The origin of Futsal can be traced back to Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1930 when Juan Carlos Ceriani devised a five-a-side version of soccer for youth competion in YMCAs. He was very similar in this way to James Naismith, who origininated the game of basketball. Futsal is played on basketball-sized courts, both indoors and out without the use of sidewalls.

The term "Futsal" is the international term used for the game. It is derived from the Spanish, "Futbol Sala" and the Portuguese, "Futebol de Salao," both of which mean, "indoor soccer." The game is frequently referred to as "Five-A-Side."

Once Ceriani got the ball rolling, Futsal gained rapid popularity throughout South America, particularly in Brazil. The skill developed in this game is visible in the world-famous style the Brazilians display outdoors on the full-sized field. Pele, Zico, Socrates, Bebeto and other Brazilian superstars developed their skill playing Futsal.

While Brazil continues to be the Futsal hub of the world, the game is now played, under the auspices of FIFA, all over the world, from Europe to North and Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Africa, and Asia and Oceania.

The first international competition took place in 1965, when Paraguay won the first South American Cup. Six more South American Cups were held through 1979, with Brazil winning all of them. Brazil continued its dominance with a victory in the first Pan American Cup in 1980 and won it again the next time it was played in 1984. A U.S. team took part in the 1984 cup, but finished out of the running.

The U.S. Futsal Federation incorporated in January, 1983. Osvaldo Garcia was the first president and national team coach. The game originally was referred to as Minisoccer and then became known by its official international name, Futsal. The current federation president is Alex Para.

The first Futsal World Championship was conducted in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1982, with Brazil finishing in first place. The Brazilians repeated as champions at the second World Championship in 1985 in Spain. FIFA took over direct sponsorship of the event in 1989 in Holland and 1992 in Hong Kong. Brazil won both times. The U.S. Indoor Team, coached by John Kowalsky, finished third in 1989 and second in 1992. The U.S. slipped out of the running in the Third FIFA World Futsal Championship helde held November 24 through December 11, 1996, in Spain.

The first international Futsal match in the U.S. was held in December, 1985, at Sonoma State University in Rohnert Park, Calif. A U.S. select team, coached by Garcia, defeated Australia, 9-5. U.S. Futsal has conducted a national championship each year since 1985..

Futsal is establishing itself at the youth level in the U.S. The Boys and Girls Clubs of America took a strong interest after the Columbia Park Club in San Francisco asked the Federation to give a demonstration. The national organization adopted the sport, and it is now played at about 1,100 Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the U.S.

The U.S. Youth Soccer Association (USYSA) and American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) also play the sport in affiliation with U.S. Futsal.