You’d have to travel to Asia to truly understand the passion that large parts of the continent have for football. While South Korea are the only country in the continent to ever reach a semi-final of an 11-a-side World Cup, the determination and love for the game demonstrated by supporters is unique in character and perhaps rivals that of continents we associate more closely with footballing success.
It is in this sense, a surprise that FIFA has persistently voted against this vast part of the world, which has such joy and love for the game, hosting international tournaments. While Japan and Korea were joint hosts of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and Qatar controversially hosted the same tournament in 2022, Central Asia has long been overlooked as a destination to host FIFA tournaments.
That was until the summer of 2023 when FIFA’s decision to select Uzbekistan over the likes of the USA and Morocco to host the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup sparked jubilation across the lesser-known football-loving nation.
Why did fifa choose uzbekistan as the host of the 2024 futsal world cup?
To an outsider, hosting a FIFA tournament in Central Asia might seem like a peculiar decision. It is a part of the world that has never had a representative at an 11-a-side FIFA World Cup, aside from perhaps Kazakhstan’s Andrey Ashavin, has never produced a world class player to leave a stamp on Europe’s top leagues, and is rarely covered by Western media, creating the assumption that football just isn’t that big in Central Asia.
Yet, viewing figures of the beautiful game in the region are vast. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan footballing federations have invested large sums over the past 20 years into schemes, such as FIFA’s Forward and Football for Schools programme, to raise the general level of talent in Central Asia. One of the results of their investment and dedication to the programme is a growing popularity and success in the court-based equivalent, futsal.
Futsal is designed to improve the ball control, decision-making, and wider technical abilities of football players, so it’s only natural that the game thrives in nations where emphasis has been placed on improving the quality of training young players receive. While historically competitive, though never actually winning the AFC Asian Cup, Uzbekistan failed to ever qualify for a FIFA Futsal World Cup until 2016. However, after increased emphasis on player development and improving training methods, Uzbekistan qualified for back-to-back FIFA World Cups in 2016 and 2021. In 2021, the emerging futsal nation performed particularly admirably, reaching the round of 16 before being narrowly beaten by Asian rivals Iran.
FIFA, understandably impressed with the progression of futsal and dedication to training improvements in Uzbekistan, picked the nation to host the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup.
However, it isn’t just Uzbekistan that is making the headlines for futsal growth in Asia. Serial winners of the AFC Asian Cup, Iran, spread shockwaves across the futsal sphere in 2016 after finishing third at the FIFA World Cup and following their success up four years later with a quarter-final at the next tournament. Futsal is undoubtedly growing in Asia and it’s certainly not beyond the realms of possibility that Uzbekistan, Iran, or another Asian nation will reach the final stages of this Autumn’s FIFA World Cup.
How do asian nations qualify for the fifa futsal world cup?
As with several other continental footballing governing bodies, the AFC organise a tournament for Asian futsal nation that provides both an opportunity for silverware and qualification to the proceeding FIFA Futsal World Cup.
- 16 teams play at each AFC Asian Cup. The teams are split into four groups of four, with the two highest teams in each group qualifying for the quarterfinals.
- The quarterfinals of the AFC Asian Cup are massive games. The winners of each tie proceed to the semi-finals of the competition while simultaneously qualifying for the following FIFA Futsal World Cup. The losers of the quarterfinals are eliminated from the tournament and out of a chance of qualification for the FIFA Futsal World Cup.
- This year, the continent received an additional place due to Uzbekistan hosting the tournament.
- While the AFC Asian Cup is competitive in the earlier rounds, it is a tournament that has been absolutely dominated by Iran, who’ve won 13 of the 17 AFC Asia Cup finals.
- The only other nation to win the tournament is Japan. Japan have won the AFC Asia Cup on four occasions, including 2022 and 2014 victories over Iran.
- Iran and Japan have met in the final on eight separate occasions.
Which asian nations qualified for the 2024 fifa futsal world cup?
Asia’s best futsal talent took to the courts of Thailand to fight for qualification for the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup in the recently completed AFC Asian Cup. But which five Asian nations will be at the FIFA World Cup, and what chances do they have in the tournament?
1. UZBEKISTAN
With the home crowd behind them, Uzbekistan will hope they can make their 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup even more memorable. The emerging futsal nation went out in the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup for the 7th time and will be slightly frustrated the fine margins prevented them building momentum ahead of this Autumn’s tournament.
Key player: Davron Choriev
Uzbekistan will be hoping their goal-getting 31-year-old captain, Davron Choriev, maintains the impressive form he displayed during the recent AFC Asian Cup at the upcoming FIFA Futsal World Cup.
Can Uzbekistan reach the tournament’s later stages?
While optimism is understandably high surrounding the first-ever Central Asian FIFA tournament, it is important to be realistic about the host nation’s chances of winning the tournament.
In just their third-ever FIFA Futsal World Cup, Uzbekistan will be hoping to build on their 2016 last-16 finish. Beating one of futsal’s superpowers and continuing their steady growth would be enough to fill the people of the nation with immense pride. Home advantage could be the difference they need in the tournament’s tightest matches.
2. IRAN
Iran won their 13th AFC Asian Cup earlier this year and will have every belief they can upset the big boys at this Autumn’s FIFA World Cup. Historically, Iran has dominated the AFC Asian Cup but have struggled to reach the later stages of the FIFA World Cup. But after a surprising third-place finish in the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup, Iranian supporters are becoming growingly expectant ahead of this year’s tournament.
Key Player: Saeid Ahamadabbasi
The Iranian pivot won both the Golden Boot and Player of the Tournament at the recently completed AFC Asia Cup. After a sensational display in Iran’s final victory, Saeid Ahamadabbasi once again proved he’s the man for the big occasions.
What would success look like for Iran at this Autumn’s FIFA Futsal World Cup?
Iran, now 6th in the official world rankings, has a genuine chance of becoming the first Asian country to win any FIFA tournament. But they’ll have tough competition from the superpowers of South America and Europe, so they may need a bit of success along the way.
Equalling or improving on their 2016 third-place finish will surely be Iran’s objective this time around.
3. THAILAND
The 2024 AFC Asia Cup represented a tournament of progress for the hosts, Thailand. Enduring disappointing quarter-final and semi-final exits in each of the last three AFC Asian Cup tournaments, the 2024 edition saw Thailand finally return to the final, where they were beaten 4-1 by the relentless trophy-winning Iran.
Perhaps more importantly, Thailand’s strong AFC Asia Cup performances ensured them a place at Uzbekistan’s 2024 FIFA World Cup.
Key player: Jirawat Sornwichian
The 35-year-old Thai captain has played at the previous three FIFA Futsal World Cups and his experience will be invaluable to his teammates if Thailand are to progress deep into this Autumn’s tournament.
With a goal in the final of the AFC Asian Cup, the veteran defender is showing no signs of slowing down.
Will Thailand make it out of the group stages in Uzbekistan?
While the AFC Asian Cup trophy still eludes Thailand, they regularly build teams that stay competitive against Asia’s best futsal nations. Furthermore, Thailand has progressed out of the group stages of the FIFA Futsal World Cup in each of the last three tournaments. Ranked at 29th in the world, they’ll be unlikely to win this year’s tournament but are certainly capable of causing a couple of upsets along the way.
4. AFGHANISTAN
It’s a fairy-tale first FIFA Futsal World Cup for Afghanistan. Despite losing in the quarter-finals of this year’s AFC Asian Cup, Afghanistan was handed a lifeline due to the continent receiving an additional place at the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup due to Uzbekistan hosting. After beating Kyrgyz Republic 5-3 in a one-off play-off match, Afghanistan secured their first ever place at a FIFA World Cup.
What has caused Afghanistan’s unlikely success?
Afghanistan has benefited from neighbouring the Asian futsal dynasty, Iran. Majid Mortezaei, Afghanistan’s Iranian-born head coach, installed a new futsal culture in the country and used his contacts to help secure use of Iran’s state-of-the-art training facilities leading up to the AFC Asia Cup.
Can Afghanistan be competitive at the FIFA World Cup?
Uzbekistan’s 2024 tournament represents the first occasion any Afghanistan team has attended the finals of any FIFA competition. Supporters and players alike will be hopeful of competing at the tournament, but just qualifying symbolises significant sporting achievement and improvement in Afghanistan.
5. TAJIKISTAN
Tajikistan is another Asian nation who’ll be making their debut at this Autumn’s FIFA Futsal World Cup. Until 2018, the ‘Persian Lions’ had only progressed out of the group stages of the AFC Asia Cup on a singular occasion. However, after finally reaching the quarter-finals again in 2018, Tajikistan made it to the semi-finals this year, and in doing so, qualified for their first ever FIFA Futsal World Cup.
Key player: Firuz Bekmurodov
Tajikistan’s goalkeeper, Firuz Bekmurodov, will be going into the FIFA Futsal World Cup with a point to prove. Though Bekmurodov’s smart saves inspired Tajikistan to their first AFC Asian Cup semi-final, the goalkeeper missed the opportunity to send his nation to the final in a heart-breaking penalty shoot-out defeat to Thailand.
What can we expect from Tajikistan’s first FIFA Futsal World Cup?
Tajikistan sits at 47th in the world rankings but will be relishing the opportunity to play a FIFA Futsal World Cup in their neighbouring country, Uzbekistan. The supporters that travel across the border will celebrate every goal, every save, and every tackle with immense pride in their nation’s heroic futsal talents. However, getting beyond the group stages represents a serious challenge for Tajikistan.
