Foosball Tables > Styles of Tables
Styles of Foosball Tables
The game of foosball truly is a global sport and can be found on every continent throughout the world. What fuels the origin and continued existence of the table game is the most popular sport in the world, football (also known as soccer on the United States). Wherever fans can be found, there will be those that want to play the miniature version as well.
If you read the history of the game, you will find that it was actually invented in the United Kingdom in the 1920s. However, the game has evolved over the last 100 years to vary depending on what geographic region you live in. Much like our regional cuisine, some of this is driven simply by what else is around that area of the world. From architecture influencing the table design to the type of wood and resources readily available to construct the table, each area of the world has something unique to offer. These differences in construction also greatly impact the actual style of how the game is played ranging from fast, action-packed to slow and more strategic.
If you read the history of the game, you will find that it was actually invented in the United Kingdom in the 1920s. However, the game has evolved over the last 100 years to vary depending on what geographic region you live in. Much like our regional cuisine, some of this is driven simply by what else is around that area of the world. From architecture influencing the table design to the type of wood and resources readily available to construct the table, each area of the world has something unique to offer. These differences in construction also greatly impact the actual style of how the game is played ranging from fast, action-packed to slow and more strategic.
That is another reason why in 2002 the governing body of professional foosball, the International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF), was established at the international level in an attempt to keep rules and standards for how the game is played around the world. They dictate the brands of tables that can be used in professional tournament play and only the highest quality models are selected. This organization has recognized only a select few table makers from the core five countries that are well-known for making pro tables. The ITSF-sanctioned professional tables are:
Different International Styles of Foosball Tables
There are six core variations of tables around the world. These styles are American, Czechia (AKA Czech Republic), French, German, Italian and Spanish. The below information provides a high-level overview of each of these different types of table construction and playing styles by country. You can also click on a country to learn more about that particular style and the various manufacturers that build them.
There are six core variations of tables around the world. These styles are American, Czechia (AKA Czech Republic), French, German, Italian and Spanish. The below information provides a high-level overview of each of these different types of table construction and playing styles by country. You can also click on a country to learn more about that particular style and the various manufacturers that build them.
American-Style
American tables are known for their hard playing surface which facilitates speed and rigidity. They were born from European design but have since developed their own cross style between German and French design. This style focuses on passing, ball control and executing your shot. You have the ability to pin the ball through textured or cross-hatched toes on the men or play a fast game where shots can begin from side position against the man, making this a hybrid playing style. |
Czech Republic-Style
Czech playing style and movement is known for being very similar to the Americans and Germans. You will see a lot of controlled play with snake shots and brush passing in tournament play. The style is completely dictated by a single manufacturer, Rosengart. They have been around for years and have adapted their design based on player feedback to make the rod movement more fluid. Today, they have improved their engineering and are certified as an ITSF professional table. |
French-Style
French tables are identified by usually having "telescoping" rods that don't protrude out of the other side and a bowl or horseshoe-shaped cabinet. Parents love this design feature because it is safe for their kids who might otherwise get hit with a rod coming through the table. Their men are made of metal or aluminum along with a cork ball and softer and more grippy playing field surfaces like linoleum. The style of play can be described as fluid, with the ball mainly being moved from a pinned position between the man and the surface. |
German-Style
German tables are known for having a style that has stayed the same for a number of years. Early American tables from the 1960s and 1970s had this style with the sloped corners and single goalie. German models typically have plastic men that are mounted directly to the rods as a single piece along with a hard playing surface. Some tables even use sanded glass or acrylic, making the ball really move at high speeds. This prevents the men from becoming loose and makes for a fast rolling game. |
Italian-Style
Italian design has completely unique qualities that mimic no other country's style of play. Models range from mirroring both other European designs with angled legs while others have American aspects. Commonly found is a glass top or slippery surface along with red and blue players and a plastic ball. This style tends to be fast and free, without a lot of controlled passing or setup before attempting shots. Pinning the ball is difficult but not impossible, and pin shots have become very common at tournaments. |
Spanish-Style
The style of play in Spain is completely unique compared to any other country of foosball. This style is a skill game that takes concentration and great hand-eye coordination due to the curved playing surface. It causes the ball to roll back towards the center of the table which makes it harder to get your ball in position for a shot. Spanish play style is known to have a lot of back pins to trap the ball and maintain possession, rather than a lot of passing back and forth along the same rod. |
Common Names for Foosball by Country
Since foosball is played on every continent around the world, it has developed different names depending on the language or the jargon that was developed to talk about the game over the years. Many common names for the way to say foosball from different countries around the world are spin-offs from the sport of soccer (football).
Arab countries - Widely known as كرة قدم (Korah Fatel) in Arabic, which means "rolling football." It is also called بيبي فوت (baby-foot)
Argentina - Metegol
Australia - Foosball or table football
Austria - Wuzler (also spelled Wuzzler), playing table football is called wuzeln
Belgium - Tafelvoetbal/Kicker (after the brand of foosball tables)
Bolivia - Futbolín
Brazil - Pebolim or totó
Bulgaria - Футбол на маса ("table football"), also джаги
Canada - Foosball or jitz from the Italian word "gitoni" (table soccer). Gitz for short and spelled "jitz". In Quebec, it is known as baby-foot.
Chile - Taca-Taca
China - 桌上足球 (table football)
Costa Rica - Futbolín
Croatia - Stolni nogomet
Czech Republic - Fotbálek, regionally (mostly in Moravia) also kalčo (from "kalit" a slang for "to play")
Denmark - Bordfodbold (lit. "table football")
Estonia - Lauajalgpall
France - Baby-foot or Babyfoot
Germany - Tischfußball, Tischkicker, Kicker or Krökeln
Greece - Ποδοσφαιράκι ("Small footbal")
Guatemala - Futío
Hungary - Csocsó
Iceland - Fótboltaspil
India - Fusball
Iran - فوتبال دستی (handheld football)
Ireland - Foosball or table football
Israel - כדורגל שולחן (table football)
Italy - Calcio balilla, bigliardino or biliardino (from "biglia", little ball) and in particular areas fubalino
Japan - テーブル・フットボール, loanword, pronounced teburu futtoboru
Latvia - Galda futbols
Lithuania - Stalo futbolas
Malta - Ċomba
Mexico - Futbolito
Netherlands - Tafelvoetbal
Other Spanish-speaking countries - Fútbol de mesa or futbolito are used
Pakistan - پٹّی (patti) in Urdu, which means "pitch or strip"
Peru - Fulbito de mesa or futbolín
Poland - Piłkarzyki, which roughly translated means "small football players"
Portugal - Matraquilhos or matrecos
Romania - Fusbal or Fotbal de masa
Russia - кикер or настольный футбол
Serbia - Stoni fudbal
Slovenia - Ročni nogomet
Slovakia - Kalčeto
South Africa - Tata box/Ma tata/Foosball
Spain, Colombia and Costa Rica - Futbolín (In Spanish autonomy of Galicia, it's also called matraquiños and ferriños)
Switzerland - Töggelichaschte
Taiwan - 手足球(桌上足球)
Thailand - ฟุตบอลโต๊ะ (table football)
Turkey - Langırt
United Kingdom - Table football
United States - Foosball
Uruguay - Futbolito
Venezuela - Futbolín
Zimbabwe - Slug
Since foosball is played on every continent around the world, it has developed different names depending on the language or the jargon that was developed to talk about the game over the years. Many common names for the way to say foosball from different countries around the world are spin-offs from the sport of soccer (football).
Arab countries - Widely known as كرة قدم (Korah Fatel) in Arabic, which means "rolling football." It is also called بيبي فوت (baby-foot)
Argentina - Metegol
Australia - Foosball or table football
Austria - Wuzler (also spelled Wuzzler), playing table football is called wuzeln
Belgium - Tafelvoetbal/Kicker (after the brand of foosball tables)
Bolivia - Futbolín
Brazil - Pebolim or totó
Bulgaria - Футбол на маса ("table football"), also джаги
Canada - Foosball or jitz from the Italian word "gitoni" (table soccer). Gitz for short and spelled "jitz". In Quebec, it is known as baby-foot.
Chile - Taca-Taca
China - 桌上足球 (table football)
Costa Rica - Futbolín
Croatia - Stolni nogomet
Czech Republic - Fotbálek, regionally (mostly in Moravia) also kalčo (from "kalit" a slang for "to play")
Denmark - Bordfodbold (lit. "table football")
Estonia - Lauajalgpall
France - Baby-foot or Babyfoot
Germany - Tischfußball, Tischkicker, Kicker or Krökeln
Greece - Ποδοσφαιράκι ("Small footbal")
Guatemala - Futío
Hungary - Csocsó
Iceland - Fótboltaspil
India - Fusball
Iran - فوتبال دستی (handheld football)
Ireland - Foosball or table football
Israel - כדורגל שולחן (table football)
Italy - Calcio balilla, bigliardino or biliardino (from "biglia", little ball) and in particular areas fubalino
Japan - テーブル・フットボール, loanword, pronounced teburu futtoboru
Latvia - Galda futbols
Lithuania - Stalo futbolas
Malta - Ċomba
Mexico - Futbolito
Netherlands - Tafelvoetbal
Other Spanish-speaking countries - Fútbol de mesa or futbolito are used
Pakistan - پٹّی (patti) in Urdu, which means "pitch or strip"
Peru - Fulbito de mesa or futbolín
Poland - Piłkarzyki, which roughly translated means "small football players"
Portugal - Matraquilhos or matrecos
Romania - Fusbal or Fotbal de masa
Russia - кикер or настольный футбол
Serbia - Stoni fudbal
Slovenia - Ročni nogomet
Slovakia - Kalčeto
South Africa - Tata box/Ma tata/Foosball
Spain, Colombia and Costa Rica - Futbolín (In Spanish autonomy of Galicia, it's also called matraquiños and ferriños)
Switzerland - Töggelichaschte
Taiwan - 手足球(桌上足球)
Thailand - ฟุตบอลโต๊ะ (table football)
Turkey - Langırt
United Kingdom - Table football
United States - Foosball
Uruguay - Futbolito
Venezuela - Futbolín
Zimbabwe - Slug