Looking forward to this year’s FIFA Futsal World Cup™ in Uzbekistan comes after FIFA and adidas unveiled the tournament’s official match ball. Inspired by the event’s theme of ‘Masters of Speed’, the design reflects the fast-paced nature of futsal and Uzbekistan’s rich cultural heritage. Five striking interpretations of kalampir peppers – a key ingredient in traditional Uzbek cuisine – adorn the ball. Each one is masterfully designed to depict a player in motion, never standing still, just like on the futsal pitch.
The pepper is also a prominent component of the Official emblem of the competitionwhich is shaped like the FIFA Futsal World Cup, with five Kalampir peppers forming a sphere at the top. The new match ball will make its official debut when the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024™ – the first FIFA tournament in Central Asia – begins on September 14 in Bukhara and the capital Tashkent. The eastern city of Andijan completes the trio of host cities for the 24-team competition. The 2024 edition will be the tenth in the history of the FIFA Futsal World Cup and runs until October 6. Futsal has grown rapidly in popularity in Uzbekistan – and across Central Asia – over the past decade. The White Wolves competed in the FIFA Futsal World Cup for the first time in 2016 and reached the knockout phase in 2021, where they lost 9-8 to IR Iran in the round of 16 in one of the most thrilling matches in the tournament’s history. Alongside Uzbekistan, defending champions Portugal, record five-time winners Brazil (1989, 1992, 1996, 2008 and 2012), two-time champions Spain (2000 and 2004), 2016 winners Argentina and newcomers Afghanistan, France, New Zealand and Tajikistan will also be taking part in the competition. The field is completed by Angola, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Guatemala, IR Iran, Kazakhstan, Libya, Morocco, the Netherlands, Panama, Paraguay, Thailand, Ukraine and Venezuela, who successfully fought their way through a 121-team qualifying field. The first FIFA Futsal World Ranking for men and women was published earlier this year. The top four teams – Brazil, Portugal, Spain and IR Iran – will travel to Uzbekistan next month.
The launch of the rankings was a major milestone and cemented futsal’s position as a fast-growing version of the beautiful game, played in more countries than ever before. Tickets for the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024 are on sale now and are selling fast. Fans who want to see the world’s best players compete for glory in Uzbekistan in September and October can purchase their tickets here: www.fifa.com/tickets.
