The Latvian national futsal team is governed by the Latvian Football Federation, the governing body for futsal in Latvia and represents the country in international futsal competitions, such as the World Cup and the European Championships.

Latvia will make their international futsal debut at the UEFA Futsal Euro in 2026 as co-host alongside Lithuania national futsal team.

The president of the Latvian Football Federation, Vadims Ļašenko, also played for the Latvia national futsal team for several years, making 42 appearances.

History

Futsal in Latvia was officially organized and played according to international rules only after the country regained its independence.

First and historic Latvia national futsal team squad

In 1992, the Latvian national futsal team was established and participated in an international tournament in Moscow, where they lost to teams from the Commonwealth of Independent States and Italy but secured a victory against Slovakia.

In December 1998, Latvia made its debut in the UEFA European Championship qualification tournament in Belgium. Their first match ended in a 0-0 draw against Azerbaijan, followed by a 2-3 loss to the hosts, Belgium. The Latvian national team has participated in the UEFA European Championship qualification tournament 11 times, advancing past the preliminary round on five occasions. In total, Latvia has played 49 matches in European Championship qualification, recording 16 wins, 7 draws, and 26 losses. The team secured its first victory in an official qualification match in January 2007, defeating Bulgaria (2-0) and later England (5-1). In 2009, Latvia advanced past the preliminary round for the first time, overcoming Estonia, Armenia, and Bulgaria. However, in the main qualification round, the team did not secure a spot in the final tournament.

In January 2000, Latvia participated in the FIFA Futsal World Cup qualification tournament for the first time, suffering defeats in all four matches (against Russia, Poland, Belgium, and North Macedonia). A significant milestone for Latvian futsal came in November 2003 when the FIFA World Cup qualification tournament was held at the Riga Sports Arena (Rīgas Nacionālā sporta manēža). During this event, Latvia put up a respectable performance against the reigning world champions, Spain, losing by a narrow 1-3 margin.

In October 2011, playing in Jelgava, Latvia advanced past the first round of the FIFA World Cup preliminary qualifiers for the first time, defeating England and San Marino while drawing against Cyprus. However, in the main qualification round, Latvia was unable to progress beyond the group stage, drawing with Hungary and Kazakhstan but losing to Russia, which later qualified for the final tournament.

Latvia's national futsal team is the most successful team in the Baltic Futsal Cup, winning six out of the nine tournaments held. The competition traditionally includes futsal teams from Lithuania and Estonia.[3]

Coaching history

The first head coach of the Latvian national futsal team in 1992 was Sergejs Jablokovs.

From 2003 until the end of 2021, the team's head coach was Artūrs Šketovs, who spent most of his playing career in traditional football but also briefly played for the Latvia national futsal team toward the end of his career.

At the beginning of 2022, a coaching change took place, with Portuguese coach Orlando Duarte taking over. However, after six months, he was replaced by Montenegrin specialist Vasko Vujović, who signed a contract under a 1+1 year system.

In the summer of 2024, as part of preparations for UEFA Futsal Euro 2026, Italian futsal specialist Massimiliano Bellarte was appointed as the head coach.

Major Competitions in Latvia

The main futsal competition in Latvia is the Virslīga Championship, which has been held since 1997. The Virslīga consists of a regular season followed by playoff matches, where the two best teams compete in the final series, played in a best-of-five format.

In the 2024/2025 season, ten teams participated in the Virslīga.

Currently, Riga-based clubs FK RFS Futsal and Riga FC Futsal Futsal traditionally dominate the competition. However, over the years, teams from Daugavpils, Jūrmala, Jelgava, Ventspils, Rēzekne, Spuņciems, and Jēkabpils have also won medals in the league.[4]

Notable Latvian Futsal Players

Since 2011, the Latvian Football Federation (LFF) has awarded the title of the Best Latvian Futsal Player of the Year.

The most frequent recipient of this honor is forward Maksims Seņs, who has won the award four times, including three consecutive years (2011 and 2013–2015). Seņs has also been the top scorer of the Latvian Virslīga six times, playing for both of Latvia’s strongest futsal clubs—RABA and Nikars. Aigars Bondars is the most capped player in the history of the Latvian national futsal team, having played 86 matches and received the best futsal player award in 2012.

Germans Matjušenko – three-time recipient (2018, 2019, 2021). Andrejs Aleksejevs – two-time recipient (2016, 2017). Miks Babris – awarded in 2020 and 2022. Artjoms Kozlovskis – named the best player in 2023. Edgars Tarakanovs – received the title for the first time in 2024.

Notable Teams

The most successful futsal club in Latvia was FK Nikars, a Riga-based football club that won the Latvian championship title 12 consecutive times (2008–2019). During this period, Portuguese futsal specialist Orlando Duarte (Orlando Francisco Alves Duarte), who had previously won FIFA Futsal World Cup medals with Portugal national futsal team, coached Nikars for seven years.

FK Nikars also competed in the UEFA Futsal Cup for 11 seasons, advancing past the main qualification round five times to reach the Elite Round, where the top 16 teams in the tournament compete. In 2017, Nikars achieved its highest European ranking, placing 7th in the UEFA futsal rankings. However, in 2019, due to financial difficulties, the club withdrew from the Latvian Virslīga. One year later, Nikars returned to top-level Latvian futsal as part of the FC RFS Futsal structure.

The second most successful Latvian futsal team is RABA, another Riga-based club, which has won the Latvian championship three times. In 2021, RABA reclaimed the championship title after a 15-year gap. Additionally, RABA has finished as runners-up in the Latvian championship ten times.

Current squad

Updated 21 February 2025

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Igors Labuts (1990-06-07) 7 June 1990 (age 34) 14 0 Latvia Riga Futsal Club
2 1GK Rainers Mūrnieks (2004-07-27) 27 July 2004 (age 20) 12 1 Latvia Riga Futsal Club
3 1GK Alens Dāniels Sprukts (2002-02-10) 10 February 2002 (age 23) 4 0 Latvia Daugavpils FS
4 Ņikita Jelagovs (2003-04-04) 4 April 2003 (age 21) 21 0 Latvia RFS Futsal
5 Germans Matjušenko (1994-05-16) 16 May 1994 (age 30) 68 31 Latvia RFS Futsal
6 Andrejs Baklanovs (1998-06-04) 4 June 1998 (age 26) 43 31 Latvia RFS Futsal
7 Edgars Tarakanovs (2003-02-15) 15 February 2003 (age 22) 27 15 Latvia RFS Futsal
8 Artjoms Troickis (2001-12-29) 29 December 2001 (age 23) 17 3 Latvia RFS Futsal
9 Sergejs Motiļs (2006-05-23) 23 May 2006 (age 18) 6 0 Latvia RFS Futsal
10 Miks Babris (1999-12-03) 3 December 1999 (age 25) 46 13 Latvia RFS Futsal
11 Emīls Atamaņukovs (2007-08-06) 6 August 2007 (age 17) 6 0 Latvia Daugavpils FS
12 Aleksejs Reuts (2007-11-24) 24 November 2007 (age 17) 2 2 Latvia Daugavpils FS
13 Maksims Potlovs (1997-09-28) 28 September 1997 (age 27) 2 0 Latvia Daugavpils FS
14 Daniils Fogels (2005-10-24) 24 October 2005 (age 19) 12 2 Latvia Riga Futsal Club
15 Artūrs Strazdiņš (1996-02-11) 11 February 1996 (age 29) 26 3 Latvia Riga Futsal Club
16 Viktors Kuļepovs (2001-08-23) 23 August 2001 (age 23) 10 0 Latvia Riga Futsal Club
17 Toms Kristians Grīslis (2005-10-24) 24 October 2005 (age 19) 12 1 Latvia FC Nikers

2024 results

9 February 2024 (2024-02-09) Friendly Latvia  4-5
 Kosovo Ogre, Latvia
18:00 Edgars Tarakanovs ('8), ('14), ('38) [2] Yll Mazreku ('18), Drilon Maxharraj ('19), ('23), Ramadan Alaj ('19) ('34) Stadium: Sport arena Ogre
Attendance: 276
Referee: Mantas Pomeckis (LTU)
10 February 2024 (2024-02-10) Friendly Latvia  3-3  Kosovo Ogre, Latvia
16:00 Miks Babris ('28), Andrejs Baklanovs ('39), Germans Matjušenko ('39) [3] Mergim Dervishaj ('10), Melos Kelmendi ('21), Drilon Maxharraj ('22) Stadium: Sport arena Ogre
Attendance: 327
Referee: Mantas Pomeckis (LTU)
23 September 2024 (2024-09-23) Futsal Week tournament Turkey  4-5  Latvia Poreč, Croatia
20:15 Adem Kucukkartal ('4), Ramazan Bildirici ('5), Gok Deniz Kahveci ('10), ('37) [4] Andrejs Baklanovs ('2), Artjoms Kozlovskis ('5), Artjoms Troickis ('25), Andžejs Mickēvičs ('26), Referee: Aleš Perič Močnik (SLO)
24 September 2024 (2024-09-24) Futsal Week tournament Slovenia  1-4  Latvia Poreč, Croatia
18:00 Teo Turk ('32) [5] Andrejs Baklanovs ('9), Artjoms Kozlovskis ('25), Daniils Fogels ('29), Andžejs Mickēvičs ('38), Referee: Grigori Osomkov (EST)
25 September 2024 (2024-09-25) Futsal Week tournament Estonia  1-9  Latvia Poreč, Croatia
20:15 Mikko-Petteri Matinaro ('8) [6] Andžejs Mickēvičs ('1), ('29), Artemijs Piļipčuks ('13), ('38), Artjoms Kozlovskis ('21), Artūrs Strazdiņš ('25), Renards Ūdris ('27), ('35), Daniils Fogels ('37),
26 September 2024 (2024-09-26) Futsal Week tournament Montenegro  1-1  Latvia Poreč, Croatia
18:00 Nemanja Nikolič ('1) [7] Krists Krūmiņš ('9)
6 November 2024 (2024-11-06) Friendly Georgia  2-2  Latvia Tbilisi, Georgia
17:00 Giorgi Chimakadze ('38), ('39) [8] Edgars Tarakanovs ('16), Andrejs Baklanovs ('36) Stadium: Tbilisi Sports Palace
Attendance: 1000
Referee: Zviad Bliadze (GEO)
7 November 2024 (2024-11-07) Friendly Georgia  2-6  Latvia Tbilisi, Georgia
17:00 Giorgi Ghavtadze ('19), Archil Sebiskveradze ('27) [9] Edgars Tarakanovs ('14), ('18), Artūrs Strazdiņš ('19), Andrejs Baklanovs ('32), ('33), Rainers Mūrnieks ('38) Stadium: Tbilisi Sports Palace
Attendance: 800
Referee: Bakur Ninua (GEO)
13 December 2024 (2024-12-13) Friendly Morocco  6-3  Latvia Salé, Morocco
20:00 Soufiane El Mesrar ('14), Driss Raisse El Fenni ('16), Anas El Ayyane ('19), Ihab Charrady ('14), ('22), ('24) [10] Miks Babris ('8), Edgars Tarakanovs ('2), ('14) Stadium: Complexe Mohammed VI de Football
Attendance: 120
Referee: Aymen Kammoun (MOR)
15 December 2024 (2024-12-15) Friendly Morocco  2-0  Latvia Salé, Morocco
18:00 Soufiane El Mesrar ('9), Mohmaed Reda Madih ('32) [11] Stadium: Complexe Mohammed VI de Football
Attendance: 80

2025 results

3 February 2025 (2025-02-03) Friendly Latvia  2-1
 Hungary Salaspils, Latvia
19:00 Miks Babris ('30), Edgars Tarakanovs ('37) [12] Patsrik Pál ('3) Stadium: Salaspils Sports Hall
Attendance: 308
Referee: Grigori Osomkov (EST)
5 February 2025 (2025-02-05) Friendly Latvia  2-2
 Hungary Salaspils, Latvia
19:00 Artjoms Troickis ('0), Andrejs Baklanovs ('4), Edgars Tarakanovs ('11), ('37) [13] Máté Suscsák ('2), Sándor Máté Hadházi ('19), Rafael Henrique da Silva ('34), Patrik Pál ('38) Stadium: Salaspils Sports Hall
Attendance: 315
Referee: Jagnar Jakobsons (EST)

Player records

As of 21 February 2025. Players in bold are still active with Latvia.

Most appearances

Rank Player Caps Goals
1 Aigars Bondars 86 0
2 Maksims Seņs 80 40
3 Germans Matjušenko 70 32
4 Jānis Pastars 67 11
5 Artjoms Koļesņikovs 55 11
6 Matīss Babris 50 4
7 Andrejs Baklanovs 49 32
Andrejs Aleksejevs 48 11
9 Miks Babris 47 13
10 Konstantīns Zabarovskis 44 4

Top goalscorers

Rank Player Goals Caps Average
1. Maksims Seņs 40 80 0.28
2. Germans Matjušenko 32 70 0.38
3. Andrejs Baklanovs 32 49 0.1
4. Artūrs Jerofejevs 16 41 0.2
5. Edgars Tarakanovs 15 34 0.13
6. Miks Babris 13 47 0.26
7. Igors Dacko 12 36 0.57
8. Oskars Ikstens 12 43 0.25
9. Andrejs Aleksejevs 11 48 0.27
9. Sergejs Nabigins 11 42 0.18
9. Artjoms Koļesņikovs 11 55 0.11
9. Jānis Pastars 11 67 0.11
10. Andrejs Šustrovs 10 33 0.11
10. Igors Avanesovs 10 32 0.11

Competition history

FIFA Futsal World Cup Record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GS GA
Netherlands 1989 did not compete
Hong Kong 1992
Spain 1996
Guatemala 2000 did not qualify
Chinese Taipei 2004
Brazil 2008
Thailand 2012
Colombia 2016
Lithuania 2021
Uzbekistan 2024
Total 0/10 0 0 0 0 0 00
UEFA Futsal Championship record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GS GA
Spain 1996 did not compete
Spain 1999 did not qualify
Russia 2001
Italy 2003
Czech Republic 2005
Portugal 2007
Hungary 2010
Croatia 2012
Belgium 2014
Serbia 2016
Slovenia 2018
Netherlands 2022
LatviaLithuania 2026 Qualified as co-host
Total 0/13 0 0 0 0 0 0

References

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ Viktors Sopirins (2024-02-08). "Sestdien Ogrē īpaša telpu futbola veterānu spēle" (in Latvian). LFF.lv. Retrieved 2024-02-08.
  3. ^ Girvičs, Kristiāns. "telpu futbols Latvijā". Enciklopedija.lv. Enciklopedija.lv. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
  4. ^ "Telpu futbola virslīga". LFF.LV. LFF. Retrieved 20 February 2025.
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