Futsal's finest bound for Asia
Friday, March 7, 2003
Article summary
Europe's top nations will travel to Chinese Taipei for the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship.
Article body
The fifth FIFA Futsal World Championship is to be played in Chinese Taipei next year.
No date yet
The country beat six other contenders – Australia, Bahrain, Egypt, Paraguay, Thailand and Iran - for the right to host the event. The exact dates of the finals have yet to be named but FIFA has confirmed it will take place toward the end of 2004.
Spain success
The first Futsal world finals were held in the Netherlands in 1989, followed by Hong Kong in 1992, Spain in 1996 and then Guatemala in 2000. Spain are the reigning champions after beating Brazil 4-3 in the final three years ago.
High hopes
“Next year’s championship will be the best ever, attracting more and more spectators to one of the fastest-growing sports on the planet,” FIFA said on their official website. “Futsal’s immediate future lies in Asia and Chinese Taipei."