The Spanish team is already aware of the 23 potential opponents they might face in the upcoming World Cup in Uzbekistan, slated from September 14 to October 6. The draw is set for May 26 in Samarkand, with FIFA confirming Tashkent, Bukhara, and Andijan as the three host cities. Among the 24 participating nations, four are debutants, and notably, there are four Spanish coaches serving as foreign selectors. The tournament will feature six groups of four teams each, with the top two from each group and the four best third-placed teams advancing to the knockout stage. The tournament marks a historic first for FIFA in Central Asia.
Chronologically, barring the host team led by José Venancio López, the last teams to secure their spots were from Asia. Iran claimed its thirteenth Asian Cup title, defeating Thailand in the final, coached by Miguel ‘The Magician.’ Japan’s surprising elimination in the early stages and Vietnam’s absence, despite Diego Giustozzi’s renewal as coach, were notable. Tajikistan and Afghanistan secured unexpected berths, joining debutants France and New Zealand. Morocco clinched its third consecutive African Cup title, with Libya also qualifying by defeating Egypt.
Ricardo Íñiguez will lead Libya as the fourth Spanish coach in the tournament. Panama secured their first CONCACAF Futsal Championship, while New Zealand earned their maiden qualification from Oceania. Brazil’s Copa América triumph, alongside Argentina, Paraguay, and Venezuela, solidified CONMEBOL representation. In Europe, Netherlands and Croatia won UEFA playoffs to join Portugal, Spain, France, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine as representatives. Miguel Andrés Moreno leads the Dutch team, marking their return after 24 years.
