Portugal v Panama
Group E
Humo Arena, Tashkent
Kick-off times:
07:30 in Panama City
13:30 in Lisbon
17:30 in Tashkent
FIFA Futsal Men’s World Ranking
Portugal (2nd)
Panama (44th)
Match
Portugal have monopolised futsal in recent years. As well as conquering Lithuania 2021, they won the last two UEFA Futsal EUROs and the first Finalissima. Their quest to make it an astonishing five major crowns in a row will be aided by three of the planet’s best performers in Erick, Pany Varela and Zicky. Panama have it all to do, but they will head into a global finals as Concacaf champions for the first time and, in goalkeeper Jaime Penaloza and winger Alfonso Maquensi, boast players who can mix it with the elite.
Quotes
“For me, Zicky is the best player in the world. I look at Zicky and I rate him as the best player in the world, but I’ll tell you something: he can get even better. With his mentality, his work ethic and the people around him, I’m certain that we haven’t even seen the best Zicky yet.”
Pany Varela, Portugal winger
“Portugal have star players all over their squad. [There’s] Zicky and Pany Varela, but there is also Afonso Jesus. Playing against a team like that is a big responsibility, and so we are facing it with the focus and seriousness that it deserves.”
Alfonso Maquensi, Panama winger
IR Iran v Venezuela
Group F
Bukhara Universal Sports Complex, Bukhara
Kick-off times:
08:30 in Caracas
16:00 in Tehran
17:30 in Bukhara
FIFA Futsal Men’s World Ranking positions
IR Iran (4th)
Venezuela (21st)
Match
Ali Hassanzadeh and Hossein Tayyebi, bronze-medallists in 2016, want gold. First, though, they must get out of one of this competition’s toughest pools. Putting three points on the board first time out will be central to that, but it won’t be easy against fast-rising Venezuela, for whom Italy-based due Wilmer Cabarcas and Rafael Morillo are key.
Quotes
“Venezuela are physical and a good team. I don’t doubt that it will be a close and difficult game. Iran’s history in World Cups shows that we always come for the title. My dream is the World Cup trophy. I will definitely fight for Iran until my last breath for this dream.”
Moslem Oladghobad, Iran winger
“Iran play very structured, very tactically. They’re an excellent team. I’m convinced that, little by little, we are taking steps up to achieve something very big.”
Carlos Vasquez, Venezuela goalkeeper
Tajikistan v Morocco
Group E
Humo Arena, Tashkent
Kick-off times:
16:00 in Rabat
20:00 in Dushanbe
20:00 in Tashkent
FIFA Futsal Men’s World Ranking positions
Morocco (6th)
Tajikistan (34th)
Match
Morocco are the sensations of world futsal. Since a 1-0 quarter-final loss to Brazil at the last global finals, they have beaten, among others, the same opponents, Argentina, Iran and Spain, while Sofiane El Mesrar has been a finalist for the sport’s Best Men’s Player award two years running. Their futsal-crazy fans will be sure to bring their noise to Tashkent, but they will be outnumbered. Tajiks have crossed the border en masse to watch their heroes – including Firuz Bekmurodov, Dilshod Salomov and Fayzali Sardorov – mix it in the FIFA Futsal World Cup for the first time.
Quotes
“I think we have the best team in the world and the best coach in the world. We’re not underestimating how difficult it will be to win the World Cup, but we’ll do everything to finish first in our group and then get the title. I believe we can do it.”
Soufian Charraoui, Morocco pivot
France v Guatemala
Group F
Bukhara Universal Sports Complex, Bukhara
Kick-off times:
09:00 in Guatemala City
17:00 in Paris
20:00 in Bukhara
FIFA Futsal Men’s World Ranking positions
France (10th)
Guatemala (40th)
Match
France’s ascent has been meteoric. They reached their first FIFA Futsal World Cup last year and recently went 16 games unbeaten – a sequence that including victory over Brazil. In Souheil Mouhoudine, who recently joined Spanish champions Jimbee Cartagena, they have a genius capable of unnerving the sport’s elite. Guatemala, who are at their sixth global finals, have experience and the stellar output of Marvin Sandoval on their side.
Quotes
“This is France’s first World Cup, but they are a very strong team. We have eight guys who played in the last World Cup, so I think that’s going to help us a lot. Guatemala have never reached the knockout rounds. We want to make history.”
Roman Alvarado
