International Futsal Week 2026: Delight for the Lionesses and disappointment for the Lions after landmark week at Loughborough
Following eight riveting international futsal fixtures between five nations, all within four days at Loughborough University, the Lionesses made history against Slovakia, while the Lions were eliminated in Group B of the Men’s 2028 FIFA Futsal World Cup Qualifiers.
Photo Credit: Becca Taylor - @beccataylor.photography (Instagram)
It was another landmark week for English futsal at Loughborough University, as the Lionesses lost the first and won the second game against Slovakia, while the Lions exited the Men’s FIFA Futsal World Cup qualifiers in dramatic fashion, unable to find a way past Sweden in an enthralling Friday night finale of International Futsal Week.
Nearly 2000 spectators were in attendance across four days at the Sir David Wallace Sports Hall, with 45,000 watching live from across the country & Europe on YouTube. They were treated to 49 goals across eight games as England, Sweden, Northern Ireland, Switzerland and Slovakia all contributed to a week-long festival of high-quality, nailbiting and historic international futsal, culminating in a mixture of emotions for players, fans and staff alike.
Read on for our breakdown of all the on-court action from International Futsal Week.
Lionesses Fight Back Impressively against Slovakia in First-Ever Home Fixtures
Thursday 9th April, 14:00 - England 2-3 Slovakia
K. McGreavy, C. Gurr
It was always going to be a special week for Sion Kitson’s Lionesses, as they set foot on an international futsal court for the very first time in front of a home crowd, singing the national anthem and sharing the memories with their families, friends and supporters in attendance.
The first game, against an impressive Slovakia side, started in the perfect way for England after just three minutes, as Kate McGreavy combined sharply with Ali Miller, to tuck home the first-ever Lionesses goal on home soil from close range.
But it was Slovakia who struck back with vengeance at the end of the first half, as Csampayova rifled an emphatic finish into the near top-corner from a set-back kick-in to draw the visitors level after 17 minutes, before Kucharchikova tapped home a fumbled rebound a couple of minutes later to give them a 2-1 lead at half-time.
The Slovakians then took control in the second half thanks to the standout performance of their left-footed No.20, Tyciakova, who capitalised on a misplaced pass after 26 minutes to finish neatly and extend the lead.
England fought hard to stay in the game though, utilising Charlotte Gurr as the fly goalkeeper for the final seven minutes of the game and gave themselves hope of a comeback in fine fashion when Kerry Walklett squared the ball for Gurr who nipped in front of her marker and turned home clinically to make it 3-2 with three minutes on the clock.
Nonetheless, the Lionesses were unable to find the equaliser and Slovakia held on as the first Lionesses game on home soil ended in a narrow, but thoroughly entertaining defeat.
McGreavy makes her mark.
The Lionesses No.4 finishes off the first-ever goal on home soil in Thursday’s opener against Slovakia. (Image Credit: Becca Taylor)
Friday 10th April, 11:00 - England 5-2 Slovakia
K. Kural (2), L. Booth (2), E. Tune
Game two at home for the Lionesses brought with it far better fortunes however, as they shook off the previous day’s defeat to deliver a statement victory on the final day of International Futsal Week.
With many young girls in the crowd at the Sir David Wallace, England provided an inspiring performance.
It was captain Emma Tune who started the scoring after five minutes of the first half, losing her marker at the back post to prod home a pinpoint pass from goalkeeper Alicia Grimmond who had driven into the attacking half with intent.
Slovakia responded once again though, as Kucharchikova swept home an equaliser from close range after 8 minutes.
But England weren’t going to let history repeat itself. Four minutes later, they were back in front thanks to Lailah Booth’s first England goal, finding the top corner at the near post with precision following a kick-in from McGreavy.
And it was England who assumed control of the game this time around, as Kirstie Kural added a third before half-time, picked out by McGreavy once again at the back post and flicking the ball brilliantly through the keeper’s legs to continue the red-hot scoring form she showed during February’s Euro qualifiers in Lithuania (scoring three times in three games).
This laid the platform for England to run riot in the second half, with Slovakia tiring due to injuries in the first game. Booth scored her second shortly after the restart, sweeping into the far corner after a third assist of the game from the impressive McGreavy.
Kural then bundled home on the goalline to make it 5-1 after 25 minutes, all but sealing the game with the home crowd revelling in England’s growing confidence as the victory drew closer and closer.
Slovakia nicked one back through Juskova to close the margin late on but it was not enough to prevent a first-ever Lionesses win on home soil.
Players, staff, families and young supporters in attendance all came together at full-time, savouring the moment and sharing memories that will last a lifetime.
A special day that will mark the first of many home victories for the ever-developing Lionesses in the years to come.
The first of many home victories.
McGreavy and Miller celebrate with Kural as she scores in the Lionesses first-ever win on home soil. (Image Credit: Sean Williamson - @sdgw.png Instagram)
Lions Exit after Strong Start in Men’s FIFA Futsal World Cup Qualifiers
Tuesday 7th April, 19:30 - England 9-0 Switzerland
E. Amorim (3), R. Ward (2), R. Goldstein, H. Tozer, J. Adubofour, Jaggi (OG)
Wednesday 8th April, 19:30 - England 5-7 Northern Ireland
J. Adubofour (2), R. Ward, J. Tysom, R. Goldstein
Friday 10th April, 19:30 - England 1-2 Sweden
R. Ward
It was an ultimately disappointing week for the Lions in Group B of the Men’s FIFA Futsal World Cup Preliminary Qualifiers, as they missed the chance to progress to October’s Main Round, with Sweden and Northern Ireland progressing after a nailbiting Friday finale.
The week got off to a flyer for John Tapia-Owens’s side as they tore through Switzerland in style during Tuesday’s curtain-raiser, with a 9-0 victory that marked the largest-ever win for an England men’s futsal side.
Eddie Amorim stole the show, bagging a memorable hat-trick (his first three England goals) on just his second Three Lions appearance. His first a clinical close-range finish from a kick-in, the second passing the ball in off the post from a threaded Jack Tysom through ball and the hat-trick goal a thunderous half-volley, latching onto a Jonny Sim throw.
It was a remarkable way for 25-year-old Amorim to announce his arrival on the international stage, after his February debut, a 4-1 defeat against Germany in Stuttgart.
Goals from the returning Richard Ward (2), six years after his last England appearance, captain Russell Goldstein, Harry Tozer and Jeff Adubofour completed a rout that made England firm favourites to qualify from Group B after Matchday 1, where Sweden had earlier beaten Northern Ireland 3-2 with a last-gasp winner.
Hat-Trick Hero
Amorim celebrates the second of his first three England goals against Switzerland with Liam Palfreeman, who scored three of his own against the same opponents on the same court in 2024. (Image Credit: Becca Taylor)
But the narrative swung on Matchday 2, as Sweden’s 1-1 draw with Switzerland blew the group wide open ahead of the highly-anticipated Home Nations clash between England and Northern Ireland that evening.
With both teams desperate to earn the bragging rights against clubmates, close friends and domestic rivals on the opposing side, fans were treated to a futsal classic inside a raucous Sir David Wallace, with Northern Ireland harnessing their experience, and the power of their travelling support, to emerge deserving 7-5 winners and set up a mouthwatering Matchday 3 where all four teams could still qualify.
Superb braces from Northern Ireland hitman Conor Millar and 21-year-old Lee McMenemy ultimately proved the difference, as our Home Nations rivals found a way to respond to every England goal.
Adubofour’s opener after two minutes was cancelled out instantly by Millar with some lethal pivot play, before Ward put England back ahead in the ninth minute with a composed finish. But Northern Ireland drew level again in a matter of seconds, with a smashed kick-in hitting the post and ricocheting back off unfortunately off Sim in the England goal. Tysom then completed an insane 120-second goal rush, smashing England into a 3-2 lead with his first international goal, only for the hosts to be punished once more by McMenemy’s first on 15 minutes. 3-3 at half-time and the tension was palpable in the stands.
Northern Ireland exploded out of the blocks after the restart, McMenemy completing his brace in the 23rd minute and brother, Ryan McMenemy getting in on the act shortly after to stun the home crowd and put the visitors into a commanding 5-3 lead.
England weren’t done though, as the fly goalkeeper tactic worked a treat once more. Goldstein tapped home to halve the deficit in the 36th minute and Adubofour stabbed in an equaliser with less than three minutes to go to to send the home crowd into delirium.
But seven seconds later, before the England faithful had had even had chance to draw breath, Northern Ireland sucker-punched them again as Nathan Best ghosted in at the back post to poke home a Danny Stapleton kick-in and restore their lead.
Millar then delivered the final, killer blow with less than 60 seconds remaining. England were playing with the keeper out in search of another equaliser, and the experienced pivot found the net from deep inside his own half as the travelling Northern Ireland support erupted with joy.
A First England Goal
Tysom is embraced by Tyler Cook and Amorim after smashing home a first Three Lions goal in an action-packed defeat to Northern Ireland. (Image Credit: Becca Taylor)
After a day’s rest, Northern Ireland then drew 3-3 with Switzerland in the first game of Matchday 3 on Friday to set-up a crucial Group B finale between England and Sweden that evening. Sweden were already guarantee to qualify, at least as runners-up, while England knew that only a win would be enough to progress, due to UEFA’s Head to Head rule giving Northern Ireland the advantage should the pair end level on four points.
In front of an expectant and hopeful 600 inside the Sir David Wallace, England’s task was made even more difficult when Sweden went ahead through Rydberg in the eighth minute and then sought to protect their lead. The Lions toiled hard without a breakthrough for the remainder of the first period, but Ward scored his fourth goal of the week in the 22nd minute to draw his nation level and seemingly hand all the momentum to England for the final 15 minutes as they went fly, in search of the crucial go-ahead goal. But the defiant Swedish outfit held firm against the waves of home attacks, and the dagger was plunged into Lions hearts inside the final minute, when Soderqvist swept home a clinical finish into the far corner from a kick-in.
Sweden were jubilant as they topped the group and celebrated with the Northern Ireland contingent watching in the stands, as the result ensured a first-ever qualification to the World Cup main round for the nation.
Get all the stats, standings and information on the FIFA Futsal World Cup preliminary round qualifiers HERE via the UEFA website, as well as further details on the next stages for the teams that progressed.
Congratulations from all of us at England Futsal to Sweden and Northern Ireland, we wish both sides the best of luck heading into the start of October’s Main Round campaign.
A huge thank you also to the players, staff and fans of Switzerland and Slovakia, who travelled over and played a vital role in a memorable week of international futsal.
Back With a Bang
Richard Ward shoots during the narrow loss to Sweden, a game in which he scored his fourth goal in three games upon return to the England side after six years away. (Image Credit: Becca Taylor)
