FC Porto set to enter futsal's Third Division | OneFootball

FC Porto is preparing to create a senior futsal team, with the aim of registering it in the National Third Division Championship.

Starting next season, the competition will be contested by 50 clubs, with a maximum of three places reserved for clubs that have been part of the national top 20 in professional football competitions over the last five seasons — including FC Porto.

“Up to three clubs from the ranking of the 20 clubs with the best average classification in professional football competitions between the 2020/21 and 2024/25 seasons and which, in the 2025/26 season, do not have a senior futsal team participating in the National Championship of the I, II or III Futsal Division and which comply with the participation criteria for the competition, in accordance with the respective Regulations, including obtaining the required certification level,” reads clause 1.3 of the regulations published this Wednesday by the Portuguese Football Federation.

In 2026/27, the 50 clubs competing in the National Third Division Futsal Championship will be divided into three groups of 14 teams, organized according to geographical proximity, in addition to the Azores Group, made up of eight teams.

In the initial phase, the teams face each other twice, once at home and once away, and the team finishing first in each group secures automatic promotion to the Second Division. The runners-up — along with the winner of the Azores Group — advance to a playoff with two rounds on neutral ground, and the winner of the second round is also promoted.

The Championship Playoff will be contested by three clubs, who will face each other once on neutral ground to determine the winner of the Third Division national title.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.