Confederation | AIFF |
---|---|
Founded | 19 September 2010 |
First season | 2011 |
Divisions | TBA |
Number of teams | 24 |
League cup(s) | Gangnam Cup |
TV partners | AIFFtv, FutsalTV, YSN, DSN |
Website | ifl.dwh |
2011 season |
The International Futsal League is an international professional league for futsal clubs. Contested by 24 clubs, it is managed by the Alliance of Independent Football Federations and is also referred to as the IFL. Seasons run from November to March, only interrupted by the Futsal World Cup in February. Most games are played from Thursday to Sunday, with few games playing during weekday evenings other than Friday. The season ends with the Gangnam Cup competition to determine a league champion. It was to be known as the International Premier Futsal League (IPFL) until the name was shortened on January 2, 2011.
The competition formed on 19 September 2010 following a summit of several AIFF representatives to discuss future tournaments and adding futsal programs to the federation. The inaugural season is set to begin on January 19, 2011 and is expected to culminate with the inaugural Gangnam Cup in May.
History[]
Foundation[]
The Alliance of International Football Federations (AIFF), coming off the success of the inaugural World Cup and Club World Cup, voted to sanction a club league for futsal, initially as a partner to the Devine Premier League. The league was officially established and announced to the public on September 19, 2010, to be named the International Premier Futsal League (IPFL). Founder and first league commissioner Bruce Englehardt II was elected to the position on December 1, 2010. The league was renamed to its current name on January 2, 2010 and a logo was revealed, incorporating a Simlympic-style pictogram for a futsal player.
Inaugural season[]
- Main article: 2011 IFL season
The IFL is set to begin its inaugural season on January 19, 2010 after the COFR Cup final with the Dawson Tide hosting the Freeport Reign in the Battle at the Bowl, expected to be attended by over 100,000 spectators at the Dawson Bowl.
Competition format[]
Beginning in the 2011–12 season, IFL season will feature the following season schedule:
- a preseason running from late September to eraly November;
- a 12-game, 12-week regular season running from late November to early March; and
- a 8-team single-elimination playoff beginning in March.
For the inaugural season, a 12-game, 12-week regular season between January and March and a single-elimination playoff in April and early May is being used.
Preseason[]
Regular season[]
Gangnam Cup[]
- Main article: Gangnam Cup
All-Star Game[]
- Main article: IFL All-Star Game
Calendar[]
Though the IFL only plays in the late fall, winter, and early spring (beginning in 2011–12 season), the extended offseason often is an event in itself, with the draft, free agency signings, and the announcement of schedules. A typical calendar of league events is as follows, with the dates listed being those for the 2011 season:
- January 19 – Battle at the Bowl: Dawson Tide vs Freeport Reign
- January 21–23 – Kickoff 2011 Weekend (Week 1 of regular season)
- January – All-Star Game balloting
- February 8–25 – Futsal World Cup break
- February 23 – All-Star Game
- April 24 – End of regular season
- April 28 – Gangnam Cup begins
- May 13 – Gangnam Cup Final
Trophy[]
Sponsorship[]
Media coverage[]
- Main article: FutsalTV
Clubs[]
Division | Team | City | Venue | Founded | Joined |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
South | Dawson Tide F.C. | Dawson, Duwamish | UD Arena (Capacity: 29,000) |
2010 | 2011 |
Kalama Kiwis | Kalama, Duwamish | Kalama Arena (Capacity: 34,000) |
2010 | 2011 | |
Quinault Bears | Quileute, Quinault | Quileute Center (Capacity: 21,000) |
2011 | 2011 | |
Snohomish Totems | Snohomish, Duwamish | Snohomish Dome (Capacity: 12,000) |
2011 | 2011 | |
West | Algona Stingrays | Algona, Escambia | Air Escambia Centre (Capacity: 29,000) |
2010 | 2011 |
Canmore Cyclones | Canmore, Lisieux | Bolt Centre (Capacity: 25,312) |
2010 | 2011 | |
Galanos Jaguars FC | Galanos, New Chandler | Golden Arena (Capacity: 23,000) |
2011 | 2011 | |
New Chandler Cavaliers FC | Winchester, New Chandler | New Chandler National Futsal Center (Capacity: 38,500) |
2011 | 2011 | |
North | Atia Heat | Whidbey, Atia | Whidbey Arena (Capacity: 24,000) |
2011 | 2011 |
Black Watch Highlanders | RV City, Rorysville | Western RV Bridgewatchers Center (Capacity: 15,990) |
2011 | 2011 | |
Impact du Laval | Laval, Rorysville | Cap Centre (Capacity: 14,210) |
2011 | 2011 | |
North Valley Blizzard | Ste. Pierre, Rorysville | Tri-Nations Arena (Capacity: 16,910) |
2011 | 2011 | |
West | Escambia Vikings | Monte-Adelais, Escambia | Devine Athletics Centre (Capacity: 22,000) |
2010 | 2011 |
Freeport Reign FC | Freeport, Escambia | Freeport Metro Arena (Capacity: 30,000) |
2010 | 2011 | |
Keo Cougars | Keo, Lisieux | LisieuxAir Arena (Capacity: 23,982) |
2010 | 2011 | |
Rockaway Rams FC | Rockaway, New Chandler | MetaPetrol Arena (Capacity: 28,000) |
2011 | 2011 | |
East | Erikkson Armada | Erikkson, Insulo | Front Street Centre (Capacity: 36,000) |
2010 | 2011 |
Lake Newport Stallions | Lake Newport, Linktoria | Diet Cola Center (Capacity: 22,000) |
2011 | 2011 | |
Linktoria City Snowmen | Linktoria City, Linktoria | Food Lion Center (Capacity: 25,000) |
2011 | 2011 | |
Okcidenton Pirates | Okcidenton, Insulo | Municipal Arena (Capacity: 17,000) |
2010 | 2011 | |
North | Agrilos Wolves FC | Agrilos, Posillipo | Agrilos Metro Futsal Arena (Capacity: 19,000) |
2011 | 2011 |
Cincinnati Stokers | Cincinnati, Cincinnati | US Bank Arena (Capacity: 13,000) |
2011 | 2011 | |
Karpathos Kingfishers FC | Karpathos, Posillipo | Lower Karpathos Metro Arena (Capacity: 23,000) |
2011 | 2011 | |
Sassari FC | Sassari, Posillipo | Sassari Arena (Capacity: 14,000) |
2011 | 2011 |
Arenas[]
Managers[]
Players[]
Top scorers[]
Commissioner[]
The Commissioner of Futsal is the chief executive of the International Futsal League. Under the direction of the commissioner and Alliance of International Futsal Federations, the Office of the Commissioner of Futsal hires and maintains the sport's refereeing crews, and negotiates marketing, labor, and television contracts. The commissioner is chosen by the AIFF staff. The current commissioner is Bruce Englehardt II, who is also Minister of Culture, Arts, and Sports of the COFR and has been in his office since December 2010. The Commissioner is re-elected every six months by the AIFF Administrative Committee, in December and May.
List of Commissioners[]
Order | Commissioners | Took office | Left office | Term |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Bruce Englehardt II | 1 December 2010 | Incumbent | 1 |
See also[]
International Futsal League | |
---|---|
Established 2010 • A division of AIFF | |
Events | All-Star Game • Battle at the Bowl • Gangnam Cup |
Seasons | 2011 (Battle at the Bowl • All-Star • Gangnam Cup) • 2011–12 (Battle at the Bowl • All-Star • Gangnam Cup) |
2011 teams (by conference) | |
Cielo | Algona Stingrays • Atia Heat • Black Watch Highlanders • Canmore Cyclones • Dawson Tide F.C. • Galanos Jaguars • Impact du Laval • Kalama Kiwis • New Chandler Cavaliers FC • North Valley Blizzard • Quinault Bears • Snohomish Totems |
Tölva | Agrilos Wolves FC • Cincinnati Stokers • Erikkson Armada • Escambia Vikings • Freeport Reign FC • Karpathos Kingfishers FC • Keo Cougars • Lake Newport Stallions • Linktoria City Snowmen • Okcidenton Pirates • Rockaway Rams FC • Sassari FC |