This has been a breakthrough year in Antía Perez’s life. She left Burela a few months ago after three seasons, during which the club played a key role in her personal growth. Having accumulated an impressive list of titles and established herself as a key figure for Spain, she is now set to participate in the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup™.
“When I talk about the World Cup, I get goosebumps,” Antia told FIFA. Emotion runs high, though she remains guarded because she is aware that coach Claudia Pons’ final squad list is still to be finalised. However, that does not stop her from dreaming of touching down in the Philippines and competing for glory.
This was an outcome she did not anticipate when she began playing football with the head of a doll she had received. “My parents said, ‘Well, perhaps we should sign her up for futsal’,” the 25-year-old explained. “From that point on, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I have a very football-mad family, so I’ve always been around it.”
FIFA: How does it feel with the World Cup so close and the squad announcement coming up soon?
Antía Perez: I’m nervous, to be honest. The finals are just around the corner, and hopefully I’ll be chosen to go with Spain, to fight for those who missed out, those who aren’t here, and those who have been helping us for so long, making this opportunity possible.
I owe a great deal to Burela and the players I played with there. I shared the pitch with top futsal players, and playing alongside such talented individuals is a truly enriching experience. I tried to soak up everything positive that those players could teach me. I used to watch them when I was younger and be amazed by them.
My biggest change has been in my way of thinking. I matured a lot because of those two injuries. When I arrived in Burela, I became much more mature. I turned into something of a ‘veteran’ player, despite being young. I have experienced so much, and I hope to continue enjoying it much longer. Everything I’ve been through has helped me to be a little more composed on the pitch. I’m no longer the wild child.
Of course. I’d love to play against Brazil. They play some beautiful futsal, and it’s always a pleasure to compete against such talented players. We have to go toe to toe with them almost every week here in Spain. I’d like to play them because there’s already that rivalry here in the national league, and taking it to the international stage would be a nice addition.
You can’t really pick favourites in a World Cup because anyone can knock you out, as we’ve seen before. These national teams in the tournament are improving day by day. Take Morocco, for example. We played them last year, and this year they’ve come on leaps and bounds. I don’t think we can underestimate anyone. You have to approach every team with a humble mindset.
It’s always a shock when someone you care about as much as Anita, our captain, gets injured. However, these things do happen, and we have that togetherness that helps us overcome all adversities. This situation is no exception. We’re going to the Philippines to fight for Anita and for all those who couldn’t make it.
She’s one hell of a player. It’s madness. I’ve never seen a player like her before. She’s physically impressive, finishes well, has a great head on her shoulders, and loves to compete and win. I was lucky enough to share three wonderful years with this exceptional player at Burela, and I’ve really learned a lot from her and her game. It’s an honour to play alongside her and a privilege to take on players of that calibre.
Her future looks exceptionally bright. She’s demonstrating that. She’s making a name for herself, and I think she has to keep up the good work. Hopefully I’ll get to play against her for the first time and have that twenty-something rivalry.
Out of my team-mates, Peque always stands out to me. Hats off to her for everything she does. She’s an international role model. She’s an amazing player who has an infectious competitive spirit that rubs off on everyone around her. I look up to her as a complete player who makes me want to improve every day.
Outside my country, I’d choose Ana Luiza. Her feet are like magic wands. She’s unstoppable. We’ll try to stop her, but she’s relentless. It’s great to watch her play. Her brand of futsal is beautiful to watch. She has that Brazilian samba magic that people want but can’t have, and it comes naturally to her. The way she moves, plays, dribbles, scores, celebrates and dances is a delight to watch.
I feel like I’m at my best right now. I’m in a very strong place mentally, and mental strength and athletic performance always tie in closely. I do my best every day to improve; I’m not settling for past performances.
This Spanish side likes to play futsal. We have two very clear and effective playing styles. It’s a fairly attractive style of futsal, but I’d say our strength lies in defence. Our team is among the best at defending and pressing, which is the result of the hard work put in by the coaching staff. As a team, we’re also very hungry and able to overcome adversity. This team will give anyone a run for their money.
When I think about it, I get the feeling that what I’m picturing won’t be anything like what we’ll actually experience there. It’s going to be a wonderful few days in terms of sport, because it’s the World Cup at the end of the day. Magical would be the word to describe it. It won’t be easy because we have a lot of matches to play, but at the same time, I think it’ll be great. Every team will pull out all the stops to win the World Cup. Hopefully I’ll be able to enjoy it up close. I just can’t wait to get there.
