 Minifootball | |
| Highest governing body | World Minifootball Federation |
|---|---|
| Characteristics | |
| Contact | Yes |
| Team members | 5–9 per side (including goalkeeper) |
| Mixed-sex | No |
| Type | Team sport, Football |
| Presence | |
| Olympic | No |
| Paralympic | Yes |
Minifootball is a small-sided variation of football. [1] [2] [3] [4]
It is mainly played in 5-a-side format, with additional types of 6-a-side, 7-a-side, 8-a-side, 9-a-side and indoor soccer, all played on astro turf, or futsal played indoors on a hard court. The highest world authority of Minifootball, in all categories is World Minifootball Federation. Over the years, the popularity of minifootball has increased globally.
The term minifootball means small sided football open for both professional and recreational players. WMF organizes its own World Cup every 2 years, as well as continental championships through established national federations.
Indoor soccer or arena soccer is a five-a-side or six-a-side version of minifootball, derived from association football and adapted to be played in walled hardcourt indoor arena. Indoor soccer, as it is most often known in the United States and Canada, was originally developed in these two countries as a way to play soccer during the winter months, when snow would make outdoor play difficult. In those countries, gymnasiums are adapted for indoor soccer play. In other countries the game is played in either indoor or outdoor arenas surrounded by walls, and is referred to by different names.
Five-a-side football is a version of minifootball, in which each team fields five players. Other differences from association football include a smaller pitch, smaller goals, and a reduced game duration. Matches are played indoors, or outdoors on artificial grass pitches that may be enclosed within a barrier or "cage" to prevent the ball from leaving the playing area and keep the game constantly flowing.
Beach soccer, also known as beach football, sand football or beasal, is a variant of association football played on a beach or some form of sand.
Seven-a-side football is one of the minifootball variations of football, which is played among seven players in each team. In the game consists of one goalkeeper and six outfield players. The pitch of seven-a-side football is bigger than that of five-a-side football, ranging from 50-65 yards in length and 25-50 yards in width respectively.
Alexandru Bourceanu is a Romanian minifootball player and former footballer. He played as a defensive midfielder and was known for his combative playing style, being physically strong in spite of his short stature. He plays for Romania minifootball national team whom which he won the 2023 WMF World Cup.
The EMF EURO is the main small-sided football competition for men's national teams, governed by the European Minifootball Federation. The tournament is six-a-side.
The World Minifootball Federation (WMF) is highest global authority for 6-a-side, with 5 a-side, 7 a-side, 8 a-side, and arena soccer disciplines version of minifootball. WMF exists to promote, supervise and direct minifootball growth. Its members are worldwide national minifootball teams and continental minifootball federations.
The WMF World Cup is an international indoor soccer competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of World Minifootball Federation (WMF).
The European Minifootball Federation, also referred to by its abbreviation EMF, is the administrative body for 5-a-side version of minifootball in Europe. It is one of five continental confederations of its governing body, the World Minifootball Federation. EMF consists of 34 national associations.
The 2012 EMF miniEuro was the third edition of the EMF miniEURO for national Small-sided football teams, and the first governed by the European Minifootball Federation. It was hosted in Chișinău, Moldova, from 21 to 23 September 2012.
The 2015 World Minifootball Federation World Cup is the first edition of the WMF World Cup held by the World Minifootball Federation. The tournament was contested in nine cities across the United States from 21–29 March 2015.
Chad Vandegriffe is an American soccer and indoor soccer player who currently plays for the Kansas City Comets in the Major Arena Soccer League.
The 2011 European minifootball Championships was the second edition of the unofficial European minifootball championships, a forerunner of the EMF miniEURO, a competition for national Small-sided football teams. It was hosted in Tulcea, Romania, from 5 to 6 November 2011.
Cerebral Palsy Football, also called 7-a-side football or formerly Paralympic Football, is an adaptation of association football for athletes with cerebral palsy and other neurological disorders, including stroke and traumatic brain injury. From 1978 to 2014, cerebral palsy football was governed by the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA). In January 2015, governance of the sport was taken over by the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football, under the umbrella of Para Football.
The Tunisia national minifootball team, nicknamed Les Aigles de Carthage , represents Tunisia in international minifootball competitions. It is affiliated to the Tunisian Minifootball Federation.
The African Minifootball Cup (AMC) is a continental indoor minifootball competition contested by the senior men's national teams of African Minifootball Federation (AMF). The first edition was held in Libya in May 2018.
The 2018 African Minifootball Cup was the first edition of the African Minifootball Cup held by the African Minifootball Federation (AMF). The tournament was contested in Libya from 5–12 May 2018. This tournament served as the qualification for the 2019 WMF World Cup for the best four teams. Ivory Coast wins the tournament beating Senegal in the final on penalties kick 3–1 after a draw 3–3.
The International Socca Federation (ISF) is a governing body for socca.
The African Minifootball Confederation, also referred to by its abbreviation, AMC & previously known as AMF, is the administrative body for 5-a-side version of minifootball in Africa. It is one of five continental confederations of world football's governing body, the World Minifootball Federation.
The Asian Mini Football Confederation is the administrative body for 6-a-side version of minifootball in Asia. It is one of five continental confederations of World Minifootball Federation.
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