Author: Vishwajit Sawant
The CONMEBOL Libertadores Futsal Cup is a futsal competition organized by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL). It brings together the top futsal clubs from all over South America to compete for the prestigious title.
The 2023 CONMEBOL Libertadores Futsal Cup will be held in Caracas, Venezuela, from May 21 to 28, 2023. It’s the 22nd edition of South America’s leading club futsal tournament, organized by CONMEBOL. Cascavel, the defending champions, will be defending their title.
Format:
There are a total of 12 teams in the competition. The teams are classified into three groups. The teams in each group compete against each other at a venue predetermined by CONMEBOL. After the group matches, the two best teams from the groups qualify directly for the quarter-finals. The two best third-placed teams qualify for the quarter-finals.
The last of the third-placed teams will play the ninth-place play-off against the best team of the three in fourth place. The two teams remaining in fourth place will face each other in an eleventh-place play-off.
Teams:
According to the CONMEBOL Libertadores Futsal Cup Rules and Regulations, there are a total of 12 teams taking part in the competition. The teams from the 10 Football Associations that can take part in the competition. The eligible associations are: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
One of the two remaining places will be given to the host country (in this case, Venezuela) and the other will be given to the winner of the 2022 Copa Libertadores de Futsal. The 2022 Copa Libertadores de Futsal winners were Brazilian team Cascavel.
Therefore, we can see two teams from Venezuela (host country) and Brazil due to the rules established by CONMEBOL. The list of teams from each of the 10 participating associations is as follows:
| Association | Team | Qualification method |
| Argentina | Central tents | Winners of the 2023 Copa Libertadores qualifying play-offs. |
| Bolivia | Ghosts | Champions of the 2022 National Futsal League. |
| Brazil | Rattlesnake | Champions of the 2022 Copa Libertadores de Futsal. |
| Joinville | 2023 Futsal Super Cup champions. | |
| Chile | Recoleta Sports | Winners of the 2022 Primera Futsal Super Cup. |
| Colombia | Real Antioquia | Winners of the FCF Futsal Super League 2022. |
| Ecuador | Esportivo Bocca | Champions of the 2022 National Futsal League. |
| Paraguay | Cerro Porteño | Champions of the 2022 Premium Futsal League. |
| Peru | Panta Walon | Champions of the Liga Futsal Pro Primera División 2022. |
| Uruguay | Peñarol | Champions of the Uruguayan Football Championship Sala 2022. |
| Venezuela | Centaurs | Champions of the FUTVE Futsal 1 League in 2022. |
| Tigers | 2022 Liga FUTVE Futsal 1 Torneo Clausura runners-up |
Teams from Brazil:
Cascavel and Joinville will represent Brazil in the 2023 CONMEBOL Futsal Libertadores Cup.
Rattlesnake-
Cascavel are the 2022 Copa Libertadores de Futsal champions and are in Group A. They will face Tigres on May21st in the tournament opener. Cascavel will face Panta Walon on May22nd and complete their group stage with a match against Cerro Porteño on May 23rd.
About:
Founded in 1991, Cascavel Futsal is a much-loved team in Brazil. The team gained recognition in 1998 when it entered the top division of futsal in its state, the Paranaense Futsal Championship – Silver Key, and has maintained its position ever since, without facing relegation.
Cascavel Futsal holds the record for the most titles in the Paranaense Futsal Championship – Golden Key, having won the state championship seven times (2003, 2004, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2020 and 2021).
Their achievements reached new heights in 2021, when they became champions of the National Futsal League for the first time in the club’s history. Building on this success, they won their first continental title by winning the Libertadores the following season, which represented a significant milestone for the club.
Joinville-
Joinville are the 2023 Futsal Supercup champions. The team is currently in Group B of the 2023 competition. They will begin their journey against the Ghosts on May 21st. Joinville face Real Antioquia on May 22 and end their group stage campaign against Barracas Central on May 23.
About:
Joinville Esporte Clube, also known as JEC or simply Joinville, is a Brazilian soccer team from Joinville, Santa Catarina. Founded on January 29, 1976, the club has enjoyed notable success, including winning Serie B and Serie C once.
Joinville hold the record for the longest sequence of consecutive state titles, winning in eight consecutive years, from 1978 to 1985. Although it is considered the third most successful club in Santa Catarina, behind Avaí and Figueirense, Joinville experienced its golden age in the 1980s.
The team’s achievements include winning the Copa Santa Catarina, the Recopa Sul-Brasileira and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B in 2014, marking their return to Série A after a 29-year absence. However, subsequent relegations in 2015 and 2016 saw the team drop to Serie C.
Previous winners:
The CONMEBOL Futsal Libertadores Cup has seen several teams and countries become champions throughout its history.
The team that has won the CONMEBOL Futsal Libertadores Cup the most times is Carlos Barbosa, representing Brazil. They have won the title on seven occasions. Carlos Barbosa have been a dominant force in the tournament, consistently showing off their futsal prowess.
Other Brazilian clubsto have won the competition are Jaraguá – six times – and Internacional, Banespa, Intelli, Atlântico, Sorocaba and Cascavel Futsal, all once. The other teams to have won the CONMEBOL Futsal Libertadores Cup were Cerro Porteño (Paraguay) and San Lorenzo (Argentina) once.
In terms of the country with the most wins in the Copa Libertadores de Futsal, Brazil take the lead by a significant margin. Brazilian teams have won the tournament 18 times, demonstrating their strong tradition and talent in futsal. Paraguay and Argentina won once.