The FIFA Futsal World Championships (popularly, if incorrectly, referred to as the Futsal World Cup) are the international championships for futsal, the indoor version of soccer. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association, universally known by its acronym FIFA, is the international governing body of football (soccer). ... Futsal is the indoor version of association football (soccer) that is officially sanctioned by footballs international governing body, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). ... Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Confederation of African Football (CAF) Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) The Current Rules of the Game (LOTG) The Rec. ...

The world championship tournament is held every four years, on the even year between two FIFA Football World Cups. The first event was held in 1989, the year FIFA became the world governing body of futsal. It was held in the Netherlands to commemorate the popularity of the game there. Through the 2004 Futsal World Championships, only two countries have taken the Futsal World Championship -- Brazil winning the first three, defeating the host Spaniards in 1996 to win their third title, followed by Spain winning the most recent two, defeating Brazil in 2000, then Italy in 2004 in the first Futsal World Championship final that didn't feature Brazil. A host country has yet to win the Championship, with the 1989 Dutch and 1996 Spanish teams coming closest in final-match losses. The next event will be held in 2008 in Brazil, with regional qualifying expected to start in mid-2007. The Football World Cup (official name: FIFA World Cup) is the most important competition in international football (soccer). ... 2007 (MMVII) will be a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

All events thus far have been 16-team events. The first event featured 6 from Europe, 3 from South America, two from Africa, two from Asia, two from North and Central America, and one from Oceania. By 2004, the breakdown was Europe 5 teams, Asia 4 (including the hosts, competing as Chinese Taipei), South America 3, North and Central America 2, Africa and Oceania one each. UEFA logo The Union of European Football Associations, almost always referred to by the acronym UEFA (pronounced you-AY-fuh), is the administrative and controlling body for European football. ... CONMEBOL or CSF (CONfederación sudaMEricana de FútBOL, South American Football Confederation) is the governing body of football in South America. ... The Confederation of African Football (CAF; French: Confédération Africaine de Football) represents international football in Africa, and organises the African Nations Cup as well as the African Champions League. ... Asian Football Confederation Logo The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is the governing body of football in Asia. ... CONCACAF (the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football), also known as The Football Confederation, is the continent-wide governing body for association football in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. ... Oceania Football Confederation logo since 1998 The Oceania Football Confederation is one of the six continental confederations of international football. ...

The event is staged in two group stages (the first stage featuring four groups of four teams, with the top two in each group advancing to the second stage of two groups of four teams), followed by a four-team knockout final series.

Events

Year	Host Country	Champion	Final Score	Final Opponent
1989	Netherlands	Brazil	2-1	Netherlands
1992	Hong Kong, China	Brazil	4-1	United States
1996	Spain	Brazil	6-4	Spain
2000	Guatemala	Spain	4-3	Brazil
2004	Chinese Taipei	Spain	2-1	Italy
2008	Brazil

1989 (MCMLXXXIX) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands. ... 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Hong_Kong. ... Hong Kong (香港; Cantonese IPA: ; Jyutping: hoeng1 gong2; Yale: heūng góng; pinyin: Xiānggǎng; Wade-Giles: Hsiang-kang) is one of the two Special Administrative Regions of the Peoples Republic of China. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_States. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... This article is about the year 2000. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Guatemala. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Chinese_Taipei_Olympic_Flag. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... 2008 (MMVIII) will a Leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ...

External links

• 2004 tournament home page