Futsal/Indoor Soccer World News
March 26, 2003

News and information on Futsal/Indoor Soccer from around the world

ASIA

CHINESE TAIPEI TO HOST FIRST WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN ASIA SINCE HONG KONG 1992
Chinese Taipei will host the Fifth FIFA Futsal World Championship slated in late 2004 and it will be the first time since Hong Kong 1992 that the international event is held in Asia. A record-crowd of 10,466 at the Hong Kong Coliseum witness the 1992 championship match that featured Brazil topping the USA 4:1 for their second straight FIFA title on Nov. 28. Brazil had won the crown in Holland 1989 and then later in Spain 1996, before losing in the final to Spain in Guatemala 2000. For Chinese Taipei 2004, FIFA allocated the remaining 15 tournament berths as each of the six confederations will have a respective qualifying competition. Three nations along with the host Chinese Taipei will come from Asia, while Africa and Oceania will each have one representative. Three teams will be from South America (CONMEBOL), while the CONCACAF region gets two spots. Rounding out the 2004 qualifying berths are five from UEFA.

2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship – 16 Berths
Chinese Taipet – Host

Confederation-WC Berths-Qualifying Fixtures
Africa-One-TBD
Asia-Three-TBD
CONMEBOL-Three-September 2003 in Paraguay
CONCACAF-Two-Completed by June 30, 2004 in Guatemala
Oceania-One-September 2003 in Australia
UEFA-Five-TBD

JAPAN TO STAGE 2003 ASIAN FUTSAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Japan will stage the fifth Asian Futsal Championships (AFC) that is slated for July 28 – August 4, 2003. Having reached the semifinals at the previous four AFC tournaments, Japan has never won the title, but came close last year losing in the final. Iran has dominated the annual AFC competition, winning all four championships (Malaysia 1999, Thailand 2000, Iran 2001, Indonesia 2002) and currently has a perfect 25-0 overall ledger in tournament play. For more information check the Asian Football Confederation website at www.asian-football.com.

EUROPE

TWO SPANISH CLUBS TO BATTLE FOR 2002-03 UEFA FUTSAL CUP
The 2003-03 UEFA Futsal Cup Final will have two Spanish clubs battling in the two-game championship series as Interviù Boomerang and Playas de Castellón will meet, with the first one taking place between Apr. 14-20 and the second from Apr. 28 – May 4. Both squads advanced to the 2002-03 UEFA final after finishing first in their respective second round groups. Interviù Boomerang took the top spot in Group A after posting victories over MNK Split of Croatia (13:1), Norilsky Nickel of Russia (11:3) and the host Action 21 Charleroi of Belgium (8:5). Playas de Castellón will have a chance to defend their UEFA title after earning first place in Group B that included wins over FC Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine (5:4), KMF Nis of Serbia & Montenegro, “formally Yugosalvia” (6:2) and the host Prato C/5 of Italy (6:2).

2002-03 UEFA Futsal Cup Second Round Groups – Mar. 18-24, 2003
Final Standings, Results
* Advance to Championship

Group A in Charleroi, Belgium (GP, W-L-T, GF:GA, PTS)
Interviù Boomerang-ESP (3, 3-0-0, 32:9, 9) *
Action 21 Charleroi-BEL (3, 2-1-0, 16:12, 6)
Norilsky Nickel-RUS (3, 1-2-0, 11:21, 3)
MNK Split-CRO (3, 0-3-0, 4:21, 0)

Group B in Prato, Italy (GP, W-L-T, GF:GA, PTS)
Playas de Castellón-ESP (3, 3-0-0, 17:8, 9) *
Prato C/5-ITA (3, 1-1-1, 13:6, 4)
FC Shakhtar Donetsk-UKR (3, 1-2-0, 9:11, 3)
KMF Nis-YUG (3, 0-2-1, 7:13, 1)

Mar. 18
Interviù Boomerang – MNK Split, 13:1
Action 21 Charleroi – Norilsky Nickel, 7:4

Mar. 19
Norilsky Nickel – MNK Split, 4:3
Interviù Boomerang – Action 21 Charleroi, 8:5

Mar. 21
Interviù Boomerang – Norilsky Nickel, 11:3
Action 21 Charleroi – MNK Split, 4:0
Playas de Castellón – KMF Nis, 6:2
Prato C/5 – FC Shakhtar Donetsk, 4:1

Mar. 22
Playas de Castellón – FC Shakhtar Donetsk, 5:4
Prato C/5 – KMF Nis, 3:3

Mar. 24
FC Shakhtar Donetsk – KMF Nis, 4:2
Playas de Castellón – Prato C/5, 6:2

HOLLAND MEETS SLOVAKIA IN TWO-GAME SERIES
Holland’s Futsal National Team will head to Slovakia to meet the host in a two-game international friendly series from Apr. 1-2. The first match will take place in Bratislava on Apr. 1, while the second is set for Nitra the next day. This will be the first meeting between the two squads since June 28, 2002, when Slovakia stunned Holland 5:2 in a four-nations tournament in Castro Marim, Portugal.

LITHUANIA TO FACE LATVIA
Lithuania’s Futsal National Team will host Lativa in an international friendly to take place in Kaunas on Mar. 26. This will be the first home match for Lithuania since topping Belarus 4:2 on Oct. 30, 2002 in Kaunas.

NORTH, CENTRAL AMERICA

18TH ANNUAL U.S. FUTSAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS TO TAKE PLACE IN ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA
The 2003 U.S. Futsal Federation National Championships will be held at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California from July 18-20. The 18th annual event will have male and female futsal clubs from around the country competing in various age groups (Under-10, U-12, U-14, U-16, U-19, Open Category). For more information on the 2003 U.S. Futsal National Championships check www.futsal.com.

MEXICO TRAVELS TO COSTA RICA FOR PAIR OF FRIENDLIES
After a brief visit in Guatemala, Mexico’s Futsal National Team will travel to San Jose, Costa Rica to face the host in a pair of international friendlies at the Gimnasio Villa Deportiva Desamparados from Apr. 4-5. Both teams continue preparations for next year’s CONCACAF Futsal qualifier in Guatemala that will advance two teams to the 2004 FIFA World Championships in Chinese Taipei. Both squads had previously met in the semifinals of 2000 CONCACAF tournament with the Ticos posting a hard-fought 3:2 victory on July 27, 2000. Costa Rica went on to capture the confederation's title and one of the two berths (other to Cuba) to the 2000 world championships, while Mexico settled for fourth-place after losing in the bronze medal game to the USA 5:1. Recently, the CONCACAF rivals squared off last year, as Costa Rica went winless in a two-game series against Mexico at the Gimnasio Fishbein in Mexico City from Dec. 6-7, 2002. Goals by midfielder Victor Hugo Huerta, Leonardo Morales Figueroa and defender Carlos Ramirez Guerrero paced Mexico to a 3:1 victory over the Costa Rica in the opener on Dec. 6. The next day, both teams played to a 2:2 draw as Ramirez Guerrero and forward Francisco Ramirez Castaneda scored for the Tri-Colores, while forwards Junior Rodriguez and Randolf Sanchez each notched a tally for the Ticos.

Costa Rica Roster (Club)
Goalkeepers:
Javier Alfaro (Desamparados), Héctor Fonseca (Universidad Nacional), José Luis Garro (Juventud Olímpica / Barrio Peralta), Randall Salas (Desamparados)
Defenders:
Erick Arce (Desamparados), Ricardo Juárez (Desamparados F.S.), José Picado (Trinidad de Moravia Mega Super F.S.), Jhonny Rodríguez (Juventud Olímpica Sportek)
Midfielders:
Jasón Arce (Juventud Olímpica Sportek), Michael Barrantes (Juventud Olímpica Sportek), Freddy Espinoza (Desamparados), Marvin Marín (Juventud Olímpica Sportek), Esteban Naranjo (Desamparados), Randolph Sánchez (Desamparados), Henry Valverde (Desamparados)
Forwards:
Carlos Chávez (Juventud Olímpica Sportek), Yanán Montoya (Desamparados), Junior Rodríguez (Desamparados)
Coach:
Carlos Quirós Álvarez

Mexico Roster (Club)
Goalkeepers:
Amado Pablo Torres Bueno (Edo Mexico), José Manuel García Delgado (Soles GAM)
Defenders:
Miguel Ángel Sánchez Duarte, Mario Alberto Vertí García (Edo. Mexico), Carlos Alberto Ramírez Guerrero, José Carlos Hernández Vargas
Midfielders:
Arturo López Cervantes, Mario Domínguez García, Roberto Soto Salamanca, Miguel Ángel Olvera Sánchez
Forwards:
Francisco Ramírez Castañeda (Delta GAM), Héctor Guzmán Sepúlveda (C.D.I.), Víctor Hugo Huerta (Delta GAM)
Coach:
Jesús Bravo Reyna

2002-03 MISL PLAYOFFS BEGIN
The 2002-03 Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) Playoffs will begin on Mar. 28 in Cleveland, Ohio as the Baltimore Blast face the host Cleveland Force in the Eastern Conference Semifinal opener. The winner of the Eastern Semifinal will then travel to meet the Eastern Conference regular season and defending MISL Champions Philadelphia Kixx on Apr. 3. In the Western Conference Semifinal, the Kansas City Comets will host the San Diego Sockers on Apr. 2, with the winner traveling to take on the Western Conference regular season Champion Milwaukee Wave on Apr. 6. The Eastern and Western Conference winners will then square off in the best-of-three MISL Championship Series. For more information on the MISL, check www.misl.net.

2002-03 MISL Final Standings
* Clinched Conference Title/Playoff Berth
^Clinched Playoff Berth

Western Conference
Teams (GP, W-L, GB, PF:PA, Pct.)
Milwaukee Wave (36, 28-8, -, 505:317, .778)*
Kansas City Comets (36, 17-19, 11, 495:472, .472)^
San Diego Sockers (36, 14-22, 14, 361:448, .389)^
Dallas Sidekicks (36, 9-27, 19, 342:427, .250)

Eastern Conference
Teams (GP, W-L, GB, PF:PA, Pct.)
Philadelphia Kixx (36, 24-12, -, 406:367, .667)*
Cleveland Force (36, 19-17, 5, 388:428, .528)^
Baltimore Blast (36, 18-18, 6, 394:395, .500)^
Harrisburg Heat (36, 15-21, 9, 423:460, .417)

Playoffs
Western Conference
April 2
San Diego Sockers @ Kansas City Comets
April 6
San Diego / Kansas City Winner @ Milwaukee Wave

Eastern Conference
March 28
Baltimore Blast @ Cleveland Force
April 3
Baltimore / Cleveland Winner @ Philadelphia Kixx

GUATEMALA TAKES TWO FROM MEXICO
Guatemala's Futsal National Team swept a two-game international friendly series against Mexico at the Domo Arena in Guatemala City from Mar. 21-22. After taking the opener 4:1 on Mar. 21, the host came back from a 3:0 halftime deficit to post a 6:5 win the following day. The results increased Guatemala's futsal winning streak over Mexico to five matches. The last time the Tri-Colores defeated the Chapines was on September 7, 1996 in the third-place match of the CONCACAF Championship in Guatemala, won by Mexico 3:1.

FC TROIS-RIVIERES EARNS 2003 CANADIAN FUTSAL CLUB TITLE
The 2003 Quebec Champion FC Trois-Rivières topped the Ontario Club Winner Strathroy Benfica 12:8 in the annual Canadian Futsal Clubs Championship on Mar. 16, at the RIM Park Gymnasium in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. Four goals by midfielder Jean-Louis Bessé and three tallies each by teammates Yannick Goudreault and Nicolas Lesage paced FC Trois-Rivières to the victory.

SOUTH AMERICA

CONMEBOL CONFIRMS PARAGUAY AS SITE FOR 2003 COPA AMERICA DE FUTSAL
CONMEBOL (South American Futbol Confederation) confirmed on Mar. 17, that the Copa América de Futsal will be held in Paraguay in September 2003. The 2003 event will double as the respective CONMEBOL qualifier for the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship in Chinese Taipei.

BEACH SOCCER

POLAND CREATES BEACH SOCCER FEDERATION
The Polish Beach Soccer Federation was announced at a press conference held on Mar. 21, at the Marriot Hotel in Warsaw. The event was hosted by future Poland National Team Coach Jacek Ziober, Polish Beach Soccer President Michael Sieczko and the Managing Director of Beach Soccer Worldwide David Gallego. For more information, check www.beachsoccer.com.

Next issue will be sent on April 9, 2003

Futsal is a sport that is a derivative of soccer and played with five-man teams on a basketball style court, with no walls and a low bouncing ball, unlike the traditional sport of U.S. indoor soccer played with six-man squads and walls. Great soccer superstars such as Pele, Zico, and Ronaldo grew up playing the game and credit Futsal with developing their skills.