At the national team level, Spain is in the midst of an unprecedented crisis. However, in club futsal, Illes Balears Palma Futsal dominates both Europe and the world. The transformation this team undergoes in international play is striking. Despite losing three national finals—the Copa del Rey in 2016, the Spanish Super Cup, and the League in 2022—they became back-to-back UEFA Futsal Champions League winners in 2023 (as newcomers) and 2024. They also claimed the Intercontinental Cup for the second year, beating Magnus Futsal 4-1 with a hat-trick from Fabinho. Son Moix arena has become a festive venue, hosting five European competitions in two years without a single defeat, including a Final Four and an Intercontinental final. Recently, they played another European round, filling the venue as they defended their title against the Copa Libertadores champion with futsal legend Falcão watching from the stands.
Intercontinental cup
Magnus Futsal arrived in Spain aiming to reclaim the Intercontinental Cup after a tough year, marred by elimination in Brazil due to a technical issue. They hoped to erase this setback by winning the tournament, but Palma’s star-studded team, filled with top Spanish and Brazilian players, proved too strong. The first half was intense, with Palma pushing the pace, knowing that Magnus often falters under high pressure. They took a 1-0 lead just before halftime through Ernesto, capitalizing on a mistake by Magnus. In the second half, a Magnus equalizer quickly followed, but Fabinho responded with a 2-1 lead for Palma off a free kick. The game was tense, with both sides playing conservatively until Palma’s goalkeeper Luan made critical saves, maintaining the lead. In the final minutes, Magnus used a flying goalkeeper tactic, but Fabinho completed his hat-trick by scoring twice into an open net, sealing Palma’s win.
The victory sparked celebrations as Palma captured yet another international title. With UEFA’s Lauren Morel and Spanish Futsal League President Javier Lozano present, Mundo do Futsal’s organization highlighted the need to make this tournament official, despite FIFA’s reluctance. Held in Spain for the fifth time, the event solidified Palma’s place as the “futsal capital of the world.”