A four-time FIFA Futsal World Cup player himself, Rafael Gonzalez is trying to guide Guatemala's women's team to Philippines 2025.
Rafael Gonzalez is the head coach of the Guatemala women’s futsal team
The Central American side are hoping to qualify for Philippines 2025
Gonzalez played in four Futsal World Cups and scored a wondergoal at Brazil 2008
In his career as a player, Rafael Gonzalez left an indelible mark on Guatemalan futsal. His decorated career included four FIFA Futsal World Cup™ appearances and a Concacaf Futsal Championship crown in 2008. He also scored one of the most memorable goals in Futsal World Cup history with a sensational strike against China PR that was arguably the finest score at Brazil 2008.
Gonzalez’s playing days came to an end after Lithuania 2021, but the desire to leave a legacy remains. His place in the game is now in coaching, and his objective is to make history by qualifying Guatemala for the first FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup™ to take place later this year in the Philippines.
As Guatemala continue preparing for the Concacaf qualifiers which begin in late April, Gonzalez took a moment to talk to FIFA about his experience thus far with the team, how much women’s futsal can grow in the Central American country and his memories of that special strike in Brazil.
Rafael Gonzalez: Right now we are training twice a week and we have a third day for strength training. In the two months coming up, we will implement two more days of training. We focus a lot on our counter-attacking system, like 3-on-2, 3-on-1, 2-on-1, both in defence and attack. We’re trying to decide which system we’ll end up using, also looking at our forward movements, both in defence and attack. We have to detail each step because in futsal, something like a dead ball or a corner kick has about a 60-70 per cent effectiveness if you manage to do it well.
It’s been very good. I’m also the coach of a women’s team at a club here in my country, so I know the majority of the girls that have come through the national team. It’s been both easy and difficult to find the right fit with each one of them. Thankfully we’re in the stage of finalizing the roster and soon we’ll have the complete list. But I’ve been experiencing a lot of joy just like when I was a player. Being a member of the coaching staff is a totally different experience. I’m happy to be able to pass along the knowledge that I have to them so that they can put it into practice.
We know very little about them. We know Panama have a league and we have been scouting them a little, but because the official rosters aren’t known yet, it’s been tough. But we know Panama are a hard team that is very physical. Cuba are no exception, they are physical as well, and I think Mexico are a lot like us in terms of height, strength and strategy.
Well, it would be a great achievement for the girls. First, for the country because it’s a matter of qualifying, it’s not an invitational. Second, because this is what the girls have been fighting for. They’ve been participating for years and they’ve answered calls to the national team. There would be great joy getting to a World Cup, and then being a champion in your country would be the icing on the cake.You mention playing the qualifying tournament at home. I’m sure we can expect the Guatemalan people to fill the stands, no?
Yes, of course. We have made a call to the people, to all of the Chapines out there to come support us. Obviously we are at home and we have to make that count. Our families will be there, everyone who loves us will be there and that will be extra encouragement for all of us.
Yes, of course, many people compare us when they talk about futsal and think of the men's senior team, and that is also an incentive for us to continue doing things well. I’ve been involved since 2008 when we were Concacaf champions and it can be repeated with this side. We on the coaching staff have big expectations of our girls, who have committed themselves to bringing joy to our country and our fans. Women’s futsal still has a ways to go, but with these competitions it will continue to get better each time.