Portugal’s Women’s Futsal Crushes New Zealand 10-0 to Dominate Group Stage

A ruthless performance in Manila has propelled Portugal’s women on the fast lane toward a possible first world futsal crown; ten unanswered goals against New Zealand closed the group stage in style, extended an immaculate record to nine points, and sharpened expectations at home that the Seleção Feminina may finally convert years of promise into global silverware.

Momentum builds in Manila

Portugal landed in the Filipino capital talking about cautious progress, yet three matches later the numbers speak louder: 23 goals scored, only one conceded, and a swagger that placed the third-ranked side atop Group C well ahead of Tanzania, Japan and Friday’s overpowered Kiwis. Inside the Mall of Asia Arena the Portuguese press from the opening whistle forced turnovers, dictated the tempo and confirmed why many bookmakers have slashed odds on Luís Conceição’s team. Local supporters—intrigued by the European giants and lured by free-entry vouchers—watched six balls ripple the net before the interval, a decisive show of technical superiority, positional rotation, high pressing, and the kind of cold finishing that elite futsal demands.

How the goals arrived

The scoreboard lit up with strikes from Janice Silva and Fifó, each grabbing a brace, while Débora Lavrador, Inês Matos, Maria Pereira, Kaka and Marta Teixeira all joined the party; the tenth was credited as an own goal when New Zealand defender Cat Pretty deflected a low cross past her keeper. Portugal rattled off 32 shots in twenty first-half minutes, threaded one-touch combinations through the centre, and exploited the second post with surgical timing. The finishing spree was not merely about flair—it underlined an emphasis on goal-difference management, a detail Conceição believes can still decide knockout match-ups if extra-time statistics come into play.

Voices from the court

Conceição, usually restrained, allowed himself a smile. He praised the squad’s focus, rigour, and refusal to “lift the foot”, insisting that every minute counts because the upcoming mata-mata phase offers no second chances. Veteran pivot Janice Silva admitted the team “started a little sleepy” yet quickly “tuned the missing details”, while Fifó described the fixture as a live training ground to refine set-pieces, adjust defensive pressure, and “honour the country”. The locker room message, repeated in half-time huddles and post-match interviews, was clear: celebrations end when the cooling-down stretches finish.

What comes next for the Seleção

Tuesday brings a classic southern-European duel with Italy, scheduled for 10:00 in Manila (02:00 in Lisbon). Staff analysts already dissect hours of Azzurre footage, noting their preference for diamond pressing and reliance on the prolific Vanessa Perego. A victory would set up a semi-final versus Argentina, another heavyweight that Portugal edged twice in friendlies last year. Lisbon sports bars have begun advertising dawn-viewing parties, RTP locked in live coverage, and the federation booked charter options to extend family-and-friends travel if the squad reaches the final weekend. Conceição, however, warns that bracket arithmetic is pointless without “the same humility shown against Tanzania and Japan.”

The global gap exposed

New Zealand’s debut on the world stage remains historic for Oceania, yet Friday revealed how wide the chasm still is. The Futsal Ferns climbed to 14th in the FIFA ranking last year, created a domestic league in 2017 and organised Brazilian training camps, but they struggled with Portugal’s physical duels, positional interchanges, and relentless third-man runs. Analysts noted the Kiwis attempted just one shot before half-time, spent forty seconds on average in possession per sequence, and surrendered multiple turnovers near their own D. Even so, New Zealand officials see long-term benefit: television audiences back home spiked, sponsorship inquiries rose, and the federation plans to double youth hubs by 2027, betting that lessons learned from a ten-goal defeat will seed future competitiveness.

Why it matters for Portugal

Back home, women’s futsal has fought for space in a crowded football nation. The Manila romp provides marketing ammunition, fuels conversations with potential corporate partners, and could accelerate the Liga Feminina’s push for professional status. Grass-roots programmes in Porto, Braga and the Algarve report a surge in registration inquiries whenever the national team shines internationally; a deep run this week might deliver the critical mass needed to secure year-round televised league dates. More importantly, the current generation carries memories of near-misses—silver at Euro 2022, bronze last February in Seville—and wants to rewrite that script. Ten goals against New Zealand will not earn a trophy on their own, but they shaped a narrative of momentum, belief, and an unmistakable signal: Portugal has arrived at the decisive end of the tournament with its engines roaring.