The Argentinian national anthem echoed around the Arena Sorocaba in Sao Paulo like a shared heartbeat. With their voices unwavering and their eyes lit up, the Argentina players linked arms and sung with pride. It was the final of the Copa America against Brazil. The score had yet to be settled, but Argentina had already booked their place at the first FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup™. Anita Ontiveros scored to seal the ticket-seizing comeback win over Paraguay.
The pivot told FIFA: “It will hit us the hardest when we land in the Philippines and say, ‘We’ve made it’. I don’t think we realise how big this is. We feel proud to wear this shirt and to be Argentinian. We’re humble players who work hard behind the scenes to give our best and, above all, we’re respectful.”
Ultimately, it was Brazil who emerged victorious in the Copa America final. “Those sorts of matches are all about the small details,” said Ontiveros. “We weren’t clinical enough in front of goal. That’s not to take anything away from Brazil, who are a great team. We played very well in the first half, but I think nerves and fatigue got the better of us in the second half.”
The competition caught the Argentinian by surprise due to the high standard of the teams in the region, despite some of them not having national leagues. The competition had a different feel to it because places for Philippines 2025 were up for grabs, which were ultimately claimed by Argentina, Brazil and Colombia.
“I’m excited, happy, nervous… it’s a mix of emotions,” continued Ontiveros. “The other day, I shared a post about how there were only 100 days to go. And I was like, ‘Oh my God, it’s only 100 days away!’ It’s a long way off, but at the same time it’s not when there’s so much anticipation. We’ve waited such a long time for this to come around.”
Their last training camp included a couple of friendlies at home, which helped identify areas for individual and collective improvement. It also gave them an energy boost, with home fans cheering them on ever more enthusiastically.
“The best part is seeing the younger girls playing and coming to watch the matches,” said Ontiveros. “It makes it even more enjoyable. I love it.
“As a kid, it was difficult to get so much support and publicity. When I started playing, support like that was hard to come by. You used to get maybe 30 people attending a match, and now you see sold-out stadiums.”
The Mendoza native began playing after watching her brothers. “I thought girls didn’t play football until I saw a girl my brother knew playing,” explained Ontiveros. “Then I heard about some teams I could join. That’s when I started to look at it differently and wanted to take it a step further.”
Anita has come a long way since then. She used to play 11-a-side football in Argentina and Chile, but when she returned to Mendoza, she turned her focus to futsal, which took her to Brazil and then Spain, where she currently plays. Now she is set to join her new Galicia-based team, Estela Cortegada, who were recently promoted to the second division.
The journey hasn’t been easy, and the decision required a sacrifice in terms of distance. She had previously turned down a chance to play in Italy, but wasn’t about to let another opportunity to pursue her dream slip away.
“The timing was just right for me,” she said. “I had a bit more experience and a better understanding of how things work, so I decided to leave in 2021. The league and the players are extremely competitive [in Spain]. You can’t slack off. You have to put in the work at training and always give 100 per cent.
“There are moments when you’re not at your best. Being far from home and dealing with injuries has been tough for me. I have grown to be patient, appreciate the process, and not want everything immediately.”
Qualifying for this World Cup feels like a reward for her. “I often say to myself, ‘Dreams come true for those who persevere’. I have persevered all this time, and hopefully the time has come for me to represent Argentina in November.”
She currently plays alongside Luciana Natta, who was nominated for the planet’s Best Female Player award for 2024.
“I always tell her that she’s an incredible player,” said Ontiveros. “She’s so talented, she reads the game well and makes intelligent decisions. We always joke that she should try playing abroad to go that one step further. I think it would be great for her.
“She brings so much to the table technically and tactically, but above all she lifts the team spirit. Her youthful energy and empathy with all the players makes her stand out from the rest and motivates the team.”
During her stint at FSF Castro, Ontiveros played alongside Brazilian talent Camila, the Best Women’s Player for 2023. “She’s a top-class player and very sharp. She’s technically gifted and physically strong. It’s great playing with such a competitive player who constantly tries to get the best out of you.”
Now Ontiveros is looking forward to playing against a who’s who of the sport’s elite at Philippines 2025.
“This isn’t a South American knockout competition,” she said. “I expect it to be a hard-fought and competitive World Cup.
“Our hopes are high, and we’re working hard to finish in the top three at the World Cup. We definitely have a good chance. That said, we don’t know much about the other teams, so we’ll just focus on ourselves, on what we can do and what we need to improve.”
