Two interesting articles from Asia, announcing the country selected to host the next edition of the AFC Futsal Championship: Vietnam!

Courtesy: Asian Football

Vietnam to host futsal event

HO CHI MINH CITY – The 2005 edition of the AFC Futsal Championship is scheduled to be played in Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City from May 22 to June 4.

The year’s tournament, which will coincide with celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of Vietnamese unification, will feature 24 teams, making it the biggest since the competition began in 1999.

In addition to reigning champions Iran, hosts Vietnam and 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship qualifiers Japan and Thailand, the other teams slated to compete in this year’s competition are Bhutan, China, Chinese Taipei, Guam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iraq, Korea Republic, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Macau, Maldives, Malaysia, Palestine, the Philippines, Qatar, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The 24 sides will be divided into six opening round groups during the tournament draw in Ho Chi Minh City on March 4.

The winners of each group and the two runner-up teams with the best records will progress to the quarter-finals of the main competition, while the rest will go into a plate competition.

Iran have won all six previous editions of the AFC Futsal Championship, beating Japan in the last three finals including a 5-3 win in last year’s competition in Macau.


Courtesy: Thanhnien News

HCMC to host Asia Futsal Championship 2005

Futsal teams from 23 countries and territories will fight their way to the top of the 2005 Asia Championship in Ho Chi Minh City May 22 to June 4, with host Vietnam participating in the tournament for the first time.
Although Vietnam had never taken part in the Asia Futsal Championship, the Asian Football Confederation’s Futsal Committee unanimously agreed to grant Vietnam the hosting rights for the event to increase the country’s interest in the sport.

The main venue will be the Phu Tho Sports Center, said organizers.

Meanwhile, the host national team will also gather in March and join a tournament of 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in early May.

Futsal is the official five-a-side indoor soccer game recognized by the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA).

Iran has won all six previous editions of the AFC Futsal Championship and has already qualified for next month’s FIFA Futsal World Championship along with Asian runners-up Japan, Thailand and host China’s Taiwan.