Tashkent: Australia emerged as the fifth and final team to qualify for the FIFA Futsal World Cup Colombia 2016, which will take place this September, after defeating Kyrgyzstan in the 2016 AFC Futsal Championship play-off match in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Australia join IR Iran, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam, who earlier secured their places after advancing to the quarter-final stage of the biennial competition.
The result is a historic achievement for Australia, Uzbekistan and Vietnam as all three teams will be competing in their first ever FIFA Futsal World Cup. The achievement is especially momentous for Vietnam, as it represents the Southeast Asian country’s first ever appearance at a FIFA final tournament of any kind.
Asian Football Confederation President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa offered his congratulations to the five teams: “I would like to congratulate Australia, IR Iran, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam for their brilliant performances at the 2016 AFC Futsal Championship.
“Three out of the five Asian teams will be competing in the FIFA Futsal World Cup for the first time. The remarkable accomplishment of these three teams highlights the progress made in recent years in our continent.”
“The high-tempo, captivating matches and stunning goals at the AFC Futsal Championship exemplify the role futsal continues to have on player development. I am confident that the Asian teams will do us proud and we expect more riveting displays in Colombia.”
The 2016 AFC Futsal Championship continues today as 2014 runners-up IR Iran take on Vietnam and hosts Uzbekistan face 2012 runners-up Thailand for a place in Sunday’s final.
The eighth edition of the FIFA Futsal Word Cup will commence on September 10, 2016, with the final taking place on October 1. Thailand and IR Iran will be looking to better their showing in 2012 when both teams advanced from their respective groups to qualify for the Round of 16 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Photo: AFC
Source: the-afc.com