International Confederation of Futebol de Salão

What International Confederation of Futebol de Salão does

ICFDS operates a global franchising business built on the Brazilian Futebol de Salão indoor-football training methodology, delivered through two complementary brands that cover the full childhood development window: SOCATOTS for children aged six months to five years, and Brazilian Soccer Schools (BSS) for children and teenagers aged five to eighteen. The core teaching asset is a 200+ movement/ skill curriculum evaluated via the proprietary Skills Badge Scheme, supported by an in-house IT stack consisting of a custom CRM integrated with G Suite for enrolments, sub-franchise management, lead management, coaching databases, and e-learning delivery. The company markets itself around a quantifiable ball-contact advantage (claim: 7.95 touches per minute vs 0.60 in traditional 11-a-side), validated by third-party authors (Daniel Coyle, The Talent Code) and endorsements from figures including Michael Owen, Carlos Alberto Torres, and Micah Richards.

ICFDS monetizes primarily through B2B franchise sales rather than direct consumer fees. Prospective franchisees progress through an 8-step intake (enquiry, initial call, evaluation form, concept presentation, NDA, business planning, discovery day, agreement signing) and select from three tiers: Master Franchise (country), Area Developer (region), or Sub-Franchisee (local territory). Revenue streams include one-time franchise fees (£1,000-£25,000+ depending on territory and population), recurring monthly royalties of 5% of net franchisee revenue (plus 1% national marketing, 5% concept management, 3% IT systems — effectively ~14% of franchisee net revenue), branded equipment and uniform sales, and training/support service revenue from annual International Coaching Weeks. Pricing is localized by market (UK £8,400 minimum startup; Australia $40,500; Germany €12,800; Poland 10,350 PLN).

Operations span 11-15 countries across Europe, Asia, Oceania, North America, and Africa, executed through wholly-owned regional confederations (UKCFDS, PLCFDS, CCFDS, GECFDS, AUCFDS, INCFDS) each staffed by local managing directors. Strategic brand partners include Nike (equipment and co-branding), NSW Department of the Arts, Sport and Recreation (Australia), the Children's Activity Association, and the Polish Football Association. The company is privately held by Rupert Lowe, ex-Chairman of Southampton FC, who acquired full ownership from founder Simon Clifford in December 2012; no external venture capital or private equity investment is evidenced in the input data.

Name

International Confederation of Futebol de Salão

Legal name

ICFDS GLOBAL LIMITED

Website

https://icfds.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ICFDS franchises Brazilian Futebol de Salão-based football coaching programs globally through two brands — SOCATOTS for children aged 6 months to 5 years and Brazilian Soccer Schools for ages 5-18 — selling territorial franchise rights, royalties, branded equipment, and training services to operators in 11+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Oxford

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Franchise Fees: Initial franchisee fee varying by territory size and population, including territorial exclusivity, intellectual property rights, access to coaching know-how, business support tools, and ongoing business and leadership consultancy. Fees range from £5,000 in UK to region-specific amounts in other markets.
2. Royalty Fees: Monthly franchise fee of 5% of net revenue, plus national marketing (1%), concept management (5%), and IT systems (3%) as a percentage of net revenue from franchisees.
3. Equipment and Supplies: Sale of coaching equipment and uniforms to franchisees, including SOCATOTS and BSS branded materials.
4. Training and Support Services: Revenue from training week expenses and ongoing franchisee support services including annual International Coaching Weeks, Business Development Forums, and inter-seasonal meetings.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ICFDS operates a global franchise system built on the Brazilian Futebol de Salão methodology, sold through two consumer-facing brands: SOCATOTS (early childhood football-inspired physical development for ages 6 months to 5 years) and Brazilian Soccer Schools (structured football coaching for ages 5-18 with a syllabus of 200+ skills and the proprietary Skills Badge Scheme). Franchisees acquire exclusive territorial rights to operate classes using the methodology, branded equipment and the company's integrated CRM platform, paying an initial franchise fee plus monthly royalties (5% of net revenue) and IT/marketing/concept fees.

Product overview

The International Confederation of Futebol de Salão (ICFDS) operates a dual-brand franchise system consisting of SOCATOTS (for children aged 6 months to 5 years) and Brazilian Soccer Schools (for children ages 5-18). Both programs are built on the Futebol de Salão methodology—a Brazilian indoor football training approach—and offer franchise opportunities globally. The organization also provides franchisees with an integrated IT platform including a custom CRM system, G Suite-based collaboration tools, performance analytics, online enrollment, and e-learning resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SOCATOTS: Football-related physical development activities for young children aged six months to five years with parents' active participation
• Brazilian Soccer Schools
• Skills Badge Scheme
• Futebol de Salão

Products and services

• SOCATOTS (franchise programme for ages 6 months to 5 years) A football-related physical development programme for children aged 6 months to 5 years, delivered through systematic training sessions with parents' active participation. Sessions cover basic movement patterns, balance, motor coordination and early ball skills, designed to be fun and engaging for toddlers while supporting development milestones. Sold as a franchise with exclusive territorial rights, coaching methodology, branded equipment and ongoing business and leadership consultancy.
• Brazilian Soccer Schools (franchise programme for ages 5-18) A grassroots football organisation providing structured football education to children aged 5-18 through a worldwide network of coaches. Delivered via a syllabus of 200+ individual core movements and skills taught and evaluated using the proprietary Skills Badge Scheme, based on the Futebol de Salão methodology. Sold as a franchise with exclusive territorial rights, intellectual property rights, coaching know-how, branded equipment, an integrated CRM platform, and ongoing business and leadership consultancy.
• ICFDS Integrated CRM and IT Platform (franchisee support system) Custom-made CRM system integrated with G Suite that franchisees use for email, calendar, document collaboration, customer relationship management, performance analytics, automatic online enrolment, sub-franchise management, multi-level lead management and the coaching database. Funded by a 3% IT systems fee applied to franchisee net revenue.

Quantifiable outcome

• Players achieve 7.95 ball touches per minute compared to 0.60 in traditional 11-a-side football, and 5.12% ball out of play vs 34.62%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional, industry and minor.

• NikecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNike is a key brand partner providing equipment and brand association for ICFDS franchise operations globally. Nike branding appears on partner sections of the ICFDS network websites.
• NSW Department of the Arts, Sport and RecreationregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partnership in Australia for sports development programs, providing regulatory support and community integration for youth football development initiatives.
• Children's Activity AssociationindustryStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association membership providing credibility and best practice standards for children's physical activity programs globally.
• Polski Związek Piłki Nożnej (Polish Football Association)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with Polish Football Association for football development programs and youth training initiatives in Poland.
• SBP (Unidentified Partner)minorOthersPartnership with unidentified SBP organization shown in Poland partner logos.
• R-Gol (Unidentified Partner)minorOthersPartnership with unidentified R-Gol organization shown in Poland partner logos.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Little Kickers: UK-headquartered franchise network offering football coaching classes for young children (typically 18 months to 7 years). Operates an international master franchise model that competes directly with ICFDS's SOCATOTS product for the same parent demographic in overlapping geographies.
• Soccer Shots: US-based youth soccer franchise serving children ages 2-8 through franchised operators across North America. Closest direct comparator by structure (franchise model), target age band (early childhood), and curriculum-led positioning.
• Lil' Kickers: US franchise operating youth soccer programs for children 18 months to 9 years. Comparable by franchise GTM, age-segment coverage, and structured skill-progression syllabus analogous to ICFDS's Skills Badge Scheme.
• Super Soccer Stars: US youth soccer coaching franchise offering age-banded programs (typically 2-14 years) through licensed operators. Direct business-model and curriculum overlap with Brazilian Soccer Schools in the English-speaking market.
• Soccer Stars: Long-running US youth soccer program offering classes, camps, and clinics for young children. Comparable target customer and structured-syllabus model to Brazilian Soccer Schools.
• Challenger Sports: International soccer coaching franchise and camp operator serving children through franchisee-run programs. Overlaps with ICFDS in franchise distribution, child-focused coaching, and English-speaking market expansion strategy.

Broad incumbents

• Juventus Academy: International branded academy program run by Juventus FC licensing its methodology to local operators worldwide. Competes for the same premium youth football training customers with the strength of a top-tier European club brand.
• Premier League Soccer Schools: Premier League-affiliated coaching programs run in international markets, leveraging the Premier League brand to compete for the same parents/children seeking premium football instruction that ICFDS targets.

Others

• Nike Football Programs: Strategic ecosystem partner of ICFDS and the most recognized global football brand. Adjacent rather than directly competing, but Nike's own grassroots football initiatives represent a parallel channel that could absorb franchisee spend.
• The Football Association (FA) Skills Programme: UK national federation's grassroots coaching initiative that occupies similar position in the youth football development category. Represents institutional competition (and partnership opportunity) for ICFDS's methodology in the UK.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdKKYG40xdjHBLqD5nDHJRw
• Facebookfacebook.com/icfdsworldwide
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brazilian-soccer-schools-scarborough
• Instagraminstagram.com/icfdsglobal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Confederation of Futebol de Salão