What Is Futsal? You Can Bet On The Sport In Massachusetts

If you have a fondness for betting on unconventional sports, it would be wise to explore the option of placing bets on futsal matches.

Play MA is examining futsal to explore its distinctiveness and understand its rules. While futsal shares similarities with soccer, it possesses distinguishing features that set it apart.

Furthermore, with the recent launch of sports betting in Massachusetts, futsal has become just one among numerous sports available for betting within the Commonwealth.

Futsal 101

Originally known as Futebol de Salao, futsal can be seen as the miniature equivalent of soccer, comparable to how arena league football relates to the NFL.

Since 1989, the sport has obtained official recognition from FIFA and has experienced a gradual increase in popularity over the years.

Futsal takes place within the confines of an indoor arena, featuring a compact hard court measuring 40 by 20 meters. The limited space demands heightened levels of skill and agility, resulting in consistently captivating matches.

Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., Pele, and Ronaldinho, who are considered some of the greatest technical players in soccer history, have all showcased their skills in futsal as well.

How futsal differs from soccer

Futsal shares many similarities with soccer in terms of rules, yet it distinguishes itself by incorporating a handful of key differences that contribute to a significantly more high-scoring nature of the game.

Futsal encompasses several notable distinctions, including:

• A team can have a maximum of five players on the pitch at any given time.
• Substitutions are unlimited 
• Due to the small size of the pitch, there are no offside rules, enabling the attackers to approach the goal from much closer distances.
• Futsal, in contrast to traditional throw-ins, requires players to kick the ball into play, resulting in a notable increase in the game’s tempo.
• In futsal, every half of play lasts only 20 minutes, with the clock pausing whenever the ball goes out of play. As a result, there is no additional time added at the end of the game.

If you are accustomed to watching soccer matches, you will discover that futsal games move swiftly and offer great entertainment value.

Brief futsal history

Originally created as an indoor alternative for soccer at YMCAs in Uruguay as early as the 1930s, the sport gained rapid popularity throughout South America. Consequently, its first governing body was established in 1965.

In 1989, FIFA assumed control and became the governing body as it progressively expanded. That year, FIFA also organized its inaugural World Cup, held in the Netherlands. Since then, this prestigious tournament has been scheduled every four years, coinciding with the Olympics.

Following the resounding triumph of FIFA’s Futsal World Cup, UEFA organized its own futsal competition, which was met with tremendous success upon its debut. Consequently, UEFA initiated a biennial UEFA European Futsal Championship on a grand scale. Initially, the inaugural tournament showcased merely six of Europe’s finest teams. However, the 2022 edition witnessed the participation of over 16 teams.

Futsal has become a globally recognized sport and is acknowledged as one of the rapidly expanding sports worldwide.

Betting on futsal in Massachusetts

Despite the rapid growth in popularity of the sport, futsal’s representation in the sports betting market remains limited. Nevertheless, a small number of prominent sportsbooks do offer betting options for futsal.

In Massachusetts, it is legal to place bets on futsal matches. The top sportsbooks for futsal wagering in the state are FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM.

Make sure to register for the numerous Massachusetts sports betting promotions before you start placing your futsal bets.

Currently, futsal is only played in major tournaments as there is no full-time professional futsal league. Therefore, the availability of betting on futsal depends on the timing of these tournaments. Below are some of the notable major tournaments.

• The upcoming event for the UEFA Champions League (previously known as the UEFA Futsal Cup) is scheduled to commence in May 2023.
• The upcoming event for the Africa Futsal Cup of Nations will be held in 2024.
• The upcoming event for the FIFA Intercontinental Futsal Cup will take place in 2024.

While exploring the futsal betting market, you will come across familiar options such as the moneyline, spread, Over/Under totals, and more on leading sportsbooks. However, when it comes to player and game prop options, there are significant variations for this sport.

If you’re interested in trying your luck with futsal betting, make sure to check out the sportsbooks in May when the UEFA Champions League resumes.

Did you know that you can place bets on the sport of Pesäpallo in Massachusetts?

If you or someone you care about is facing issues related to gambling, feel free to contact a trained specialist at 1-800-327-5050 or visit www.mahelpline.org/problemgambling. Assistance is available round the clock, completely free of charge.