New-look Futsal Cup takes shape

New rounds
For the first time, the semi-finals and final will be played in one venue over three days and before that there is a new three-round structure. The tournament will begin with the Preliminary round in mid-September which features 16 sides drawn into four mini-tournament groups, including for the first time clubs from Austria, Germany, Malta, Scotland, Sweden and Switzerland. The top team from each pool will join 20 others in the Main round, split into six groups of four who will play in October. The top two from each of those pools will participate alongside the four top seeds in December's Elite round, with all four of these groups sending one club to the final four provisionally scheduled for 26-28 April.

Elite entry
Holders Boomerang Interviú, runners-up for the last two years MFK Dinamo Moskva, and 2005 winners Action 21 Charleroi are assured of Elite round berths, but a side from either Spain, Portugal or Ukraine could take the remaining place depending on the result of the play-offs for the Spanish and Portuguese championships, which will be completed this month. Boomerang enter the UEFA Futsal Cup as holders having lost in the Spanish semi-finals to Polaris World Cartagena, who now need to beat El Pozo Murcia FS to earn a debut in this competition.

Provisional access list - 2006/07 UEFA Futsal Cup
Teams in bold confirmed in competition
Preliminary and Main round draws made 6 July
Elite round draw made 31 October

*Final Elite round berth to be decided when Spanish and Portuguese seasons end, champions of each nation enter competition
• If Murcia win Spanish play-off with Polaris World Cartagena they enter Elite round and Shakhtar go into Main round with Portuguese champions
• If Cartagena win Spanish play-off they enter Main round; in that case Benfica would enter Elite round by winning Portuguese play-off.
• If Cartagena win Spanish play-off and Sporting win Portuguese title, Shakhtar will enter Elite round with Cartagena and the Sporting in the Main round