The AFC Futsal Asian Cup™ Thailand 2024 will witness the continent’s premier 16 teams vying for supremacy on the court, starting this Wednesday. This year marks the 17th edition of the tournament, taking place in Bangkok from April 17th to 28th, where the top four teams will secure their spots in the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024.
From an initial qualifying round in October, involving 30 teams, 15 have advanced to join the host nation, Thailand, who qualified automatically. These contenders were organized into four groups during the official draw in December.
The tournament features prominent teams including defending champions Japan and the Islamic Republic of Iran, the latter having won the event 12 times and reaching the finals on eight occasions. Alongside these powerhouses, Thailand and Uzbekistan hold the distinction of participating in every edition of the tournament to date.
Vietnam and Myanmar will kick off the competition at the Hua Mark Indoor Stadium in Group A, marking their first encounter in this context. Vietnam is making its seventh appearance with a past best finish of fourth in 2016, while Myanmar returns for its second tournament since 2018.
Thailand, hosting for the third time and aiming to improve upon their previous best finishes as runners-up, faces China PR in their opening match in Group A. China PR is making its 13th tournament appearance, aiming to match or better their best performances from 2008 and 2010.
Group B begins with Uzbekistan versus Australia in Bangkok, with Uzbekistan aiming for its first title after finishing second four times. Australia returns for their eighth appearance, looking to beat their best finish of fourth place.
The day’s proceedings also include Saudi Arabia against Iraq in Group B, with Saudi Arabia looking to make it past the group stage for the first time in their third appearance, while Iraq participates for the 13th time, having finished fourth in 2018 as their best result.
The following day, Group C and D will start, featuring matches like Tajikistan against Korea Republic and Japan against Kyrgyz Republic, with Japan seeking their fifth title. Iran, consistently finishing in the top three, starts their campaign for a 13th title against newcomers Afghanistan.
The round concludes with Kuwait facing Bahrain, with both teams having previously shown strong performances in the tournament.
With Uzbekistan automatically qualifying for the FIFA Futsal World Cup as hosts, a playoff will determine the fifth-place team should Uzbekistan reach the semi-finals, offering another chance for teams to qualify for the World Cup, scheduled between September 14 and October 6, 2024, in Central Asia.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AFC Futsal Asian Cup?
The AFC Futsal Asian Cup is a prestigious futsal competition organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). It features the top national teams from across Asia, competing for the continental championship. The tournament also serves as a qualifier for the FIFA Futsal World Cup, with the top teams earning spots in the global competition.
How are teams selected for the AFC Futsal Asian Cup?
Teams qualify for the AFC Futsal Asian Cup through a series of qualifying tournaments held in the lead-up to the main event. A total of 16 teams make it to the tournament, including the host nation, which qualifies automatically. The rest secure their places through competitive qualifying rounds.
How often is the AFC Futsal Asian Cup held?
The AFC Futsal Asian Cup is held every two years. This biennial format allows national teams adequate time to prepare and compete for qualification, ensuring a high level of competition.
What is the format of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup?
The tournament begins with a group stage, where the 16 teams are divided into four groups. Each team plays against the others in its group, and the top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage. The knockout stage includes quarter-finals, semi-finals, and the final to determine the champion.
How can teams from the AFC Futsal Asian Cup qualify for the FIFA Futsal World Cup?
The top four finishers in the AFC Futsal Asian Cup automatically qualify for the FIFA Futsal World Cup. If the World Cup host nation (in this case, Uzbekistan) is among the top four, the next highest-placed team gets the spot. Additionally, if Uzbekistan reaches the semi-finals, a playoff is held among the next best-ranked teams to determine the fifth qualifier.
When and where is the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024 scheduled?
The FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024 is scheduled to take place from September 14 to October 6, 2024. This marks the first time the event is hosted in Central Asia, promising an exciting showcase of global futsal talent.
