The FIFA Futsal Rankings determine the ranking order of futsal national teams worldwide. Unlike football’s governing body FIFA, there is no official global rating system for the fast-paced five-a-side indoor game, but the prominent World Futsal Rankings fill this void, objectively quantifying each country’s strength based on match results, margins, and opponent caliber.

Highlighting the lack of an official FIFA ranking, explaining how the World Futsal Rankings calculate team ratings, and noting their importance in identifying top futsal nations despite the debate they generate.

Top 10 Futsal National Teams in the World

Rank	Team	Points	Rank Dec 2023	Change Dec 2023
1	Brazil	1826	1	0
2	Portugal	1759	3	1
3	Spain	1754	2	-1
4	Russia	1649	5	1
5	Argentina	1618	4	-1
6	Iran	1593	7	1
7	Kazakhstan	1566	6	-1
8	Morocco	1519	8	0
9	Ukraine	1458	9	0
10	Paraguay	1450	10	0

Brazil is the king in the futsal world with an unmatched record of 5 World Cup victories since 1989. Fellow South Americans Argentina and Paraguay join the Seleção in the top 10, alongside European powers Spain, Portugal, Russia, and Italy.

Winning 4 of the last 7 UEFA Futsal Championships, Spain currently holds the #2 ranking with 1754 points. But watch out for bronze medalist Iran, the rising futsal force from Asia sitting at #6. Los Cafeteros of Colombia and record-setting goalscorer Ricardinho’s Portugal, #3 with 1759 points, round out the elite top 10.

Futsal National Teams – FIFA World Ranking

Rank	Team	Points	Rank Dec 2023	Change Dec 2023
11	Italy	1422	11	0
12	Colombia	1380	12	0
13	Japan	1375	13	0
14	Croatia	1362	15	1
15	Serbia	1353	17	2
16	France	1352	16	0
17	Azerbaijan	1344	14	-3
18	Georgia	1318	19	1
19	Czech Republic	1310	23	4
20	Slovenia	1297	20	0
21	Romania	1295	22	1
22	Uruguay	1292	26	4
23	Finland	1286	18	-5
24	Poland	1252	25	1
25	Uzbekistan	1247	21	-4
26	Costa Rica	1235	31	5
27	Hungary	1234	32	5
28	Venezuela	1226	29	1
29	Thailand	1225	24	-5
30	Slovakia	1223	30	0
31	Belgium	1205	27	-4
32	Belarus	1198	28	-4
33	Guatemala	1157	34	1
34	Netherlands	1155	36	2
35	Panama	1125	37	2
36	Australia	1121	38	2
37	Indonesia	1112	39	2
37	Egypt	1112	33	-5
39	Vietnam	1098	40	1
40	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1094	35	-5
41	Kuwait	1088	46	5
42	Libya	1080	42	0
43	Peru	1071	41	-2
44	Armenia	1054	45	1
45	Iraq	1046	43	-2
46	Angola	1031	47	1
47	North Macedonia	1028	49	2
48	United States	1025	48	0
49	Canada	990	51	2
50	Ecuador	984	52	2
51	Bolivia	972	54	3
52	New Zealand	971	56	4
53	Kyrgyz Republic	963	44	-9
54	Tajikistan	959	50	-4
55	Moldova	958	55	0
56	Germany	949	70	14
57	Mexico	948	57	0
58	Afghanistan	933	99	41
59	Cuba	932	61	2
60	Lithuania	929	67	7
61	England	922	63	2
62	El Salvador	915	64	2
63	Lebanon	905	52	-11
64	Mozambique	902	69	5
65	Kosovo	898	66	1
66	Solomon Islands	895	59	-7
67	Saudi Arabia	894	65	-2
68	Sweden	888	62	-6
69	Montenegro	886	58	-11
70	Latvia	884	60	-10
71	Bahrain	881	75	4
71	Honduras	881	71	0
73	Suriname	879	72	-1
74	Jordan	877	74	0
75	Chile	872	68	-7
76	Turkmenistan	870	72	-4
77	Albania	865	82	5
78	Denmark	861	79	1
79	Israel	859	84	5
80	Trinidad and Tobago	857	76	-4
81	Malaysia	856	77	-4
82	Norway	847	80	-2
83	Myanmar	846	83	0
84	Austria	838	78	-6
85	South Africa	830	85	0
86	China PR	829	81	-5
87	Korea Republic	826	86	-1
88	Türkiye	821	89	1
89	Curaçao	816	87	-2
90	Greece	815	87	-3
91	Chinese Taipei	813	90	1
92	Zambia	809	96	4
93	Qatar	807	92	-1
94	Zimbabwe	803	93	-1
95	Tunisia	800	94	-1
96	Cyprus	794	91	-5
97	Algeria	790	106	9
98	Tahiti	781	95	-3
99	Oman	767	97	-2
100	Guyana	763	98	-2
101	Andorra	756	101	0
102	Wales	749	102	0
102	Vanuatu	749	100	-2
104	Switzerland	735	103	-1
105	Cameroon	729	104	-1
106	Dominican Republic	720	105	-1
107	United Arab Emirates	708	107	0
107	Palestine	708	112	5
109	Haiti	697	107	-2
110	Ireland Republic	692	109	-1
111	Nicaragua	684	111	0
112	New Caledonia	674	110	-2
113	Bulgaria	672	113	0
114	Mauritania	661	–	–
115	Syria	651	114	-1
116	Scotland	641	116	0
117	Fiji	634	115	-2
118	Hong Kong	621	117	-1
119	Singapore	614	118	-1
120	Laos	596	119	-1
121	Mongolia	581	120	-1
122	Cambodia	576	121	-1
123	Timor-Leste	571	122	-1
124	Northern Ireland	567	123	-1
125	Malta	548	126	1
126	Somalia	547	124	-2
127	Comoros	544	–	–
128	Philippines	540	125	-3
129	Macau	531	127	-2
130	Estonia	527	128	-2
131	Brunei Darussalam	524	129	-2
132	Gibraltar	515	130	-2
133	Samoa	508	131	-2
134	Guam	486	132	-2
135	Tonga	466	133	-2
136	Maldives	454	134	-2
137	Tuvalu	445	135	-2
138	San Marino	412	136	-2

FIFA Futsal World Ranking Basis

Unlike football, futsal does not have an official FIFA world ranking system. However, the prominent Futsal World Ranking fills this void by objectively rating each national team based on their match results and performance in competitions.

Points are awarded based on wins, draws, losses, goal difference, and importance of the match and event. Teams gain points for strong performances against highly ranked opponents. Dropping points against lower competition results in a lower ranking.

With over 200 member nations, the Futsal World Ranking quantifies the relative strength of countries that compete in FIFA-recognized futsal tournaments worldwide. Though unofficial, it is the most authoritative global rating system for the fast-paced indoor version of the beautiful game.

National Team Dominance Different in Football and Futsal

I’ve noticed an intriguing phenomenon – countries that rule the pitch aren’t guaranteed to reign on the indoor court. I was shocked when powerhouses Germany and France failed to make the futsal top 50, despite their football dominance.

My experience playing both sports has shown me they require very different skills. The futsal court is much smaller, demanding quicker reflexes, tight control, and clever implementation. Players like Messi who thrive in tight spaces are perfectly suited to futsal.

While my football heroes from Germany and France exceed on the lush green grass, they struggle to translate that dominance on plain, shiny, and wooden courts. The contrast has taught me these closely linked sports reward different talents.

Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan Excel in Futsal

I’ve been fascinated to see certain nations throw their weight behind the small-sided game rather than traditional 11-a-side football. I was stunned when Iran rapidly surpassed Asian football giants Japan as the continent’s top futsal side.

The Iranians took the indoor version far more seriously, with smart planning and investment. My travels revealed even more surprises – former Soviet states like Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan built futsal powerhouses almost from scratch by recruiting elite Brazilian players as coaches.

During a visit to Thailand, I learned they now want to follow Iran’s blueprint after lagging in Asian futsal. It’s been eye-opening for me to watch countries with less football dominance purposefully focus on futsal and achieve regional dominance.

Their strategic approach has paid benefits at international tournaments.

Conclusion of FIFA Futsal National Teams World Ranking

The FIFA Futsal World Ranking provides a guide to the balance of power in the fast-paced indoor version of the beautiful game. Despite the lack of an official FIFA rating system, the independent Futsal World Ranking accurately tracks each nation’s strengths using a proven formula that quantifies match results, margins, and opponent quality.

The latest rankings underline the pre-eminence of South American sides, with five-time champions Brazil unsurprisingly topping the charts wearing essential equipment like the best futsal shoes. European stalwarts Spain, Portugal, Russia, and Italy follow closely behind, executing perfect futsal formations.

However, the rankings also highlight the rise of alternative futsal powers like Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan – nations who have invested heavily in small-sided futsal over traditional 11-a-side football and now compete in major futsal tournaments worldwide.

Though unofficial, the FIFA Futsal World Ranking crowns the kings of the indoor court, with the best futsal players of all time leading their countries using a recommended-size futsal ball. For both casual fans and passionate supporters, it stimulates intense debate over not just who is the current cream of the crop, but whether futsal-first countries could be a model for wider success in the global game, based on the clear differences between indoor soccer and futsal.

One thing is certain – with national pride and world supremacy on the line, the competition at the top promises to be fierce.

FAQs of FIFA Futsal Rankings Worldwide

Brazil is undoubtedly the best futsal country, having won 5 of 8 FIFA Futsal World Cups. With immense domestic popularity, elite talent development, and legends like Ricardinho, Brazil dominates futsal with its unmatched tradition of excellence.

Liga Nacional de Futsal

The Brazilian Liga Nacional de Futsal features the world’s best clubs and players, fueling Brazil’s dominance of international futsal through its unmatched talent production and huge popularity.

Futsal is most popular in football-loving nations like Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Russia where its fast-paced 5-a-side game is played extensively, providing ideal technical development for youth footballers.

Iran excels at futsal due to the widespread popularity of Futsal-style street football called Gol Koochik. Played from a young age with a small, lightweight ball and miniature goals, Gol Koochik hones close control, passing, and shooting skills ideal for futsal success. This street football culture breeds creativity and fast-paced technique that powers Iran’s dominance.

Yes, futsal is officially governed by FIFA as the sanctioned indoor 5-a-side version of football. FIFA organizes futsal showpiece events – the biennial FIFA Futsal World Cup for men and women and the FIFA Futsal Club World Cup between continental club champions. FIFA’s recognition has been integral to futsal’s global growth and prestige.

The FIFA Futsal World Cup, the premier international futsal competition, is contested every 4 years. It features 24 qualifying nations from different confederations battling for the title of world champions over a month of high-quality, fast-paced indoor football action.

The biggest win in futsal history came in 2006 when Brazil demolished Timor-Leste 76-0 at the East Asian Games in Macau. This extraordinary result underlines the gulf in class between futsal powerhouse Brazil and minnows Timor-Leste.