2004 AFC Futsal Championship

FIFA.Com 15th Apr 2004

dominant continental powers Iran will flex their muscles against 17 of Asia’s top contenders at the 2004 AFC Futsal championship at the Pavilhao Polideportivo Stadium in Macau from 16 to 25 April. The tournament will also act as Asia’s qualifying competition for the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship due to be hosted in Chinese Taipei in November.
With the 18 teams divided into four groups (two groups featuring five teams, while the other two have just four), only the top two teams of each group will advance to the knockout, quarter-final stage. The winners will then move on to the semi-finals, where the two triumphant sides will go on to vie for the championship, with the pair of losers playing a crucial play-off for third place. The top three teams will join hosts Chinese Taipei at the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship.

The Kings of Persia
With futsal still very much in its infancy in most parts of Asia, Iran’s sensational advance to the semi-finals of the 1992 FIFA World Championship in Hong Kong established them as continental kings even before their overwhelming dominance of the annual AFC Futsal Championship began in 1999.

Despite their early, group-stage exits at both Spain 1996 and Guatemala 2000, the Persian side have kept a perfect record in Asia, winning all five Asian titles since 1999 without losing a match.

While few will question the Kings’ chances for a spot at Chinese Taipei this November, the five-time Asian champions are also looking to improve on their fourth-place finish at the FIFA Futsal World Championship. As the Hong Kong 1992 tournament (Iran’s best-ever finish), was the first World Championship to take place in Asia, a return to the continent at Chinese Taipei 2004 can only point to good things for the Asian aces.

Japan, the rising challengers
Japan shocked Iran for the first time at both the group stage and semi-finals of the 2001 AFC Futsal Championship in Tehran. The up-and-coming Japanese led 3-2 and 2-1 at half-time, but eventually went on to lose both games 8-4 and 8-2.

With the two warning shots, Iran may be aware that they are no longer the only gang in town. Japan represent perhaps the most advanced rising futsal power in Asia to potentially challenge the dominant Kings.

The next year’s AFC Futsal Championship saw Japan advance to the finals for the first time. But in the end, they conceded six goals without reply to the Iranians.

Two years later in Tehran at the 2003 AFC Futsal Championship, the two sides met again in the final. However, it was the visitors who pressed the issue, losing narrowly 6-4.

With both Iran and Japan the most likely to win spots at Chinese Taipei this November, teams likes Thailand, Uzbekistan and Kuwait, who have considerable futsal traditions and talented players, look like potential battlers for the coveted third berth.

Group A: Iran, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Cambodia, Hong Kong,

Group B: Kuwait, Korea Republic, Chinese Taipei, Maldives

Group C: Japan, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan, Phillipines, Macau

Group D: Thailand, Malaysia, China,Guam