Thursday, October 17, 2024
Finland are the first team through to join Portugal and Spain in the elite round of European qualifiers for the new FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup.
The first FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup will be played in 2025 in the Philippines, and European qualifying has begun with the main round, which runs until Saturday.
Finland are the first team through to join Portugal and Spain in the elite round after wins against England and Slovenia. Finland’s progress was sealed on Thursday when England, in only their second women’s futsal international, defeated Moldova.
Also on two wins, but yet to book progress, are Italy (whose group ends on Friday, with the others concluding on Saturday), Hungary and Sweden.
Another of the three teams making their competitive debut, France, won 3-1 against UEFA Women’s Futsal EURO 2023 runners-up Ukraine in their first game and a day later scored two late goals to hold Czechia 2-2.
EURO 2022 and 2023 semi-finalists Hungary had to come back from two down to beat England and France’s fellow newcomer, Norway, 3-2. However, Norway themselves registered a first win in their second game, beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 3-2.
The six group winners qualify for the elite round to join top seeds Portugal and Spain. The elite round, drawn on 31 October and running from 18 to 23 March, will consist of two groups of four. The top two in each elite round group will qualify for the finals in the Philippines running from 21 November to 7 December 2025.
Group 1 (ends Friday): Italy, Croatia, Serbia (hosts), Lithuania
Group 2 (ends Saturday):Hungary, Norway, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus
Group 3 (ends Saturday): Czechia (hosts), France, Ukraine, Northern Ireland
Group 4 (ends Saturday)
Through to elite round: Finland
Also in group: England, Slovenia, Moldova (hosts)
Group 5 (ends Saturday): Sweden (hosts), Slovakia, Belgium, Latvia
Group 6 (ends Saturday): Netherlands, Poland, Kazakhstan (hosts)
2025 Futsal Women’s World Cup: Confederation slots
Hosts: 1 (Philippines)
AFC: 3
CAF: 2
CONCACAF: 2
CONMEBOL: 3
OFC: 1 (New Zealand)
UEFA: 4
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