Arena futsal Tournament 2026

Team Composition & Squads •⁠ ⁠On the Field: Each team plays with 7 players on the pitch at one time (6 outfield players and 1 goalkeeper). •⁠ ⁠Squad Size: Teams can register squads of 7 to 10 players (allowing for 3 substitutes). •⁠ ⁠Substitutions: Unlimited "on-the-fly" substitutions are allowed. Substitutes must enter only after the outgoing player has completely left the field via the designated substitution zone.

Match Duration •⁠ ⁠Halves: Matches consist of two equal halves (typically 7 to 10 minutes each) with a brief 2-to-3 minute half-time break. •⁠ ⁠No Stoppage Time: To keep the tournament on schedule, the game clock generally does not stop for minor delays.

Basic Field & Gameplay Rules •⁠ ⁠No Offside: There is no offside rule in 7-a-side futsal. •⁠ ⁠Restarts (Kick-ins): When the ball goes out over the sideline, play restarts with a kick-in rather than a throw-in. Players must stand at least 5 yards back. •⁠ ⁠4-Second Rule: Goalkeepers have 4 seconds to release the ball from their hands or feet once controlled, and cannot touch it again in their own half until an opponent touches it.

Discipline & Fouls •⁠ ⁠Free Kicks: All standard fouls result in a direct or indirect free kick. Defending players must stand the required distance (5 to 6 yards) away. •⁠ ⁠Cards System: * Yellow Card: Acts as an official caution/warning. * Red Card: Two yellow cards in one match or a straight red card results in the player being sent off for the remainder of the game. The team may or may not be allowed to replace the sent-off player

Tournament Group Stage & Knockouts •⁠ ⁠Points System: 3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. •⁠ ⁠Tie-Breakers: If teams are level on points in the group stage, rank them by: 1. Goal difference 2. Goals scored 3. Head-to-head result 4. Penalty shootout •⁠ ⁠Knockout Stage Ties: If a knockout match ends in a draw, it goes straight to a penalty shootout(usually 3 penalty takers each, followed by sudden death if still tied).