game,” Dorrance said. “The best training day for players like Mia Hamm and Tobin Heath was Monday Night Futsal.”
For more information about futsal, click here.
