CHICAGO (May 23, 2023) – Sascha Filippi has been named the interim head coach of the U.S. Men’s Futsal National Team as the team continues their preparation to qualify for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup.
Filippi has an array of international futsal club coaching experience in France, Belgium, Catalunya, and the United States, where he has been coaching since 2015 and is currently a coach at various levels with the Arlington Soccer Association in Virginia. He holds the French Federation (UNCFS): National Diploma A in Futsal. Filippi also serves as an assistant coach with the recently launched U.S. Futsal Women’s National Team and will continue in that capacity.
A search for a new head coach has already begun with the goal of appointing that position before the end of the summer.
“I’m honored and appreciative of this opportunity,” said Filippi. “I followed this team closely in qualifying for the last Futsal World Cup and am aware of the strong player pool that has been built for the program in just the last few years. I look forward to working with those players and playing whatever part I can to see the team qualify for another World Cup in 2024.”
U.S. Soccer is currently planning a number of camps in the next 10 months in anticipation of the 2024 Concacaf Futsal Championship next spring, which will serve as qualifying for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup. The U.S. qualified for the Covid-delayed 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup under previous head coach Dusan Jakica.
Futsal is an indoor version of the sport of soccer, with teams fielding five players each on court the measure 40 by 20 meters. It is sanctioned by FIFA and is a contraction of the Spanish words "futbol sala."
For more information on the sport or to inquire about athlete eligibility, please email U.S. Soccer's Extended National Teams Department at extendednt@ussoccer.org.