Papakura City X NRF Youth Futsal Championships

Papakura City X NRF Youth Futsal Championships Papakura City FC is proud to announce an exciting new partnership with Northern Region Football (NRF), which will see the club make its first-ever entry into the New Zealand Football Youth Futsal Championships this December in Wellington.

The Youth Futsal Championships is the premier youth futsal competition in Aotearoa. Held annually, the tournament brings together the best regional teams from across the country to compete in a high-performance environment. It showcases the nation’s most talented young players, offering them the chance to experience top-level futsal, represent their region, and take important steps along the national development pathway. Teams made up of 10 players enter across the U15, U17, and U19 Boys’ and Girls’ divisions.

We will be joining Auckland City FC, who have been competing in the championships for several years, in Wellington this year. It’s exciting for Papakura City FC to work alongside them and, in partnership with NRF, help deliver this opportunity for our young players. Together, we’re showcasing the growth of futsal in our region and providing a pathway for the next generation to develop and succeed at a national level.This milestone marks a historic step for our club and our region, supporting the growth of futsal and opening new doors for our youth.

In 2025, Papakura will proudly enter the competition with an U15 Boys team, laying the foundation for sustainable growth and preparing the way for more teams in future years.Papakura City FC’s commitment to futsal is well-established. Our Women’s Ford Futsal SuperLeague team, in partnership with NRF, has been a dominant force in New Zealand, reaching the grand final every year for the past four years and securing three championship titles. This continued partnership strengthens our work in futsal, providing inspiration for our younger players and showcasing the pathways and opportunities available within the region for aspiring futsal athletes.For Papakura City FC, this opportunity is about more than competition. It’s about building pathways, creating experiences, and showing our young athletes what is possible when community and federation come together. In partnership with NRF, we are proud to be driving futsal forward and ensuring that the next generation of players has every chance to shine.

Futsal plays a key role in developing quick decision-making, technical ability, and tactical awareness. These championships will give our players the chance to test themselves against the country’s best, while also learning lessons that will benefit their wider football journey.

Papakura City FC General Manager, Marvin Eakins, said:"This is a hugely exciting step for Papakura City FC and NRF. To have our young players competing at a national level reflects the growth of futsal in our community. It will be an incredible experience for the players involved, giving them the chance to challenge themselves, learn, and grow. These players will be pioneers for our club, they’re setting the standard for future teams, and we’re incredibly proud to see them take this opportunity."

This debut is a proud milestone for Papakura City FC, creating a platform to continue developing futsal for years to come. It strengthens our commitment to supporting the game’s growth, not only within our own community, but also as part of the wider development of futsal across New Zealand.

Players who want to be part of the U15's can register for our Open Training Trials tinyurl.com/4e35734a