Socca The worlds Emerging Sport
Founded in 2017, the International Socca Federation (ISF) serves as the official global governing body for the sport. Played typically in 6-a-side format the ISF hosts national and international competitions for small-sided football. With over 80 member associations and more than 2.5 million players worldwide, the ISF oversees more than 3,500 matches every day across 1,600 leagues in countries around the world.
Tournaments and competitions under the ISF umbrella is continually growing and currently includes, local leagues, Continental Cups, Socca Champions League, Socca Youth, Women’s Socca, Socca Grand Prix, Socca Masters, Socca World Series and the pinnacle of the ISF calendar the Socca World Cup.
The world Cup
The inaugural ISF Socca World Cup was held in 2018 in Lisbon, Portugal, where Germany emerged victorious in a tournament that captivated millions of viewers around the globe.
In 2019, the World Cup moved to the stunning island of Crete, Greece. A custom-built, 4,000-seat stadium in Rethymno set the stage for a thrilling competition featuring 40 teams. Russia ultimately triumphed, defeating Poland in a hard-fought final to claim the world title.
Following a hiatus due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament made its much-anticipated return in 2022. Hosted in Budapest, Hungary, the event saw Brazil lift the trophy after a commanding 3-0 victory over Kazakhstan in the final.
The 2023 edition marked a major milestone for the sport, as Essen, Germany welcomed the largest and most celebrated Socca World Cup to date. A purpose-built stadium in the city center was filled to capacity for seven straight days, drawing fans from across the world. In a dramatic final, Kazakhstan edged out Ukraine in a tense penalty shootout.
In 2024, the Socca World Cup reached new ground both geographically and symbolically. Hosted in Oman — the first Middle Eastern nation to stage the event — the tournament delivered a storybook ending. In front of a passionate home crowd, Oman clinched a historic victory, defeating Kazakhstan in a penalty shootout to become world champions.
“The vision is to have a world cup on every continent, Bringing socca to every corner of the global. We want to see millions more people playing our fantastic sport, with tournament held everywhere, every year, and the world world watching”
— David Leone, President of ISF