Oakland, Calif., August 8, 2024 – The United States Futsal Federation (USFF) announced today that the U16 U.S. Futsal National Select Teams will participate in the prestigious IFA World Championship in Selangor, Malaysia, starting August 18, 2024. Players from five different states have been invited to represent the United States in this international competition.
The boys’ team will be led by head coach William Hanna from Alexandria, Virginia, and assistant coach Jose Pereira from Concord, California. The girls’ team will be under the guidance of head coach Mario Gonzalez and assistant coach Ricardo Da Silva, both hailing from the San Francisco Bay Area. Several Bay Area-based players have secured spots on the teams, highlighting the region’s strong futsal presence. The sport is widely recognized for its role in developing highly technical players, as evidenced by its popularity in countries like Argentina and Brazil, where it serves as a foundation for young athletes before transitioning to outdoor soccer.
“The U.S. Futsal National Select Teams’ journey to Malaysia represents a significant step in the sport’s development and showcases the emerging talent in American futsal,” said Alex Para, U.S. Futsal Federation President and CEO. “The U.S. Futsal is working to create awareness and expand the infrastructure for the sport across the country. As ambassadors for futsal, the young American athletes and their coaches are not only competing on an international stage but their participation in the IFA World Championship serves as an inspiration for aspiring players while highlighting the need for increased resources and facilities to make futsal more accessible to youth across the United States.”
About the U.S. Futsal Federation
Under the banner of the United States Soccer, the U.S Futsal is the governing body of the sport of futsal, a fast-paced indoor variant of soccer, in the United States. For more information, visit https://futsal.com/ or follow us on Instagram.
