The Union of European Football Associations is one of FIFA's six continental governing bodies for association football. It administers football, futsal and beach soccer in Europe as well as Israel in Asia and the Euroasian transcontinental countries of Russia, Turkey, Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, and Kazakhstan. It is one of six continental confederations of world football's governing body FIFA. UEFA consists of 55 national association members. Because of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, FIFA and UEFA suspended from FIFA and UEFA competitions all Russian teams, whether national representative teams or club teams.
UEFA competitions, referred improperly by the mass media as European football, are the set of tournaments organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), generally in professional and amateur association football and futsal. The term was established in 1971 by the confederation to differentiate the men's football competitions under its administration, the first in history being held at a pan-European stage, from other international competitions carried out in the continent between 1960s and 1990s, such as the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, International Football Cup and Karl Rappan Cup, Cup of the Alps, Balkans Cup and the restructured Mitropa Cup. All these tournaments were organised by private bodies and/or at least two national associations and concerning one of more regional areas of Europe, not being recognised by UEFA for historic-statistical purposes.
The UEFA Futsal Champions League is an annual futsal competition for European club teams organized by UEFA. It was founded as the UEFA Futsal Cup in 2001 and replaced the Futsal European Clubs Championship, an unofficial competition held since 1984. The final of the first edition was disputed as a single game in Lisbon, while the following four editions were decided over two legs. Since 2006–07, the winner is decided through a final four tournament.
Futbol Club Barcelona is a professional futsal club based in Barcelona, Spain. It is a part of the FC Barcelona sports club.
The Italy national futsal team represents Italy in international futsal competitions such as the FIFA Futsal World Cup and the European Championships and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation. It is one of the strongest teams in Europe, champions in the 2003 UEFA Futsal Championship and UEFA Futsal Euro 2014.
The Russian national futsal team is the national futsal team of Russia. The team is controlled by the Russian Football Union and affiliats with UEFA. Because of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, FIFA and Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) suspended all Russian teams from FIFA and UEFA competitions, whether national representative teams or club teams.
The UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament was a futsal competition organised by UEFA. As of 2020, only one edition of the competition has ever been played. The 2008 tournament was hosted and won by Russia who defeated Italy 5–4 in the final.
The Romania national futsal team represents Romania in international futsal competitions such as the FIFA Futsal World Cup and the European Championships and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.
The Azerbaijan national futsal team is the national futsal team of Azerbaijan and is controlled by the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan. It represents Azerbaijan in international futsal competitions such as the FIFA Futsal World Cup and the European Championships. They are ranked 12th in the world, the highest-ranking team from Caucasus in the World Rankings. They are also ranked 7th in Europe on 10 August 2021.
The UEFA Futsal Euro 2014 was the ninth edition of the European Championship for men's national futsal teams organised by UEFA. It was hosted for the first time in Belgium, from 28 January to 8 February 2014, following a decision of the UEFA Executive Committee in December 2011.
Stefano Mammarella is an Italian futsal player who plays for Acqua e Sapone as a goalkeeper.
Alessandro Patias is an Italian professional futsal player who plays as a pivot for Belgian side Halle-Gooik and the Italy national team.
Massimo De Luca, is an Italian futsal player who plays for Asti and the Italian national futsal team.
Alex Rodrigo da Silva Merlim, also known as Babalu, is a Brazilian born Italian futsal player who plays for Sporting CP and the Italian national futsal team as a winger.
Daniel Giasson, is a Brazilian born, Italian futsal player who plays for Jaén and the Italian national futsal team.
Julião Murilo Ferreira, is a Brazilian born, Italian futsal player who plays for Acqua e Sapone and the Italian national futsal team.
Roberto Menichelli, is an Italian retired futsal player and ex coach of the Italian national futsal team. In February 2014, he coached Italy to win the UEFA Futsal Euro 2014 title.
The 2016 UEFA Futsal Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Futsal Euro 2016, was the 10th edition of the UEFA Futsal Championship, the biennial international futsal championship organised by UEFA for the men's national teams of Europe. It was hosted for the first time in Serbia, following a decision of the UEFA Executive Committee on 20 March 2012. Serbia was chosen ahead of other bids from Bulgaria and Macedonia.
The 2018 UEFA Futsal Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Futsal Euro 2018, was the 11th edition of the UEFA Futsal Championship, the international futsal championship organised by UEFA for the men's national teams of Europe. It was hosted for the first time in Slovenia, following a decision of the UEFA Executive Committee on 26 January 2015. Slovenia was chosen ahead of other bids from Macedonia and Romania.
The 2022 UEFA Futsal Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Futsal Euro 2022, was the 12th edition of the UEFA Futsal Championship, the international futsal championship organised by UEFA for the men's national teams of Europe. It was hosted for the first time in the Netherlands.
