Futsal World Cup: Uzbekistan to face Iran in Round of 16

The national team of Uzbekistan, for the first time in its history, has advanced to the playoff stage of the World Cup after becoming second in Group B.

Overall, five teams from Asia – Uzbekistan, Japan, Iran, Thailand and Vietnam – qualified for the FIFA Futsal World Cup Lithuania 2021 Round of 16 as the group stage concluded on Monday.

Vietnam, who finished third in Group D, will face Group A winners Russian Football Union in the first of the Round of 16 ties on Wednesday. Thailand will square off against Group A winners Kazakhstan on Thursday after finishing third in Group C.

Japan will play five-time champions Brazil, who topped Group D with a perfect record of three wins, on Thursday while Group B representatives Uzbekistan face IR Iran in a plum all-Asian tie on Friday.

The World Cup in Lithuania was supposed to take place from September 12 to October 4, 2020, but due to the coronavirus pandemic, it was postponed for a year.