New Zealand have lost their second game at the Continental Futsal Championship tournament in Thailand, losing 6-2 to Guatemala.
Guatemala are rated #50 in the FIFA men’s world rankings.
New Zealand, who are ranked #19, and three of their opponents at the tournament, are using the event to prepare for the FIFA Men’s Futsal World Cup which starts on September 14, 2024, in Uzbekistan.
Other teams at the Thailand tournament are Afghanistan (#30), Kuwait (#35) and hosts Thailand (#9).
Only Kuwait are not playing at the World Cup.
Main photo: New Zealand team ahead of kick-off against Guatemala. Photo credit: NZF Futsal.
Watch the match
The game was streamed by Futsal Thailand. Watch it here:
Result
Game played on Wednesday September 4, 2024
New Zealand 2 (Art Twigg, Hamish Grey)
Guatemala 6
Fixtures
Game to be played on Wednesday September 4, 2024
New Zealand v Afghanistan
Nonthaburi Provincial Stadium, Thailand 9.30pm (NZT)
Game to be played on Friday September 6, 2024
New Zealand v Kuwait
Nonthaburi Provincial Stadium, Thailand 9.30pm (NZT)
World Cup draw
The FIFA Futsal World Cup takes place between September 14 and October 6, 2024, in three host cities in Uzbekistan: Andijan, Bukhara and Tashkent.
The six group winners, six runners-up and the four best third-placed teams will go into a Round of 16 knockout stage.
The winners go forward to quarter-finals, before sudden death semi-finals and the final.
# indicates current rating in latest FIFA world rankings
Group A
- Uzbekistan (#11)
- Netherlands (#36)
- Paraguay (#13)
- Costa Rica (#31)
Group B
- Brazil (#1)
- Cuba (#78)
- Croatia (#16)
- Thailand (#9)
Group C
- Argentina (#5)
- Ukraine (#12)
- Afghanistan (#30)
- Angola (#47)
Group D
- Spain (#3)
- Kazakhstan (#8)
- New Zealand (#19)
- Libya (#50)
Group E
- Portugal (#2)
- Panama (#44)
- Tajikistan (#34)
- Morocco (#6)
Group F
- IR Iran (#4)
- Venezuela (#21)
- Guatemala (#40)
- France (#10)
This story was first published on September 1, 2024.
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