It was certainly not your usual futsal match as Japan’s Ashisal FC took on ASEAN x Europe Futsal, also known as the World Selection, in the FGAME 7 exhibition match at Yoyogi First Gymnasium in Tokyo on Sunday afternoon.
Played in front of close to 10,000 spectators and streamed live online, the event brought together popular Japanese football YouTuber & former futsal player Nobukun and his Ashisal FC team against a World Selection featuring top futsal players and coaches from Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia. Leading the World Selection were former Spain international Carlos Ortiz and five-time World Futsal Player of the Year winner Ricardinho.
For many Japanese fans, Ricardinho was undoubtedly the biggest attraction. The Portuguese futsal legend is no stranger to Japan, having played for Nagoya Oceans in the country’s F.League back in 2010, winning F.League MVP in both the 2010-11 and 2012-13 seasons. More than a decade later, he remains a crowd favourite.
What made FGAME 7 different was its rather unusual match regulations. Instead of the traditional two halves, the match was played over four periods of 12 minutes each. Both teams could also introduce special cards, including an advantage card to temporarily remove an opposing player and a penalty card where only a female footballer could take the spot kick.
The biggest twist came in the final quarter when the regular futsal ball was replaced by a golden ball, with every goal scored counting as two. These unfamiliar rules certainly left many of us scratching our heads at times, but they also made the match entertaining and unpredictable.
Ashisal FC drew first blood inside the opening five minutes, setting the tone for an exciting afternoon of futsal. With plenty of goals and unexpected moments throughout the match, the contest eventually went down to the final seconds. Just when it looked like the match was heading towards a draw, the World Selection found the decisive golden-ball goal with only three seconds remaining, sealing a dramatic 8-7 victory.
The late winner brought the crowd to their feet and provided a fitting conclusion to an entertaining Sunday afternoon in Tokyo.
Beyond the result, FGAME 7 showed how futsal can be presented differently, combining sporting competition with entertainment while bringing together players, coaches and football personalities from different countries.
The World Selection’s participation was made possible through Singapore’s Lions Futsal Academy, which brought together the regional team for this unique experience. Junpiter Futbol is the official photographer for the ASEAN x Europe Futsal Team.
