New Zealand have lost their opening game at the Continental Futsal Championship tournament in Thailand, losing 8-0 to the hosts.
The Futsal Whites were outplayed by Thailand who are rated #9 in the FIFA men’s world rankings.
New Zealand, who are ranked #19, and three of their opponents at the tournament are using the event to prepare for the FIFA Men’s Futsal World Cup which starts on September 14, 2024, in Uzbekistan.
Other teams at the Thailand tournament are Afghanistan (#30), Kuwait (#35) and Guatemala (#50).
Only Kuwait are not playing at the World Cup.
Watch the match highlights
Result
Game played on Sunday September 1, 2024 (NZT)
Men’s Continental Futsal Championship
Thailand 8
New Zealand 0
Fixtures
Games to be played on Wednesday September 4, 2024
Men’s Continental Futsal Championship
New Zealand v Guatemala
Nonthaburi Provincial Stadium, Thailand 12.30am (NZT)
New Zealand v Afghanistan
Nonthaburi Provincial Stadium, Thailand 9.30pm (NZT)
Game to be played on Friday September 6, 2024
Men’s Continental Futsal Championship
New Zealand v Kuwait
Nonthaburi Provincial Stadium, Thailand 9.30pm (NZT)
World Cup draw
The FIFA Futsal World Cup takes place between September 14 and October 6, 2024, in three host cities in Uzbekistan: Andijan, Bukhara and Tashkent.
The six group winners, six runners-up and the four best third-placed teams will go into a Round of 16 knockout stage.
The winners go forward to quarter-finals, before sudden death semi-finals and the final.
# indicates current rating in latest FIFA world rankings
Group A
- Uzbekistan (#11)
- Netherlands (#36)
- Paraguay (#13)
- Costa Rica (#31)
Group B
- Brazil (#1)
- Cuba (#78)
- Croatia (#16)
- Thailand (#9)
Group C
- Argentina (#5)
- Ukraine (#12)
- Afghanistan (#30)
- Angola (#47)
Group D
- Spain (#3)
- Kazakhstan (#8)
- New Zealand (#19)
- Libya (#50)
Group E
- Portugal (#2)
- Panama (#44)
- Tajikistan (#34)
- Morocco (#6)
Group F
- IR Iran (#4)
- Venezuela (#21)
- Guatemala (#40)
- France (#10)
This story was first published on September 1, 2024.
