FIFA Futsal World Cup:
Iran lands Venezuela, Guatemala, and France in group stage
Iran will begin its Futsal World Cup campaign in Uzbekistan with a game against Venezuela in Group F on September 16.
The draw for the 10th edition of the sport’s flagship international event took place in the ancient Uzbek city of Samarkand on Sunday, where 24 teams were split into six groups, with Iran, seeded in Pot 1, also pitted against Guatemala and France.
Ranked fourth in the inaugural FIFA Men’s Ranking earlier in May, the Asian powerhouse, whose best World Cup finish came in 2016 thanks to a shootout victory over Portugal in the third-place playoff, will face Guatemala on September 19 before squaring off against the European opponent three days later.
Having lifted a record-extending 13th Asian Cup trophy in April, Vahid Shamsaei’s men will fancy a comfortable progress into the knockout stage after being handed a relatively easy task in the group phase.
Venezuela will be making only a second World Cup appearance after reaching the last 16 in Lithuania three years ago, while Guatemala, beaten by Iran in all six previous meetings between the two sides, has failed to go beyond the group stage in five attempts.
France, meanwhile, will be a World Cup debutant – alongside Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and New Zealand – courtesy of an elite-round group win in the European qualifiers.
Elsewhere in the draw, reigning champion Portugal was placed into Group E, alongside Panama, Tajikistan and Morocco, while Brazil – the most decorated team in the competition with five titles – is in Group B, also featuring Cuba, Crotian, and Thailand.
Host Uzbekistan will face the Netherlands, Paraguay, Costa Rica in Group A, with Argentina – the 2021 runner-up and champion in 2016 – landing Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Angola in Group C.
Two-time champion Spain is in Group D with 2021 semifinalist Kazakhstan, New Zealand, and Libya.
The top two of the six groups will be joined by four best third-placed teams in the round of 16.