UEFA European Futsal Championship 2026

The UEFA European Futsal Championship 2026, officially branded as Futsal EURO 2026, represents the 13th edition of Europe’s flagship national-team futsal competition. Since its inaugural tournament in 1996, the championship has steadily grown in stature, mirroring futsal’s rise as a fast-paced, technically demanding indoor sport with a strong following across Southern, Eastern, and increasingly Northern Europe.
Subject Futsal
Start Date January 21, 2026
End Date February 7, 2026
Status Coming Soon
Location Xiaomi Arena (Riga, Latvia), Žalgirio Arena (Kaunas, Lithuania), Arena Stožice (Ljubljana, Slovenia), and Tivoli (Ljubljana, Slovenia)
Prize Pool None
Participants 16 men’s national teams
Type Indoor
Tournament Champion
Format Round-robin group stage and single elimination knockout stage
Organizer Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)

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The tournament is part of the UEFA European Futsal Championship, which serves as the official continental competition for men’s national futsal teams in Europe. Held every four years, the competition is the sport’s most prestigious UEFA-run event outside of futsal club competitions.

Futsal EURO 2026 will be staged from January 21, 2026, to February 7, 2026, with matches hosted across Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovenia.

The competition is organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), European football’s governing authority, which oversees all regulatory, commercial, and sporting aspects of the championship. They work in close cooperation with the national football associations of the host countries to deliver the event, ensuring consistency with international futsal regulations while promoting the sport’s continued growth across the continent.

Venues, Competitors’ Structure, and Prize Pool Overview for the UEFA European Futsal Championship 2026

The UEFA European Futsal Championship 2026 will be staged in four indoor arenas across three joint host cities. Matches in Latvia are scheduled for Xiaomi Arena in Riga, Lithuania’s games will be played at Žalgirio Arena in Kaunas, while matches in Slovenia will be held in two venues in Ljubljana – Arena Stožice and Tivoli.

A total of 16 men’s national teams will participate in the final tournament. This continues the expanded format introduced in recent editions, ensuring broader representation while maintaining elite competitive standards.

The UEFA European Futsal Championship doesn’t operate with a publicly advertised prize pool, unlike major club tournaments. Instead, revenues from broadcasting, sponsorship, and commercial rights are managed by UEFA and redistributed through participation fees, organizational support, and futsal development programs for national associations. For teams, the primary rewards are sporting prestige, impact on international rankings, and long-term development benefits, rather than direct prize money tied to final placement.

Participating Teams in the UEFA European Futsal Championship 2026 and Qualification Overview

Sixteen men’s national futsal teams, which secured their berths in the final tournament, are split into four groups of four each. Group line-ups:
Latvia
Croatia
Georgia
France
Lithuania
Armenia
Czech Republic
Ukraine
Slovenia
Belarus
Spain
Belgium
Poland
Italy
Hungary
Portugal
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Group A (Riga)

  • Latvia
  • Croatia
  • Georgia
  • France

Group B (Kaunas)

  • Lithuania
  • Armenia
  • Czechia
  • Ukraine

Group C (Ljubljana)

  • Slovenia
  • Belarus
  • Spain
  • Belgium

Group D (Ljubljana)

  • Poland
  • Italy
  • Hungary
  • Portugal

Qualification for the final tournament combined automatic host berths with a multi-stage UEFA qualification competition, designed to produce a 16-team finals field.

Automatic qualification (co-host nations)

Because the 2026 edition is jointly hosted by three countries, the following teams qualified automatically for the final tournament:

  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Slovenia

These three nations didn’t participate in the standard qualification groups, as UEFA guarantees host representation in the finals to support local interest and event promotion.

UEFA qualification competition (remaining places)

With three host nations already qualified, 13 additional teams earned their places through the official Futsal EURO 2026 qualifying process.

The qualification system consisted of:

  • Preliminary round (for lower-ranked nations)
  • Main round featuring group-based round-robin play

National teams were placed into qualification groups based on the UEFA Futsal Rankings. Teams played home-and-away matches over several international windows. From the qualification rounds:

  • Group winners qualified directly for the final tournament
  • Best runners-up across the qualification groups also advanced, based on points and goal difference

Structure and Match Format of the UEFA European Futsal Championship 2026

The UEFA European Futsal Championship 2026 is played over two core competitive stages, designed for high-intensity, short-format competition.

The tournament opens with the group stage, held from 21 to 29 January 2026, which determines which teams progress to the knockout stage. Following the group stage, the championship moves directly into the knockout stage, beginning with the quarterfinals, scheduled for January 31 and February 1, 2026. This marks the transition to do-or-die matches. The competition resumes with the semifinals (February 4), the third-place game, and the final, with the last two played on February 7, when the European champion is crowned.

All matches at Futsal EURO 2026 consist of:

  • Two halves of 20 minutes (stopped clock)
  • Five-a-side futsal rules, including rolling substitutions and accumulated fouls

Group stage format

  • Round-robin within each group
  • Every team plays three matches
  • Teams earn points for wins and draws
  • The top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals

Knockout stage format

  • Single-elimination from the quarterfinals onward
  • If a match is tied after regulation time:
    • Extra time is played
    • If still level, the match is decided by a penalty shootout

The UEFA European Futsal Championship 2026 Favorites, Betting Options, and Where to Watch

The UEFA European Futsal Championship 2026 brings together Europe’s elite futsal nations, and a familiar group of contenders enter the tournament with clear title ambitions.

  • Portugal leads the favorites list as the reigning champion and one of the most complete futsal teams in the world.
  • Spain remains the tournament’s historical powerhouse.
  • Italy is widely viewed as a tactical wildcard.
  • Kazakhstan rounds out the top tier of contenders.
  • Dark horses such as Ukraine, Croatia, and France have the quality to disrupt the traditional hierarchy if they hit form early.

Futsal EURO 2026 is covered by licensed online sportsbooks and regulated retail betting operators, including new European sports betting sites, in markets where futsal betting is permitted.

Typical betting markets include:

  • Outright tournament winner
  • Group winners
  • Match winner
  • Handicap (goal spread) betting
  • Over/under total goals
  • Live (in-play) betting, which is especially popular in futsal due to rapid momentum swings

Because futsal matches are short and high-scoring, odds can move quickly during live play.

UEFA European Futsal Championship 2026 will be available through a mix of television broadcasts and official digital streaming platforms.

  • In participating countries, matches are shown by national broadcasters holding UEFA futsal rights.
  • Internationally, many matches are streamed live or on demand via UEFA’s official digital platforms, including UEFA.tv, particularly in territories without exclusive TV agreements.
  • Highlights, replays, and match clips are also distributed through UEFA’s official website and social channels.

This multi-channel distribution ensures that fans can follow the championship live across Europe and beyond, reinforcing the Futsal EURO’s growing global visibility.

Pros and Cons of the UEFA European Futsal Championship 2026 Favorites

TEAMPortugalSpainItalyKazakhstan
PROSReigning champion with proven knockout composure
Exceptional individual quality and tactical balance
Strong game management when protecting leads
Depth allows rotation in short tournaments
Tournament pedigree and experience in finals
Elite ball retention and positional play
Disciplined defensive structure
Rarely panics in close games
Tactical flexibility and defensive organization
Excellent match control in low-scoring games
Dangerous in extra time and penalties
Strong futsal IQ
Physical intensity and aggressive pressing
Goalkeeper heavily involved in build-up creates overloads
Unpredictable style, hard to prepare for
CONSHeavy favorite’s pressure
Opponents set up specifically to neutralize them
Tight futsal margins mean one mistake can flip a match
Less explosive than some rivals
Can struggle against high-pressing, physical teams
Narrow wins leave little room for error
Can lack an attacking punch against top defenses
Tiny margins often decide games
A slower tempo can backfire if chasing a result
Risk-prone tactics can be punished by elite finishers
Discipline and foul accumulation issues
Less margin for recovery in knockout play
Which futsal style will dominate the tournament?
MILOS VASILJEVIC
He’s the mastermind behind our captivating content, leveraging his extensive journalism experience to craft compelling sports news and insightful betting predictions. His passion for the game and knack for storytelling ensure our readers are always engaged and informed, bringing a unique and expert perspective to every piece he writes.
Publication date : 24.12.2025
Last modified date: 26.12.2025

Frequently Asked Questions

How many teams compete at the UEFA European Futsal Championship 2026?
Is Futsal EURO 2026 played indoors or outdoors?
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