Bahrain to host Asian futsal qualifying group

TDT | Manama                                                

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com     

Bahrain is set to host its group matches in qualification for the 2024 AFC Futsal Asian Cup.

This was announced yesterday by the Bahrain Football Association (BFA) after it received confirmation from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

The qualifiers are scheduled to be held from October 2 to 13.

The Kingdom is one of the host venues for the eight groups in qualifying.

The teams in each group have yet to be determined. The draw is scheduled to take place on June 22 at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur.

The Bahrainis are one of 31 teams set to compete in the qualifiers.

The eight group winners will earn automatic berths in the AFC Futsal Asian Cup, along with the seven bestranked runners-up and the host national team.

The BFA recently signed Brazilian Rafael Fogageiro as head coach of the national futsal team.

The 42-year-old has about 20 years’ experience in leading several futsal clubs in his home country and elsewhere.

Bahrain will be aiming to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup for only the fourth time in its history.

The hosts of next year’s event have yet to be determined.

The nationals previously also played in the 2002, 2018 and 2022 tournaments, with their best finish in the 2018 event in Taiwan where they reached the quarter-finals.

The competition also acts as the qualification for the FIFA Futsal World Cup, with five teams from the AFC booking a berth in the global competition, also to be held next year in September and October.