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13 Teams, 46 Games: FTA at the 2026 Joe Farrell Classic
- Coach Thiago
- Aug 5
- 3 min read
This past weekend, Futsal TA took one of our biggest groups of the year to the 2026 Joe Farrell Classic - and our players did the club proud. Thirteen teams, forty-six games, and a whole lot of futsal at its fast, competitive best.
It's exactly the kind of test we love. After a summer of training morning and evening at our different program locations, the Classic was a chance for our players to take everything they've been building and put it on the line against strong competition. And they showed up ready.
What is the Joe Farrell Classic?
The Joe Farrell Classic is a summer futsal tournament hosted by FutsalRVA Central Virginia's futsal league, and 2026 marked its fourth year. It's named in honor of Joe Farrell of FutsalRVA, and it draws teams from across the east region - boys and girls from U9 all the way to U18, plus adult divisions - for a fast-paced, competitive weekend of small-sided play.
This year's Classic was held August 1-2 at the brand-new Henrico Sports and Events Center, a state-of-the-art indoor venue in the Richmond, Virginia area with the court space to run games side by side all weekend long. For our players, it meant a full weekend of high-level futsal against clubs they don't usually face, in one of the best facilities on the summer calendar.
One club, thirteen teams
We brought a full contingent to the Classic, with teams across nearly every age group:
U9 · U10 Fixo · U10 Pivo · U11 Fixo · U11 Pivo · U12 Fixo · U12 Pivo · U12G · U13 · U14 · U15 · U16G · U17
Across those thirteen teams, our players competed in 46 games over the course of the tournament - pool play followed by bracket play, with every side fighting for a spot in the knockout rounds. Seeing that much yellow and black across the courts, all weekend long, is a picture of just how far this club has come.
How our teams did
It was one of our strongest team showings yet. Four FTA teams brought home division titles - our U9, U10 Fixo, U15 Boys, and U16 Girls all won their age groups. The U9s were especially dominant, going undefeated all weekend and closing it out with a 10-5 win in the final.
Four more teams battled all the way to their division finals - our U10 Pivo, U12 Girls, U13, and U17. The U17s came agonizingly close, drawing their final and falling only in a penalty shootout to a very strong all-star side from the region. Our remaining teams got exactly what these weekends are for: fast, competitive futsal against clubs they don't usually face, and plenty to build on heading into the fall.
Four champions, eight teams in division finals, thirteen teams giving it everything - it's a weekend the whole club can be proud of.
Why we go
Tournaments like the Joe Farrell Classic are where development becomes real. All those touches, all those small-sided reps from training turn into decisions made under pressure, against opponents who want it just as badly. Win or lose, every game teaches our players something a training session can't - and every trip like this pulls the club closer together.
We're proud of how our players carried themselves this weekend, on and off the court. Thank you to the families who made the trip, cheered from the sidelines, and got everyone where they needed to be, game after game.
Futsal's home across the Carolinas
Weekends like this are a snapshot of something bigger. Over the years, FTA has grown into one of the leading futsal clubs across the Charlotte and Raleigh regions - built by people who genuinely love this game and are dedicated to growing it here.
From our youngest beginners to our oldest competitive sides, we've given players across the Carolinas a real place to develop their game, chase opportunities they wouldn't find anywhere else nearby, and fall for the sport the way we have. And our numbers keep climbing every season, because when families see what futsal does for a player, they stay. If you want the best environment for your player to grow in this region, this is the place to be.
See the photos
Want to relive the weekend? We've pulled together a photo album from the Classic - browse and download shots of your player and our teams in action across the tournament.
View the Photo Album → https://adobe.ly/3UbNr9t
What's next
The tournament is one more step in a season that keeps building.
If your player wants to be part of moments like these, we'd love to have them. Reach out anytime - we're happy to help you find the right fit.
See you on the court.
