Watch as Mail Sport’s Kate McGreavy scores Futsal Lionesses’ FIRST international goal in World Cup qualifier against Finland
- McGreavy lined up in defense and fired in her side’s first goal of their 5-2 defeat
- England will initially play three matches to reach the first ever World Cup
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Mail Sport Editor-in-Chief Kate McGreavy scored the Lionesses’ first ever Futsal goal on Wednesday afternoon.
England took on Finland in a bid to reach the 2025 World Cup in the Philippines, which will be the sport’s first-ever edition of the competition.
In a match consisting of five players per side, McGreavy lined up in defense and was responsible for the first ever goal scored by the team, which had no FA funding and played an historic first match.
England announced their squad of fourteen women in September, three months later confirming that they had reached the fundraising threshold for the women’s team and would therefore be able to compete in the main qualifying round for the tournament.
They lost 5-2 on aggregate to Finland, but McGreavy made history when she scored for her side via a deflection after a kick-in.
Mail Sport’s Commissioning Editor Kate McGreavy (far left, in purple) scored the Lionesses’ first ever Futsal goal
McGreavy took a kick and saw her effort end up in the net via an apparent deflection
Her teammates flocked to celebrate with her, with England losing the match 5–2
As she prepared to take the kick-in, she apparently tried to pass the ball to a teammate, who had walked late into the penalty area.
She watched as her effort was seemingly deflected and flew past the Finnish goalkeeper, before her teammates surrounded her to celebrate.
The team will take on Moldova on Thursday before also playing Slovenia in the UEFA 2025 World Cup qualifiers, which will feature 16 teams.
The competition, which was established by FIFA in December 2022, will feature four teams from Europe, three from Asia, two from Africa, two from North America, three from South America and one from Oceania, as well as the host country.
There are four groups of six competing in the first qualifying stage, with the group winners progressing to the next stage, where the teams join Spain and Portugal – two sides who have recently achieved success at the European Championship – in two groups of four, with the top two teams in each group qualifying for the World Cup.
Sion Kitson, head of development and engineering at English Futsal, wrote on X in October when announcing the selection: ‘This is a monumental moment for everyone associated with English Futsal.
‘@EnglandFutsal is extremely proud to announce this squad. It is a testament to the player’s dedication to the sport. This group has a great mix of youth and experience and I am excited to see them take to the court.”
England announced their first-ever Lionesses indoor football team in September, in the hunt for a place in the World Cup
McGreavy added: “I am honored to have been selected to represent my country and to be part of such a talented group.
‘This is a pivotal and special moment for England Futsal after enormous support, dedication and commitment behind the scenes from so many people – and just the start of the journey.
“We have been working hard in recent months to prepare for the upcoming qualifiers and the work for Moldova continues. Let’s go.’