Birzhan Orazov and Douglas Junior got the goals as Kazakhstan beat the Netherlands to reach next year's FIFA Futsal World Cup.

Kazakhstan have become the first European nation to qualify for the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024™.

The Hawks only required a draw at home to the Netherlands to guarantee finishing first in Group A in the UEFA qualifiers with a game to spare, but won 2-0 to make it maximum points from a possible 15. Birzhan Orazov opened the scoring after 22 seconds, before Douglas Junior doubled the advantage just after the six-minute mark, and that’s how it finished.

Kazakhstan have emerged as a global force over the decade, largely thanks to the naturalisation of Leo Higuita, Douglas Junior, Taynan and Leo Jaragua.

At the last World Cup, they thrashed Thailand 7-0 in the last 16 and came from two goals down to eliminate IR Iran in the quarter-finals. Kazakhstan led eventual champions Portugal in the semi-finals, only to lose on penalties, before a thrilling defeat by Brazil in the third-place play-off.
The Hawks also finished third and fourth at the UEFA Futsal EUROs of 2016 and 2018 respectively, while Almaty outfit Kairat won the UEFA Futsal Champions League twice, upsetting Dynamo Moscow and Barcelona in the 2013 and 2015 finals respectively.

Kazakhstan shares a border with Uzbekistan. The next Futsal World Cup will kick off in the latter country in September 2024.

  • نویسنده : محمدمهدی اسماعیلی رها