Sporting Clube de Portugal[1] has a professional futsal team based in Lisbon, Portugal, since 4 March 1985, and plays in Portuguese Futsal First Division. They are the most decorated team in terms of domestic titles in the country, and are the current UEFA Futsal champions, with their second title in three years. With the 2019-20 season cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic and since the 2009-10 season, Sporting have made the last 12 Portuguese National Futsal finals and winning 9, with the club winning 3 straight Portuguese championships 2016, 2017 & 2018, making it their second three peat in their history.
History
Futsal was introduced in Sporting Clube de Portugal in 1985.
In 1995, Sporting fans were forced to choose the modalities to keep in the club, due to financial problems, having chosen handball and futsal, leading to the closure of the basketball, hockey and volleyball sections (which returned in the meantime).
In 2002, futsal is officially adopted by UEFA and the UEFA Futsal Cup was created. This first edition was played in Lisbon and organized by Sporting Clube de Portugal, which represented the country as national champion and reached the semi-finals.
In 2019, Sporting CP won their first UEFA Futsal Champions League after defeating tournament hosts Kairat Almaty by 2-1. In 2021, Sporting CP won their second Futsal Champions League title defeating FC Barcelona 4-3 in Zadar, Croatia. In the 2020-21 season Sporting won its 16th Portuguese First Division Title, beating their eternal rivals Benfica 3-1 at Pavilhão Fidelidade, thus completing the quadruple for the calendar season and extending Sportings' hegemony in Portuguese futsal.
Facilities
Pavilhão João Rocha
Pavilhão João Rocha is a multi-sports pavilion located in the parish of Lumiar, in Lisbon. Located next to the Estádio José Alvalade, it is the home of Sporting CP sports. In honor of one of the most distinguished figures in the history of Sporting, the pavilion was named after former club president, João Rocha, who remained in office from September 1973 to October 1986. Its inauguration took place on the day June 21, 2017.