Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has underlined his confidence in Uzbekistan ahead of the FIFA Futsal World Cup as the host nation prepares to stage its first-ever FIFA tournament in history next week.
Uzbekistan will become the fourth AFC Member Association to host the FIFA Futsal World Cup, after Hong Kong, China (1992), Chinese Taipei (2004) and Thailand (2012) as the global showpiece takes place across the cities of Andijan, Bukhara and capital Tashkent from September 14 to October 6, 2024.
History also beckons for two Central Asian nations – Tajikistan will participate in their first senior FIFA global showpiece, while Afghanistan will compete in their nation’s maiden FIFA tournament since 1948 after both sides recorded spellbinding runs at the AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ Thailand 2024 in April.
The AFC President said: “Uzbekistan have shown outstanding organisational capabilities in hosting several of the AFC’s top class competitions and marquee events in recent years and I have every faith that the Uzbekistan Football Association and the Local Organising Committee will stage another exceptional tournament.
“Futsal has witnessed a meteoric rise in Asia and the development of teams, including Afghanistan and Tajikistan, further emphasises the true depths of our collective progress and I am confident that we can expect more history from our teams in Uzbekistan.
“Together with the hosts, powerhouses the Islamic Republic of Iran and Thailand, I wish all our teams as well as our esteemed match officials the very best of success.”
Thailand will be the first Asian side to do battle when they take on Croatia in Group B at the Bukhara International Sports Complex on Saturday at 3pm. The Southeast Asian side, who have reached the Knockout Stages in their last three outings, will also face off against Cuba (Sept 17) and five-time world champions Brazil (Sept 20).
A deafening reception at Tashkent’s Humo Arena is expected five hours later when hosts Uzbekistan take on the Netherlands, who will be appearing in their first finals in five editions. Featuring in their third finals, the White Wolves will be hoping to surpass their best Round of 16 showing at the last edition in Lithuania but will also need to contend with Group A rivals Paraguay (Sept 17) and Costa Rica (Sept 20).
Passionate fans of Asian futsal will need to wait until Sunday for Afghanistan to make their debut. The Central Asians will battle Group C opponents Angola, who made their first appearance at the last edition. Kick-off is set for 5.30pm at the Humo Arena with 2016 champions Argentina (Sept 18) and Ukraine (Sept 21) waiting in the wings for the Asian newcomers.
Poised for their ninth appearance, the Islamic Republic of Iran will be aiming to become the first Asian side to lift the coveted trophy as they take on Venezuela in Bukhara the next day. Only Spain, Brazil and Argentina have featured in more editions than the 13-time Asian champions, with Guatemala (Sept 19) and debutants France (Sept 22) looking to prove worthy adversaries for the 2016 third-place finishers in Group F.
Newcomers Tajikistan will be the last Asian side to commence their quest for glory in Tashkent where they face 2021 Quarter-finalists Morocco in Group E at 8pm on the same day. Following that, the Central Asians will have the formidable task of facing defending champions Portugal (Sept 19) and Panama (Sept 22).
Moreover, Asian representation will be further strengthened by a distinguished cast of match officials, including IR Iran’s Mehrabiafshar Ebrahim, Fahad Badir Ali Mohamed Alhosani from the United Arab Emirates, China PR’s An Ran and Australia’s Ryan Shepheard, who are officiating at the FIFA Futsal World Cup for the second consecutive time, following their involvement in the 2021 edition in Lithuania. They will be joined by Vietnam’s Dung Quoc Truong, who has previously officiated at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Colombia 2016.
Adding to this impressive lineup are several familiar faces such as Anatoliy Rubakov, representing the host nation, Thailand’s Pornnarong Grairod, and Hiroyuki Kobayashi of Japan, all of whom made appearances at the AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ Thailand 2024. Additionally, another mainstay of the AFC’s roster, China PR’s Liu Jianqiao has been appointed as a support referee.
Editor: Kamran Raja