Ultimate Soccer’s Football Blog

For those new to other forms of soccer, we often get asked what the difference is between futsal and 5-a-side. While the actual gameplay shares many similarities, and the same governing body (Football Federation Australia), there are a few differences in regards to the pitch, the gear you use and wear, and some game rules. To help you out, we’ll explain these key differences so that you know what boots to strap on, how many friends to round up, and of course, where to book a pitch! How many players: How many players per side for futsal vs 5-a-side? First and foremost, let’s discuss the number of players on the pitch. 5-a-side has, yep you guessed it, 5 players a side; 1 keeper and 4 regular players, and there are also limited substitutions. Futsal also has 5 players a side, but has rolling substitutions throughout the game.   The Pitch:…

“If it wasn’t for futsal, I wouldn’t be the player I am today”. Hard to imagine a better endorsement for our game than these words from 3-time FIFA World Player, Lionel Messi. However, Messi’s not the only player to owe a great debt to 5-a-side and Futsal soccer. The prestigious Futsal alumni includes Pele, Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi, and Ronaldinho, and that’s but a mere sliver of the talent that Futsal helped produce. Close quarters and continuous play combined with small pitches make for a perfect training ground in control and stamina, and while not all these players had the advantage of a facility like Ultimate Soccer, they found their pitches in the streets or indoor centres and nurtured their skills to take the world stage. Below we look at some of the best players to ever grace the world game who got their start playing Futsal. Lionel Messi Argentinian Lionel Messi,…