The Union of European Football Associations is one of six continental bodies of governance in association football. It governs football, futsal and beach football in Europe and the transcontinental countries of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Kazakhstan, as well as the West Asian countries of Cyprus, Armenia and Israel. UEFA consists of 55 national association members. Since 2022, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, FIFA and UEFA suspended all Russian national teams and clubs from any FIFA and UEFA competitions.
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 played in 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.
The UEFA European Futsal Championship is the main futsal competition of the men's national futsal teams governed by UEFA.
The Portugal national futsal team represents Portugal in international men's futsal competitions and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation. They are the reigning FIFA Futsal World Cup champions, the current and back-to-back winners of the UEFA Futsal Championship, and the first team to win the Futsal Finalissima.
The Spain national futsal team represents Spain in international futsal competitions and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation. It is one of the strongest teams in the World, seven times champions in the UEFA Futsal Championship, and the two times consecutive champions of the FIFA Futsal World Cup.
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. Italy has also come in second place at the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Cup, as well as third place in the 2008 and 2012 editions.
The Czech Republic national futsal team is the national futsal team of the Czech Republic and represents the country in international futsal competitions, such as the FIFA Futsal World Cup and the European Championships. The team is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, which is affiliated with UEFA.
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 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.
Luca Leggiero, is an Italian futsal player who plays for Pescara Calcio a 5 and the Italian national futsal team.
Alex Rodrigo da Silva Merlim, also known as Babalu, is a futsal player who plays for Sporting CP. Born in Brazil, he represents 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 Fortitudo Pomezia 1957 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 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.
