The UEFA Futsal Champions League main round has begun under a new format for its 25th season, with groups running until Sunday to determine the knockout round of 16 lineup. Defending champions Illes Balears Palma secured a 2-1 comeback win over Etoile Lavalloise, while Benfica, Kairat Almaty and Sporting CP also claimed opening victories in Path A. In Path B, Araz Naxçivan won their match, and Kyiv Futsal drew with debutants Vrhnika.
The main round features eight groups split into Path A and Path B, deciding which 16 teams advance to a new two-legged round of 16. In Path A, the top three teams from each of four groups qualify, with the top two seeded. Holders Illes Balears Palma, ranked among the top coefficient teams, entered directly and came from behind to beat Etoile Lavalloise 2-1 on Wednesday. Other Path A winners included former champions Benfica, Kairat Almaty and Sporting CP.
A notable moment came in Group 2, where Chrudim suffered a 9-5 loss to Semey. The Czech side featured 50-year-old Roman Mareš, making his first UEFA competition appearance almost 25 years after scoring all four goals in Czechia's 4-1 Futsal EURO qualifier win over Belgium.
In Path B, only group winners advance, with three mini-tournaments underway. Former semi-finalists Araz Naxçivan claimed an opening win, while Kyiv Futsal, in their first UEFA appearance, drew with Vrhnika, who debuted in the preliminary round.
Group Breakdown
Path A Groups:
- Group 1 (30 Oct–2 Nov, Piast Gliwice hosts): Cartagena Costa Cálida (ESP), Sporting Anderlecht (BEL), Piast Gliwice (POL), Kauno Žalgiris (LTU)
- Group 2 (29 Oct–1 Nov, Palma hosts): Semey (KAZ), Illes Balears Palma (ESP), Etoile Lavalloise (FRA), Chrudim (CZE)
- Group 3 (29 Oct–1 Nov, Luxol hosts): Benfica (POR), Riga Futsal Club (LVA), Luxol St. Andrews (MLT), Loznica-Grad 2018 (SRB)
- Group 4 (29 Oct–1 Nov, Makarska hosts): Sporting CP (POR), Kairat Almaty (KAZ), Novo Vrijeme Makarska (CRO), Prishtina 01 (KOS)
Path B Groups:
- Group 5 (Catania hosts): Catania (ITA), AEK Futsal Club (GRE), Akaa (FIN), Weilimdorf (GER)
- Group 6 (Lučenec hosts): Lučenec (SVK), Hjørring Futsal Klub (DEN), Futsal Minerva (SUI), Buba Mara (BIH)
- Group 7 (United Galati hosts): Tigers Roermond (NED), Araz Naxçivan (AZE), United Galati (ROU), Differdange 03 (LUX)
- Group 8 (Vrhnika hosts): Hit Kyiv (UKR), Kyiv Futsal (UKR), Vrhnika (SVN), FORCA (MKD)
(*Preliminary round qualifiers)
Palma hold a record 24-game unbeaten run since 2022/23 and won three straight titles last season. Kairat, last season's runners-up, are on their 22nd entry, while Araz mark their 20th campaign. The knockout draw occurs on 6 November at 14:00 CET, with round of 16 ties on 24 November and 5 December, quarter-finals on 23 February and 6 March, and finals in Pesaro on 7/8 and 9/10 May.