Newbies Finland, Hungary, Italy, Poland, and Sweden joined seeded when France won their group. Portugal and Spain are competing in the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup’s elite round of European qualifying.
As the primary round of European qualification for the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup next year got underway, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Poland, and Sweden topped their groups.
Each of the 23 teams competed in six mini-tournaments to earn a spot in the elite round draw on October 31 alongside Portugal and Spain, the seeds. The top two finishers in each of the four-team elite round groups, which take place from March 18 to 23, will advance to the Philippine finals, which will take place from November 21 to December 7.
France, one of three countries making their competitive debut in this round, defeated Ukraine, runners-up in the UEFA Women’s Futsal EURO 2023, 3-1 in their opening match. They then held Czechia 2-2 with two late goals before defeating Northern Ireland 5-2 to advance.
Finland, Italy, Poland, and Sweden all finished with perfect records, while Hungary, the semi-finalists for EURO 2022 and 2023, also won their group, despite having to overcome France’s fellow newcomer, Norway, 3-2, after falling down two goals. In their subsequent match, Norway defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina, while England, their third debutant, triumphed against Moldova.
Groups for the Futsal Women’s World Cup qualification main round
Group 1:
Italy through the elite round
Croatia, Serbia (hosts), and Lithuania are also in the group.
Group Two;
Hungary advanced to the elite round.
Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Norway are all included in the group.
Group Three;
France advanced to the elite round.
Northern Ireland, Ukraine, and the hosts, Czechia, are also in the group.
Group Four;
Finland advanced to the elite round.
Slovenia, England, and Moldova (hosts) are also in the group.
Group 5;
Through to elite round: Sweden (hosts) Also in group: Slovakia, Belgium, Latvia
Group Six;
Poland advanced to the elite round.
Kazakhstan (hosts) and the Netherlands are also in the group.
Ukraine finished fourth in 2019, third in 2022, and second in 2023 in the UEFA Women’s Futsal EURO, which Spain has won all three of.
Additionally, Hungary advanced to the four-team EURO championships in 2022 and 2023 (it will grow to eight teams for the 2027 edition).
In this round, England, France, and Norway all made their competitive debuts.
