The number one hundred has something special about it. We count one hundred days to graduation exams and celebrate the first hundred days. On Thursday, march 19, it marked one hundred days until the start of the FISU World University Futsal Championship. Preparations for the event are underway.
From July 1 to 7, Warsaw will host the FISU World University Futsal Championship for women and men. The competition dates back to 1984 and is one of the longest-running events in the FISU calendar. It all began in Brazil. In 2006, Poznań hosted the tournament, and after two decades, Poland will once again host the competition on indoor courts.
Nearly 16 national teams from Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas are expected to participate. Among them will be both the men’s and women’s Polish University National Teams. The list of participating countries is to be announced soon, and the group draw will take place three months before the tournament. Players eligible to compete must be students aged between 18 and 25. Matches will be held in three main venues: OSIR Bemowo, CAiLS Grodzisk Mazowiecki, and Znicz Pruszków halls. Additionally, four training halls will be available for the teams. Preparations for the event are ongoing.
– Just a short while ago, this was only an idea, and now we are almost at the final stage of preparations. We are expecting a major event and a true celebration of sport. Players from countries where futsal is very popular will come to Warsaw. They all combine sport with education, and even if they do not become stars of senior national teams, they already have a plan for life after their sports careers. We are preparing for a significant logistical challenge, and I know our team still has a lot of work ahead, but in the end, we want to feel satisfaction and joy. The event will take place during the football World Cup, and we also want to make the most of that – said Rafał Jachimiak, vice president of University Sports Association of Warsaw, who is overseeing the preparations.
Women have been competing for medals in the FISU World University Futsal Championship since 2008. It is the Polish women’s team that has achieved the greatest success so far, winning a bronze medal in 2022. In the match for third place, Poland defeated New Zealand 5–0. Meanwhile, the men’s team has not yet reached the podium, with their closest attempt coming 20 years ago in Poznań, where they lost the bronze medal match to Ukraine. Until last year, the FISU World University Futsal Championship was the world’s largest event for female futsal players.
– I remember the success at the championship and the entire tournament very positively. The result we achieved was a reward for our hard work. The level of play was high, as players from many countries participate, often with experience in senior national teams. Before the first official World Championship was organized, it was one of the few opportunities to compete at such an international level. I believe that hosting such an event in Poland can greatly support the development of futsal. It is a great opportunity to promote the discipline and present it to a wider audience. Of course, a strong result by our national team always helps attract attention – said Anna Chóras, who won bronze at the 2022 Championship and played in the Women’s Futsal World Championship last year.
The FISU World University Futsal Championship is held every two years. In 2024, Croatia won the gold medal in the men’s competition, defeating Brazil in the final, while France took bronze. In the women’s tournament, Brazil defeated Portugal in the final, and China secured third place. Who will claim the trophy this time? The opening ceremony of the Championship will take place on June 30. Volunteers can still join the organizing team until the end of April.
The event is organized by the Academic Sports Association Warsaw. The FISU World University Championship series, held under the auspices of FISU, includes 21 sports disciplines.
25 Mar
