Four New National Futsal Champions Crowned at 2026 Youth Cup Finals
Sala Futsal Club, City of Peterborough Futsal Centre, Merseyside County Schools FA and Whickham Football Club all prevailed at Repton School in Derby on Sunday, as eight of the best grassroots futsal sides in the country went toe-to-toe for national titles.
City of Peterborough celebrate with the trophy after winning the U16 Mixed National Final
After more than 100 teams and 1000 players nationwide entering the competition in January, the 2026 National Youth Cup concluded at Repton School Sports Centre on Sunday, with the final eight sides at U14 and U16 level competing for the prestigious title of National Futsal Champions.
From the north-east to the capital, players, coaches and parents travelled from all over England for a Finals Day filled with excitement, comebacks and some of the country’s best young futsal talent on display.
It was an event that demonstrated the sheer volume of potential that is being developed at grassroot futsal clubs, as the game continues to consolidate itself in the English youth sporting landscape.
With 32 goals scored across the four games let’s take a look at how the 2026 National Youth Cup Finals panned out.
U16 Girls National Final | Bloomsbury Futsal Club 0-7 Sala Futsal Club | 10:00
Two of the countries most impressive futsal clubs went head-to-head in the day's opener, with Manchester's very own Sala proving too strong for a Bloomsbury side that can consider the scoreline a harsh one, given their performance.
Player of the Match, Brooklyn Hernon, was magnificent for Sala in goal - saving a number of early chances to prevent Bloomsbury from taking the lead - which allowed her outfield teammates to assert themselves on the game and ultimately take it away from Bloomsbury by half-time with their fast transitions and physicality.
Sala skipper, Emily Staunton, led from the front outfield, scoring twice and connecting play for her side throughout as they went on to lift the trophy in style, a year on from winning the 2025 National Youth Cup Plate Final in Derby.
Seven Star Sala
Sala celebrate with their national title.
U16 Mixed National Final | Sala Futsal Club 3-7 City of Peterborough Futsal Centre | 12:00
Two very well-matched sides met in the day’s second final, which started at a frightening pace and intensity.
Despite going 1-0 down early on, City of Peterborough showed their quality in abundance to roar back, thanks in large part to the performances of captain Oliver Desborough and eventual Player of the Match, Zach Liggins, who completed a wonderful hat-trick late on having earlier opened the scoring for his side and followed that up with a ruthless solo effort down the left-wing.
Despite falling 6-1 behind after the restart, Sala threatened to mount a comeback late in the second half when they went fly and got back within three goals of COPFC, but the national champions held their nerve and killed it off to make it 7-3 in the final minute and secure the title that they so narrowly lost to Tranmere Rovers in the 2025 final.
Party in Peterborough
Hat-trick hero Zach Liggins celebrates scoring in the national final.
U14 Girls National Final | Merseyside County Schools FA 3-2 Bloomsbury Futsal Club | 14:00
It was Liverpool vs London in the third final of the day, as Merseyside were taken right to the wire by a Bloomsbury side who did not give up the fight.
Led by Player of the Match, Madison Alty’s relentless energy, running and clinical brace, Merseyside opened up a 2-0 first half lead, before Gabriella Bastianelli volleyed Bloomsbury brilliantly back into the game early in the second half.
They would then pull it back to 3-2, setting up a nerve-wracking final few minutes, but Merseyside kept their composure to secure the title and add the silverware to their U14 Girls National Plate Final victory in 2025.
Madison’s Magic Leads Merseyside to Glory
Two-goal Alty (second from the left), is congratulated by her teammates after scoring in the national final.
U14 Mixed National Final | Kew Park Rangers Futsal 5-5 Whickham Football Club (WHI 4-2 PENS) | 16:00
Finals Day 2026 concluded with a genuine futsal classic between two supremely talented sides from opposite ends of the country.
Whickham, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne and in their first season of futsal, were led by the ruthless pivot play of player of the match, Jack Heslop, who scored four as they twice opened up two goal leads, at 2-0 and 5-3, over their South West London opponents.
Theo Lee was the standout for Kew Park, embodying the grit, composure and quality that the whole squad showed to get themselves back on level terms on two occasions. Pivot, Dylan Walsh, also scored two excellent goals in that period to set up a pulsating final five minutes that could have gone either way, before Whickham got their moment of glory in the penalty shoot-out, with goalkeeper Joshua Grey slotting home the winning spot-kick.
A First Futsal Title
Whickham went all the way to glory in their first season of competitive futsal.
Thank you to every single player, parent, coach, volunteer and club that has taken part in the 2026 National Youth Cup, from our regional qualifiers, right through to Finals Day. What a season it has been for youth futsal.
We can't wait to do it all over again next season, so stay tuned for information on that!!
Follow us on Instagram & TikTok as we share the best moments from the National Youth Cup Finals over the coming days and weeks...
