Young aspiring footballers from across the country will have the chance to play with professional football academies in a national tournament final in Sheffield next month.
The Football Association’s National Youth Fustal Festival will see 80 youth teams playing 5-aside football matches at under 10, under 12, under 14 and under 16 age groups.
The annual showpiece tournament, taking place on July 3 – 4, will be at the English Institute of Sport – Sheffield for the fourth year.
Sheffield, which has a strong football heritage, is using it as an opportunity to showcase its facilities in a bid to host the 2018/2022 World Cup in a successful England bid.
Youth teams will travel from all corners of the country after winning their local county Futsal Festival and then progressing through their Regional Festival to represent their region in the National Finals.
The FA National Youth Futsal Festival celebrates both boys and girls Futsal, with the focus being on enjoyment, skill and fun.
This year will be the first occasion that leading boys and girls’ football academies including Manchester United, Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United, will be involved in the Festival. They will join local club Sheffield United in sending their under 10 boys and girls academy teams to take part.
It is a chance for professional clubs to explore how Futsal can be integrated into their training to support the technical development of their young talent.
Simon Walker, FA National Manager for Small Sided Football: “The FA National Youth Futsal Festival has a terrific atmosphere where the young players really thrive at being involved in an FA national event.
“It is pleasing to see that the professional clubs are beginning to embrace Futsal. It is a game that can really play a positive role in assisting the technical development of the young players in this country.”
