England Futsal Youth Development Partners

Following an open recruitment process held throughout late summer and autumn 2025, which saw a mix of 55 clubs, private providers and education establishments express initial interest, 25 organisations have continued through that process and have signed up as inaugural Youth Development Partners for this season.

This marks an important milestone in England Futsal’s long-term mission to work collaboratively with the futsal community to create a more meaningful, accessible, and sustainable youth competition structure across the country.

As previously outlined, this is not a short-term project. England Futsal anticipates that it will take three to five years to establish a robust, nationwide competition framework that provides relevant and rewarding opportunities for all young players who wish to engage in futsal.

However, this represents a major step on that journey — one that England Futsal is excited and proud to begin alongside its 25 new partners in this first season.

About the Youth Development Partner Programme

In this first season, Youth Development Partners will deliver a range of local and regional events designed to increase access and participation for young players.

Each event will fall under one of three key categories:

  • Activate Series – Local, entry-level events designed to introduce young players and teams to futsal in a fun, inclusive, festival-style environment. Emphasis on players aged 8–14.

  • Challenger Series – Regional opportunities for mature futsal clubs seeking more competitive experiences for their players. Emphasis on players aged 11–16.

  • National Youth Cup – England Futsal’s national pathway competition, with Youth Development Partners hosting local qualifying tournaments leading up to the National Youth Cup Finals in May 2026. Focus on players aged 13-16.

Support for Youth Development Partners

England Futsal Youth Development Partners will be supported with the following:

  • Dedicated branding, promotional assets, and social media support (A series of new England Futsal logos will be made available to Youth Development Partners)

  • Discounted coach development opportunities & targeted referee development

  • A dedicated page on the new England Futsal website, showcasing each partner and the events they deliver

  • Monthly drop-in support sessions to share best practice, connect partners, and develop provision collectively 

In addition, all 25 Youth Development Partners will join the new England Futsal Youth Advisory Group, which will help shape the ongoing three-to-five-year national development journey.

Why take this step?

England Futsal believes that the most effective way to develop youth competition is through collaboration with those delivering the game on the ground. By establishing an open network that will listen, learn, and unite the voices of our partners, we can shape a youth futsal landscape that truly reflects what young people want and need.

Working together also enables us to centralise data and insight from across the youth futsal space, helping to build sustainability and generate income through England Futsal Community C.I.C. — which can be reinvested directly into developing youth opportunities nationwide.