Futsal vs. Football — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 6, 2024
Futsal is a variant of football played on a smaller indoor court with five players per side, focusing on ball control and quick plays, whereas football (soccer) is played outdoors on a larger field with eleven players per side.
Difference Between Futsal and Football
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Futsal is a fast-paced, indoor version of football designed to enhance close ball control, quick reflexes, and swift passing. Whereas traditional football, also known as soccer in some countries, is played outdoors on a larger pitch and emphasizes endurance, strategic team play, and long-range tactics.
In futsal, the ball is smaller and less bouncy than a standard football, which aids in developing finer skills and control at close quarters. On the other hand, the football used in traditional soccer is designed to travel greater distances and facilitates aerial passes and shots.
Futsal games are notably shorter than football matches. A standard futsal match consists of two 20-minute halves, with a stop-clock for stoppages. Meanwhile, a football match typically lasts 90 minutes, divided into two 45-minute halves without a stop-clock.
Teams in futsal consist of five players each, including the goalkeeper, which allows for more touches on the ball per player and faster game dynamics. In contrast, football teams have eleven players each, which requires more comprehensive team coordination and positional play.
The playing surface for futsal is a hard court, which is significantly smaller than a football field and usually lacks any grass. This surface type affects how the ball moves and speeds up the game. Conversely, football is played on a grassy field that is much larger, affecting the speed and tactics of the game.
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Comparison Chart
Number of Players
5 per side
11 per side
Ball Type
Smaller and less bouncy
Standard size and bounce
Game Duration
Two 20-minute halves
Two 45-minute halves
Playing Surface
Indoor hard court
Outdoor grass field
Game Speed
Faster, emphasizes quick plays
Slower, emphasizes strategic plays
Compare with Definitions
Futsal
Originated as a form of indoor soccer in Uruguay.
Futsal was developed to be played in smaller, enclosed spaces.
Football
A global sport known as soccer in the U.S. and Canada.
Football is the most popular sport worldwide.
Futsal
A variant of football played on a smaller, hard court indoors.
Futsal focuses on ball control and player agility.
Football
Standard matches are 90 minutes long, divided into two halves.
Football matches include a 15-minute halftime break.
Futsal
Uses a smaller, less bouncy ball than football.
The futsal ball is designed to stay close to the ground.
Football
Played on a large outdoor grass field.
Football fields measure up to 110 by 75 meters.
Futsal
Played with five players per team, including the goalkeeper.
Each futsal team tries to outmaneuver the small team size.
Football
Each team has eleven players, including the goalkeeper.
Football teams require extensive coordination among players.
Futsal
Games consist of two 20-minute halves with a stop-clock.
The fast pace of futsal is due to the shorter game time.
Football
The sport emphasizes endurance, team strategy, and diverse playing tactics.
Football tactics can vary widely depending on the opponent.
Futsal
Futsal is an association football game played on a hard court, smaller than a football pitch, and mainly indoors. It has similarities to five-a-side football.Invented in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1930 —in the midst of the fervor left by 1st FIFA World Cup— by the gym teacher Juan Carlos Ceriani, Futsal rapidly reached worldwide popularity.
Football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word football normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used.
Futsal
See indoor soccer.
Football
Any of various forms of team game involving kicking (and in some cases also handling) a ball, in particular (in the UK) soccer or (in the US) American football
A football club
A football match
Futsal
A form of soccer played indoors, with five players per team.
Football
A ball used in football, either round (as in soccer) or oval (as in rugby and American football) and typically made of leather or plastic and filled with compressed air.
Football
A briefcase containing authentication codes and other items that allow the US president to authorize a nuclear strike at any time
Wherever the president travels, a military aide stays close with the football
Whose fingers would we prefer to have on America's nuclear football?
Football
A game played by two teams of 11 players each on a rectangular, 100-yard-long field with goal lines and goalposts at either end, the object being to gain possession of a ball and advance it in running or passing plays across the opponent's goal line or kick it through the air between the opponent's goalposts.
Football
The inflated oval ball, slightly pointed at both ends, that is used in this game.
Football
Soccer.
Football
Rugby.
Football
The ball used in soccer or rugby.
Football
(Informal) A problem or issue that is discussed among groups or persons without being settled
The issue of tax reform became a political football.
Football
(general) A sport played on foot in which teams attempt to get a ball into a goal or zone defended by the other team.
Roman and medieval football matches were more violent than any modern type of football.
Football
Association football: a game in which two teams each contend to get a round ball into the other team's goal primarily by kicking the ball. Known as soccer in Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand.
Each team scored three goals when they played football.
Football
American football: a game played on a field of 100 yards long and 53 1/3 yards wide in which two teams of 11 players attempt to get an ovoid ball to the end of each other's territory.
Each team scored two touchdowns when they played football.
Football
Canadian football: a game played on a field of 110 yards long and 65 yards wide in which two teams of 12 players attempt to get an ovoid ball to the end of each other's territory.
They played football in the snow.
Football
Australian rules football.
Football
Gaelic football: a field game played with similar rules to hurling, but using hands and feet rather than a stick, and a ball, similar to, yet smaller than a soccer ball.
Football
Rugby league.
Football
Rugby union.
Football
(countable) The ball used in any game called "football".
The player kicked the football.
Football
(uncountable) Practice of these particular games, or techniques used in them.
Football
An item of discussion, particularly in a back-and-forth manner
That budget item became a political football.
Football
The leather briefcase containing classified nuclear war plans which is always near the US President.
Football
To play football.
Football
An inflated ball to be kicked in sport, usually made in India rubber, or a bladder incased in Leather.
Football
The game played with a football{1}, by two opposing teams of players moving the ball between goals at opposite ends of a rectangular playing field. Outside the United States football refers to soccer, and in England, also to rugby, but in the United States the shape of the ball and the rules of the game are different.
Football
Soccer or rugby.
Football
Something which is treated in a rough manner, usually as part of a dispute; as, a political football.
Football
Any of various games played with a ball (round or oval) in which two teams try to kick or carry or propel the ball into each other's goal
Football
The inflated oblong ball used in playing American football
Common Curiosities
Can football players benefit from playing futsal?
Yes, many football players play futsal to improve their footwork, agility, and ball control in tight spaces.
Why is futsal played indoors?
Futsal is played indoors primarily to allow year-round play regardless of weather conditions and to utilize smaller, enclosed spaces effectively.
What skills does futsal develop?
Futsal develops quick decision-making, ball control, and agility due to its fast-paced nature and smaller playing area.
How does the field size affect gameplay in football vs. futsal?
The smaller futsal field makes the game quicker and more frequent in scoring opportunities, while the larger football field requires more endurance and strategic movement.
What is the highest governing body of football?
FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) is the highest governing body of football worldwide.
How do the roles of players differ in football?
In football, players have specific roles such as defenders, midfielders, forwards, and goalkeepers, each with strategic duties depending on the team's formation and tactics.
How does the audience experience differ between futsal and football?
Futsal games are typically more fast-paced and high-scoring, which might appeal to fans looking for quick action, whereas football games often build tension and excitement gradually.
What are common strategies used in football?
Common strategies in football include formations like 4-4-2 or 4-3-3, focusing on defense, midfield control, and attacking tactics.
What equipment is essential for playing futsal compared to football?
Futsal players use smaller balls and typically wear shoes suitable for hard surfaces, in contrast to football's larger balls and cleats for grass.
Is futsal recognized by international sports organizations?
Yes, futsal is recognized and governed by major sports organizations like FIFA and UEFA, with world championships and continental tournaments.
How are team strategies communicated in both sports?
In both sports, strategies are communicated through pre-game meetings, on-field cues, and adjustments during halftime or breaks in play.
How are fouls and penalties different in futsal compared to football?
Futsal has stricter rules on fouls to prevent physical play due to the smaller playing area, leading to more direct free kicks and penalty opportunities.
What is the typical career path for a professional futsal player?
Professional futsal players often start in local clubs, progressing through national leagues and potentially playing internationally.
What are the origins of futsal and football?
Football has ancient origins and has evolved over centuries, officially codified in England. Futsal originated in Uruguay in 1930 as an adaptation of football for indoor play.
Can futsal be played outdoors?
While traditionally an indoor sport, futsal can be played outdoors on appropriate surfaces, though it is less common.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
