The Wait is Finally Over: The Toronto Invitational Futsal Tournament Kicks off Today!

After months of logistical planning, preparation and anticipation, the 1st ever Toronto Invitation Futsal Tournament finally kicks off later on today at the Direct Energy Centre in downtown Toronto. As part of the Toronto International Soccer Show, the tournament has been half a year in the making and is the first competition of its kind in Canadian futsal history.

27 teams representing 11 cities from across Ontario and the US will compete for futsal supremacy in divisions for each U16 boys, girls, U18 boys, girls, and a mens division featuring the top futsal clubs from Toronto, New Jersey, Ottawa, London among others. The absolutely gorgeous blue international-sized futsal courts, supplied by Sport Court, are now set and ready for the action which starts at 4pm for the media game between two great U16 teams; the 2008 OSA Futsal Cup runners-up Toronto Eagles and the ANB Academy of Richmond Hill, Ontario. 

Jason Krnac and Shane Butler, the 2 FIFA international futsal referees, have flown into town and ready to work with Ontario’s top referees to keep the peace and bring out the best futsal possible. Having quality officials involved is clearly something that OSA Referee Sub-Committee Chairman Bob Tibbo is absolutely jacked up about.

“When have we ever had the opportunity to capture the best futsal referees in the country and infuse them with world class guys like Shane and Jason? These two have been to the CONCACAF Championships, Pan American Games and Jason even got to go to the Futsal World Cup! This will be a tremendously valuable experience for every referee in this competition and we couldn’t be more pleased with the cast we’ve assembled. Adding all the futsal referee seminars throughout the show you better believe this is going to kickstart something very special for Canadian futsal .”

In pushing the futsal movement even further, the Ontario Soccer Association has partnered up with the show and will be conducting on-court introductary futsal coaching clinics on Saturday and Sunday. In its vast 7500 square feet of show space, the OSA has dedicated some of its booths specifically for its member futsal leagues including the London Canadian Futsal League, which has 3 teams represented in the competition.

Futsal Canada is pleased to have a booth at the show and will host the tournament information centre in addition to offering fantastic deals on futsal balls, shoes, gloves, and a new line of futsal-specific clothing featuring some very cool designs from Kathleen George and Nick Kopa.

Every team will play 4 games before the championship match is decided and with state and provincial champions vying for some hardware, the competition will surely be intense. Stay tuned to www.futsalcanada.ca all weekend long as post scores, results, and special futsal stories and footage from an event that is sure to be a hit with not only the futsal community, but the many in soccer that are still unaware of its existence.

In pushing the futsal movement even further, the Ontario Soccer Association has partnered up with the show and will be conducting on-court introductory futsal coaching clinics on Saturday and Sunday. In its vast 7500 square feet of show space, the OSA has dedicated some of its booths specifically for its member futsal leagues including the London Canadian Futsal League, which has 3 teams represented in the competition.

Futsal Canada is pleased to have a booth at the show and will host the tournament information centre in addition to offering fantastic deals on futsal balls, shoes, gloves, and a new line of futsal-specific clothing featuring some very cool designs from Kathleen George and Nick Kopa.

Every team will play 4 games before the championship match is decided and with state and provincial champions vying for some hardware, the competition will surely be intense. Stay tuned to www.futsalcanada.ca all weekend long as we constantly post scores, results, and special futsal stories and footage from an event that is sure to be a hit with not only the futsal community, but the many in soccer that are still unaware of its existence.