2028 Futsal World Cup preliminary round: Twelve teams advance

European qualifying for the 2028 FIFA Futsal World Cup has begun with the preliminary round.

Two of the UEFA Futsal EURO 2026 co-hosts, Latvia and Lithuania, are among the teams through to the main round group phase, along with Albania, Andorra, Denmark, Estonia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Northern Ireland, Norway and Sweden.

Neither Estonia nor Northern Ireland had previously got through a round in a UEFA or FIFA futsal tournament. In their crucial 7-5 defeat of England, Northern Ireland also recorded their first-ever competitive win. Andorra have also got through a round of Futsal World Cup qualifying for the first time.

While the 24 top-ranked entrants in the Men's Futsal National Team Coefficients start their campaigns in the main round group phase, the other 24 teams began the competition in the preliminary round. They competed in six one-venue, four-team mini-tournaments, and the top two sides in each group advanced to the main round group phase.

Those 12 teams progressing join the direct main round entrants, among them the other 14 nations that competed at Futsal EURO 2026, including winners Spain. The draw for the main round group phase takes place at 12:00 CET on Friday 19 June.

Preliminary round groups

Group A
Through to main round: Andorra, Denmark (hosts)
Also in group: Malta, Scotland

Group B
Through to main round: Sweden, Northern Ireland
Also in group: England (hosts), Switzerland

Group C
Through to main round: North Macedonia, Lithuania (hosts)
Also in group: Türkiye, Bulgaria

Group D
Through to main round: Kosovo, Montenegro (hosts)
Also in group: Austria, Gibraltar

Group E
Through to main round: Latvia, Albania (hosts)
Also in group: Cyprus, San Marino

Group F
Through to main round: Norway, Estonia (hosts)
Also in group: Israel, Greece

UEFA qualifying calendar for 2028 FIFA Futsal World Cup

Preliminary round draw: 12 December 2025
Preliminary round: 7–14 April 2026
Main round group phase draw: 19 June 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 were drawn into six groups of four and compete in one-venue mini-tournaments

All the group winners and runners-up qualify for the main round.

Main round

Main round group phase

The 12 preliminary round qualifiers join the 24 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)