The build-up to September’s FIFA Futsal World Cup — the first FIFA tournament to take place in Central Asia — has reached another milestone with the trophy handed over to the host nation Uzbekistan.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino presented the trophy to Ravshan Irmatov, the vice president of the Uzbekistan Football Association (UFA) and first deputy chairman of the Uzbekistan National Olympic Committee, and Adkham Ikramov, minister of sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Also in attendance at the handover were Oybek Kasimov, secretary general of the Uzbekistan National Olympic Committee, and Otabek Umarov, vice president of the Olympic Council of Asia.
Main photo: FIFA president Gianni Infantino hands over the FIFA Futsal World Cup trophy to a delegation from hosts Uzbekistan. Photo credit: FIFA.com.
Twenty-four teams will take part in the tournament’s 10th edition, with Afghanistan, Tajikistan, New Zealand and France making their debut and Portugal defending the title they won in Lithuania three years ago.
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The tournament will be held from September 14, 2024, to 6 October 6, 2024, with matches in three host cities: Andijan, Bukhara and Tashkent.
The draw for the tournament took place in Registan Square, a UNESCO World Heritage site in the ancient Silk Road city of Samarkand, in May.
After handing over the trophy at FIFA’s office in Paris, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said: “I thanked them for the great work that has been done in preparing for this historic event and wished them the very best of luck.
“We had a taste of what to expect when the draw took place against a spectacular backdrop in Samarkand in May, and I am looking forward to a fantastic tournament in this amazing and beautiful country.”
The Uzbekistani delegation was given a tour of the FIFA office museum, where exhibits include one piece from Uzbekistan itself and previously used by Mr Irmatov, a former referee who officiated at three FIFA World Cup tournaments.
“It was also nice to take a tour of the museum in our beautiful office here to view memorabilia honouring the great history of our beautiful sport, including a piece from Ravshan Irmatov’s time as a referee,” Infantino said.
This story was first published on July 31, 2024.
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