Spain Prepares for Historic Inaugural FIFA Women's Futsal World Cup in the Philippines
Spain competes in the first-ever FIFA Women's Futsal World Cup, a milestone reached after decades of struggle for recognition.
- • The FIFA Women's Futsal World Cup 2025 is the first official tournament of its kind, starting November 21 in the Philippines.
- • Spain qualifies in Group B with Thailand, Colombia, and Canada, facing challenges due to injuries to key players Peque and Mayte Mateo.
- • The sport has fought over 35 years for recognition, with Spain leading early development through the 1990s and early 2000s.
- • FIFA announced the creation of the Women's Futsal World Cup in December 2022 after sustained advocacy.
Key details
The inaugural FIFA Women's Futsal World Cup is set to begin on November 21, 2025, in the Philippines, marking a historic milestone for women's futsal globally and for Spain's national team. Spain, a pioneer in women's futsal since the 1990s, has qualified for this groundbreaking tournament and is placed in Group B alongside Thailand, Colombia, and Canada.
The journey to this World Cup has been long and marked by perseverance. Women's futsal fought for recognition for over 35 years, with early unofficial competitions starting in the 1990s. Spain led the development in these early years, founding a women's league in the 1994-95 season. From 2010 to 2015, the Women’s Futsal World Tournament—though not FIFA-sanctioned—provided international visibility, with Brazil dominating those six editions. Despite strong growth of the sport and successful teams like Futsi and Burela, equal recognition lagged significantly behind men's futsal.
In 2015, female players launched social media campaigns such as #WomenPlayFutsalFIFA, demanding equality and fair treatment. This advocacy, intensified by Natalia Orive, president of the Spanish Women's Futsal Association (AJFSF), and support from prominent players, finally compelled FIFA to announce the official Women's Futsal World Cup in December 2022.
Spain faces early challenges, missing captain Peque and key player Mayte Mateo due to injuries. To fill these gaps, newcomers Laura Sánchez and Cecilia Zarzuela have been called up. Under coach Clàudia Pons, Spain will open their tournament against Thailand on November 22, with games broadcast live on RTVE Play and Teledeporte.
The competition is fierce: Thailand is fourth in the FIFA ranking and was last continental runner-up, Colombia ranked eighth and third in Copa América, while Canada, although ranked 74th, won the CONCACAF tournament. The tournament kickoff on November 21 features hosts Philippines facing Poland.
This World Cup represents a significant victory for women's futsal, spotlighting years of struggle and signaling a promising future for the sport’s growth and recognition worldwide.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.