Four Concacaf nations chase first title at 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup | OneFootball

MIAMI – Four Concacaf countries begin their title hopes when the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024 kicks off on Saturday.

The 10th edition of the tournament will be a historic one as the first FIFA event to take place in Central Asia. Andijan, Bukhara and Tashkent will be the three host cities for this year's edition.

Costa Rica, Cuba, Guatemala and Panama earned the four qualification spots from the region by reaching the semifinals of the 2024 Concacaf Futsal Championship earlier this year. All four seek to become the first Concacaf nation to lift the world title on October 6.

The two best teams from each group, and the four best third-place teams, will advance to the Round of 16. The tournament will continue in single-elimination format until a winner and third place team are crowned in the final matchday.

Costa Rica returns for the fourth consecutive edition and sixth participation overall. Drawn into Group A, Los Ticos will meet Paraguay in the opening matchday, followed by the Netherlands on September 17, and hosts Uzbekistan on September 20.

Cuba returns for its sixth participation and first since the 2016 edition. Drawn into Group B, the lone Caribbean representative will meet Brazil on opening day, followed by Thailand on September 17, and Croatia on September 20.

Guatemala will also feature in a sixth edition and fifth consecutive. Drawn into Group F, Los Chapines will open against France on September 16, followed by Iran on September 19 and closing the group stage against Venezuela on September 22.

Panama, the 2024 Concacaf Futsal Championship winners, will make its fourth consecutive appearance in the tournament. Drawn into Group E, Los Canaleros will open against reigning FIFA Futsal World Cup champions Portugal on September 16, meet Morocco on September 19 and finish the group stage with Tajikistan on September 22.

Cuba and Guatemala are seeking to advance past the group stage for the first time in their respective histories. Costa Rica and Panama will look to match their best ever finish, reaching the Round of 16, which they last accomplished at the 2016 and 2012 editions, respectively.

Here are the 24 nations competing in the 2024 tournament: