BUY UZBEKISTAN 2024 TICKETS
The year was 1948. Barcodes, Barbie Dolls, credit cards, power steering and Velcro didn’t exist; Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby, Doris Day and Pee Wee Hunt were flying high on music charts; The Three Musketeers, starring Gene Kelly as d’Artagnan, was taking cinema screens by storm; and Afghanistan were appearing in their first FIFA competition.
Nils Liedholm, Gunnar Gren, Gunnar Nordahl and Sweden took home gold from that Men’s Olympic Football Tournament, but the Afghan public relished seeing their compatriots on the global stage and yearned for more. They’d be kept coveting for over three-quarters of a century.
Afghanistan only went to their first AFC Futsal Asian Cup – a qualifier for the global finals – in April, and they went their as rank outsiders. Majid Mortezaei’s side nevertheless escaped an examining group and then, against the odds, recorded 5-3 victories over Iraq and Kyrgyz Republic to conquer the four-team play-offs for a place at the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024™.
“We were so happy that we were able to make the people of Afghanistan proud and give them a smile,” Afghan legend Mahdi Norouzi told FIFA. “The people of Afghanistan deserved this happiness.
“Playing in the Futsal World Cup is very important to the people of Afghanistan. They have longed to see their team in the World Cup for many years, and fortunately we were able to advance to the World Cup with the help of the head coach, the players and prayers of our people.”
First up for Afghanistan at Uzbekistan 2024 is Angola. The Sable Antelopes finished runners-up at the CAF Futsal AFCON and, in Helber, boast one of the sport’s brightest youngsters.
“Our head coach has been watching not only Helber, Angola’s star, but all their players,” Norouzi said. “Without doubt we’ll have a special plan to play against Angola and beat them.”
Argentina, who finished first and second respectively at the last two FIFA Futsal World Cups, will provide hurdle number two, but Afghanistan are undaunted by their opponents’ credentials.
“It’s true that Argentina have a very good team and are one of the contenders to win this World Cup,” Norouzi remarked. “But no team has as much motivation as we do. We have no fear of Argentina and we will enter battle to win.”
Norouzi has an even more towering target.
“Afghanistan’s first goal is to advance from the group stage, but we have an even bigger goal: to win the World Cup. Every team that qualified for this Futsal World Cup is good and it’s difficult to predict who will lift the trophy, but I really like Afghanistan’s chances.
“Every team has big stars. I think many players from Brazil, Portugal, Spain and even Afghanistan are among the world’s best players.”
The Lions of Khorasan will have one factor in their favour. Afghanistan shares a border with Uzbekistan and are expected to enjoy vociferous support at the tournament.
“We are neighbours,” explained Norouzi. “Many of our compatriots live in Uzbekistan. We expect to have many fans cheering us on.”
