Futsal draw takes place

The draw has taken place for the qualifying phase of the third UEFA European Futsal Championship at UEFA's headquarters in Nyon.

Seven groups
The qualifying phase will take place in November 2002, with the final tournament scheduled for 16 to 22 February 2003. The qualifying stage comprises seven groups of four teams each, with the winners from each group going through to the finals.

Spain defend title
Holders Spain, who won the last tournament in February 2001, have been drawn in Group Three with Yugoslavia, F.Y.R. Macedonia and Lithuania. The 2001 runners-up Ukraine have been drawn in Group Seven with Andorra, Slovakia and Cyprus.

Italy hosting
Twenty-nine national associations have entered the competition, including Italy who qualify automatically as hosts. In each group, one country will act as a host for all the matches played.

Qualifying mini-tournaments (hosts in bold)
Group One: Russia, Hungary, Israel, Latvia.
Group Two: Poland, Belgium, Finland, Moldova.
Group Three: Spain, Yugoslavia, F.Y.R. Macedonia, Lithuania.
Group Four: Netherlands, Slovenia, Armenia, Greece.
Group Five: Portugal, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Georgia.
Group Six: Croatia, Czech Republic, Bosnia-Herzegovina, France.
Group Seven: Ukraine, Andorra, Slovakia, Cyprus.