2028 Futsal World Cup qualifying: How it works, format, calendar

Seven European nations will compete at the 24-team 2028 FIFA Futsal World Cup, taking place at a venue to be confirmed from 7 to 29 October of that year.

European qualifying will run between April 2026 and April 2028 in five stages: preliminary round (single-venue mini-tournaments), main round group phase (three-team home-and-away groups), main round play-offs (home and away ties), elite round group phase (four-team home-and-away groups) and elite round play-offs (home and away ties). Seven European teams will participate in the final tournament, though if a UEFA country is selected as host and gains an automatic place, only six spots will be decided by qualifying.

The first draw, for the preliminary round, will be held on 12 December 2025. The lowest-ranked teams in the UEFA national senior men's futsal team coefficient rankings start the competition in the preliminary round and the rest in the main round. The number of sides in the preliminary round depends on the number of entries in the competition.

UEFA qualifying calendar for 2028 FIFA Futsal World Cup

Preliminary round draw: 12 December 2025
Preliminary round: 6–15 April 2026
Main round group phase draw: 19 May 2026
Main round group phase: 12–21 October 2026, 2–11 November 2026, 6–9 December 2026, 22 February–3 March 2027
Main round play-off draw: 5 March 2027
Main round play-offs: 12–21 April 2027
Elite round group phase draw: 20 May 2027
Elite round group phase: 6–15 September 2027, 11–20 October 2027, 13–22 December 2027
Elite round play-off draw: 20 January 2028
Elite round play-offs: 10–19 April 2028

UEFA qualifying format for 2028 FIFA Futsal World Cup

Preliminary round

The teams in the preliminary round are drawn into groups of four (the exact number depending on the level of entries) and compete in one-venue mini-tournaments

All the group winners qualify for the main round, together with one or several runners-up depending on the number of entries in the competition.

Main round

Main round group phase

The preliminary round qualifiers join the teams entering directly in the main round. The 36 teams in the main round are drawn into 12 groups of three, played with home-and-away fixtures.

The 12 group winners and the four best runners-up qualify for the elite round. The remaining eight runners-up qualify for the main round play-offs.

Main round play-offs

The eight teams are formed into four ties by means of an open draw. The winners of the four home-and-away ties qualify for the elite round.

Elite round

Elite round group phase

The 20 teams are drawn into five groups of four teams, played with home-and-away fixtures.

The five group winners qualify for the final tournament. The four best runners-up qualify for the elite round play-offs. If a European association is selected to host the final tournament, only the two best runners-up qualify for the elite round play-offs.

Elite round play-offs

The four teams are formed into two ties by means of an open draw. The winners of the two home-and-away ties qualify for the final tournament.

Futsal World Cup roll of honour

2024: Brazil 2-1 Argentina (Uzbekistan)
2021: Portugal 2-1 Argentina (Lithuania)
2016: Argentina 5-4 Russia (Colombia)
2012: Brazil 3-2aet Spain (Thailand)
2008: Brazil 2-2, 4-3pens Spain (Brazil)
2004: Spain 2-1 Italy (Chinese Taipei)
2000: Spain 4-3 Brazil (Guatemala)
1996: Brazil 6-4 Spain (Spain)
1992: Brazil 4-1 United States (Hong Kong)
1989: Brazil 2-1 Netherlands (Netherlands)