The UEFA Futsal EURO 2026 group stage reached a fever pitch in Ljubljana on January 29, delivering a wild night of drama, heartbreak, and historic breakthroughs as Groups C and D wrapped up their final matches. The stakes were sky-high for every team, and as the dust settled, Italy, Spain, and Belgium emerged to complete the quarter-final line-up, while host nation Slovenia and a spirited Belarus side saw their journeys come to an end.
Let’s start in Group C, where the action was nothing short of breathtaking. Spain, a perennial powerhouse in European futsal, needed only to avoid a heavy defeat against Belgium to secure their place atop the group. They did far more than that, unleashing a record-breaking 10-3 rout at Arena Stožice. Adrián Rivera set the tone early, netting twice in the opening six minutes. According to UEFA, “Spain, who swapped back Didac Plana in goal for Chemi, only needed to avoid a heavy defeat at Tivoli Arena to confirm progress and were on top from the off, Adrián Rivera scoring twice in the first six minutes.”
Belgium, for their part, fought valiantly but were overwhelmed by Spain’s relentless attack. Gréllo made history as the oldest-ever scorer in the competition at 40 years and 209 days, but Spain’s José Raya and Pablo Ramirez quickly restored their dominance. By halftime, the Red Devils were staring at a mountain to climb. Pablo Ramirez, named Player of the Match, hammered in a fifth for Spain just after the break, and Cecilio Morales, Adolfo, Mellado, and others piled on as Spain became the first team ever to score ten goals in a Futsal EURO finals match. The records didn’t stop there—Belgium’s Omar Rahou equaled the group stage scoring record with his sixth goal, last achieved in 2003.
Despite the heavy defeat, Belgium’s hopes were kept alive by the outcome of the later Slovenia-Belarus clash. As the final minutes ticked away, the Belgian squad watched nervously, knowing their fate hung in the balance. When the whistle blew in Ljubljana, confirming Slovenia’s 3-2 loss to Belarus, the Red Devils erupted in joy—they had qualified for the knockout phase for the first time since the inaugural 1996 edition, edging out both Slovenia and Belarus on a dramatic three-way head-to-head goal difference.
“We knew that every goal we scored or conceded in our first two games could be important, because playing Spain would be very difficult. We knew we would have to rely on Belarus to win. I’m a very proud coach; as amateurs, we have reached the last eight,” said Belgium coach Karim Bachar, reflecting on his team’s improbable journey. Pablo Ramirez, Spain’s Player of the Match, added: “It’s my first international competition and I’m very happy with the team’s result. Hopefully this continues—we’re doing an incredible job with a very clear objective.”
The Slovenia-Belarus fixture was a heartbreaker for the co-hosts. Slovenia needed only a draw—as long as Belgium didn’t defeat Spain—to advance. The home crowd erupted after just nine seconds when Jeremy Bukovec nudged the ball over the line. But Belarus, needing a miracle eight-goal win to progress, showed tremendous spirit. Sergei Krykun equalized, and after a flurry of chances and a hit post, Artem Kozel’s accurate shot put Belarus ahead early in the second half. Slovenia responded with another Bukovec goal, but Kozel struck again with just over eleven minutes left, sealing a 3-2 win for Belarus—their first-ever victory at a Futsal EURO finals.
“We quickly understood it would be very hard to score the eight goals we needed to qualify, but we tried to do it. Later on, we saw that it wouldn’t be possible at all, and then we decided that it was really important to secure our first win ever in the final tournament,” Belarus coach Aleksandr Chernik explained. The result was bittersweet; Belarus bowed out, but not before making history. Artem Kozel, reflecting on the win, said, “We are glad we won but we know we won’t go forward to the quarter-finals and we are upset about that fact. We wanted to show our fans who were here that we could win and play well.”
For Slovenia, the disappointment was palpable. “It’s very difficult—we were one goal away from the quarter-finals. But when you concede three goals like that, it’s very difficult to win—especially against Belarus, who are a very good team,” said Jeremy Bukovec. Coach Tomislav Horvat added, “Belarus are a very good team. We played very well for the first three minutes and then, I don’t know, some players could not play in this very hard moment. For some, it was too much pressure.”
Meanwhile, Group D delivered its own share of late drama. Italy needed at least a draw against Hungary to secure second place and a quarter-final showdown with Spain. Hungary, seeking their own quarter-final berth, struck first through Balázs Rutai. But Italy, showing the composure and grit that has defined their storied futsal history, equalized twice—first through Julio De Oliveira and then Fabricio Calderolli—earning a 2-2 draw and advancing on goal difference. Alex Merlim was named Player of the Match for his tireless performance.
“It was a very difficult match and I congratulate our opponents, who did a fantastic job. We knew we had to win and we performed very well. Now we will rest and regroup, as we have very tough opponents in Spain. We will try to eliminate them,” said Italy coach Salvatore Samperi. Hungary’s coach, Sergio Mullor, expressed pride in his team’s efforts: “Having played well against Poland and Italy, I can only say congratulations to my players and staff. We did all we could on the pitch but, unfortunately, it was not enough to be in the next round.”
Elsewhere, Portugal, already assured of top spot in Group D, edged Poland 3-2 in a closely fought contest. Portugal’s Tomás Paçó, André Coelho, and Rúben Góis found the net, while Poland, already eliminated, earned respect for their spirited performance. Michał Kałuża was named Player of the Match for his efforts in goal. Portugal now boasts a record 14-game Futsal EURO winning streak in finals play, and 18 including qualifying matches.
With the group stage concluded, the quarter-final matchups are set. On January 31, France will face Ukraine in Riga, while Armenia takes on Croatia in Kaunas. The following day, Portugal meets Belgium in Ljubljana, and hosts Spain will battle Italy in what promises to be a blockbuster encounter. The knockout rounds are poised to deliver even more thrills as Europe’s futsal elite chase continental glory.
As the lights dimmed on a dramatic night in Ljubljana, the dreams of some were dashed, while others lived to fight another day. The stage is now set for a thrilling conclusion to Futsal EURO 2026, with every remaining team hungry for a shot at the title.