Spain is a dominant force in world futsal. The Liga Nacional de Futbol Sala (LNFS) is considered the strongest futsal league in the world. Futsal, coming from the word Futsal de Sala (indoor football), was invented in Uruguay in the 1930s. The sport took some time to develop, but the first Futsal World Cup in 1989, and since then, the love for Futsal has spread around the world.
1989 also saw the formation of LNFS, Spain’s primary Futsal league. Since then, the Primera Division and Segunda Division have been created to allow promotion and relegation. The 2020-21 season has seen eighteen teams competing in the Primera Division for the very first time. To fill the additional two places, no teams were relegated from the previous season. At the same time, Real Betis Futsal and UMA Antequera were promoted.
This season, teams have been restricted from training and playing matches due to the coronavirus. However, the futsal leagues are now back up and running, so you can watch and bet on your favorite events.
Teams in the Primera Division 2020-21
This is the first season that the Primera division has included eighteen teams. Teams are as follows:
- Jaén Paraíso Interior
- Córdoba Patrimonio de la Humanidad
- Real Betis Futsal
- BeSoccer CD UMA Antequera
- PeñíscolaGlobeenergy
- Levante UD FS
- FC Barcelona
- Industrias Santa Coloma
- Jimbee Cartagena FS
- ElPozo Murcia Costa Cálida
- Osasuna Magna Xota
- Aspil Jumpers Ribera Navarra
- Pescados Rubén Burela
- Parrulo Ferrol
- Movistar Inter
- Palma Futsal
- ViñaAlbaliValdepeñas
- Fútbol Emotion Zaragoza
Despite there being more teams than usual, the structure is the same. Eight teams with the highest points at the end of the season compete in a playoff for the title. The league will return to sixteen teams again for the 2021-22 season, so the three teams at the bottom of the table will be relegated. The fourth relegated team will be decided by a playoff.
The league began on the 2nd of October. The regular season will end in May, with the playoffs happening after, provided there are no further postponements due to coronavirus.
Predictions for the 2020-21 Liga Nacional de Futbol Sala
This year sees eighteen teams competing in the Primera Division for the first time and has shaken things quite a bit. Movistar Inter is the current champion, having won the playoff against ViñaAlbaniValdepeñas. Still, the league is incredibly competitive. While they have a significant goal difference already, it remains to be seen whether they can defend their title.
The eight top teams all enter the playoffs to have a chance at winning the title, and right now, it’s hard to say which teams have a real chance of winning. Cartagena just won five games in a row and has one of the best scoring records so far. There’s still a long way to go in the league. Still, it’s expected that they’ll continue to perform.
2021 Futsal World Cup
The Futsal World Cup was initially scheduled to take place in September and October of 2020 but was cancelled due to the pandemic. The World Cup has since been rescheduled between the 12th of September and the 3rd of October 2021. The tournament is being hosted by Lithuania and will see twenty-four teams competing for the cup. So far, qualifying is still ongoing. Countries that have been confirmed include:
- Angola
- Egypt
- Morocco
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Paraguay
- Venezuela
- Solomon Islands
- Spain
- Kazakhstan
- Lithuania
- Portugal
- Russia
- Serbia
- Czech Republic
Argentina is the current reigning champion, with Spain and Brazil being two of the most successful countries in Futsal. The Asian Football Federation (AFC) and The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) have yet to finish qualifying.
If you are interested in more articles about futsal in Spain you should read this one:
>> The takeover of Spanish Futsal
