Iran eye sixth Asian futsal crown

AFC - Iran will be gunning for their sixth consecutive title when the AFC Futsal Championship kicks off later today (Friday) in Macau.

The Asian kings of the game will be up against 17 other teams from across the continent in a tournament which also acts as the Asian qualifier for the 2004 FIFA World Futsal Championship, which takes place in Chinese Taipei in November.

The 18 teams have been grouped into four groups (two feature five teams), with the top two teams qualifying for the knock-out phase. The top three teams, along with Chinese Taipei, will book their place at the World Futsal Championship. 

Iran go into the tournament as overwhelming favourites following an undefeated run in the continental championship going back to 1999. 

In that time, Iran have won every single one of their 41 matches in the AFC event, scoring 364 goals and conceding just 51. This means that, on average, each Iran match has finished 9-1 in favour of the Persians.

Japan are expected to provide Japan with their sternest test. The east Asians have improved steadily in the last few years and gave Iran a real fright in the 2003 AFC Futsal Championship, losing out by 6-4 in the final.

With Iran and Japan likely to win through to the final, the battle for the third and final Asian place at the FIFA World Futsal Championship is likely to feature Thailand, the ASEAN Futsal champions, Kuwait, who came fourth last time out, and Uzbekistan. 

Group A: Iran, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Cambodia, Hong Kong
Group B: Kuwait, Korea Republic, Chinese Taipei, Maldives
Group C: Japan, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan, Phillipines, Macau
Group D: Thailand, Malaysia, China, Guam 

Tournament details:
Group stage: April 16 - 21
Quarter-finals: April 23
Semi-finals: April 24
Final/Third place play-off: April 25 

Venue: 
Pavilhao Polideportivo Stadium