England Futsal Invites Youth Development Partners for 2026/27 Season

Having established a nationwide network of 25 youth futsal providers in Year 1, England Futsal is further expanding it’s Youth Development Partners project for Year 2, welcoming Expressions of Interest from leagues, clubs, education providers and community organisations.

Project Futsal Liverpool

The Merseyside-based futsal club are one of 25 partners involved in Year 1 of the project.

England Futsal is delighted to officially open Expressions of Interest for Year 2 of its growing Youth Development Partners network, with 25 clubs, leagues, universities and organisations nationwide already a part of the journey in Year 1.

Our vision is simple: to build a connected and sustainable youth futsal ecosystem that supports players at every stage of their journey — from first experiences in the game through to competitive pathway opportunities. Over the next three to five years, England Futsal aims to work alongside local providers to establish a nationwide competition framework that reflects the needs of young people, clubs and communities.

Importantly, this is not about replacing the excellent work already happening locally. It is about aligning, supporting and strengthening it through collaboration, shared learning and collective development. England Futsal believes the future of youth futsal should be shaped by the organisations delivering the game on the ground every week.

That is why every Youth Development Partner within the network has a voice through our Youth Advisory Group, helping to shape the future direction of the game together.

For the 2026/27 season, Youth Development Partners will have the opportunity to deliver experiences across three key areas:

• Activate Series – introductory, festival-style opportunities for younger and developing players, including those experiencing futsal for the first time.

• Challenger Series – more competitive regional experiences for established clubs and teams where futsal is a priority for players.

• National Youth Cup – open and accessible regional qualifying opportunities connected to the England Futsal National Youth Cup pathway, knockout rounds and finals.

Reflecting on the first year of the programme, Siôn Kitson (Head of Development & Technical) said:

“In our first year, we were delighted that 25 partners joined forces and embraced this journey with us. Together, Youth Development Partners have delivered regional qualifiers for the 2026 National Youth Cup, alongside coordinating local Activate events and festivals that have provided more young players with opportunities to access the game. As we move into Year 2, we want to expand the network further, raise standards together, aspire to deliver local events in every county, begin piloting regional competition opportunities and continue strengthening the National Youth Cup in partnership with our network steadily moving towards our longer-term goal of an aligned competition framework.”

Partners will also receive ongoing support from England Futsal, including:

• Exclusive branding and promotional support

• Coach and referee development opportunities

• Access to shared best practice and networking sessions

• Increased visibility through England Futsal platforms

• Opportunities to contribute to the future direction of youth futsal development nationally

We are particularly keen to hear from organisations that share our commitment to player-centred development, inclusive participation and creating high-quality playing experiences for young people.

If your organisation would be interested in becoming part of the England Futsal Youth Development Partner Network for the 2026–27 season, we would love to hear from you.

To express your interest, please complete the short form below by Friday 26th June at 5pm.

We believe the future competition framework for youth futsal should be aligned, meaningful and fit for purpose — but we can only achieve that by working together with organisations who share our vision for the game.

Following a review of the expressions of interest, partners will be invited to a one-to-one conversation in early July with England Futsal to further explore their alignment with the vision and agree the minimum expectations for the season ahead.

Together, we can continue building a stronger, more connected and more sustainable future for youth futsal in England.

You can read more on our Youth Development Vision HERE.