DUSHANBE, December 18, 2013, Asia-Plus — Tajik futsal players have qualified for 2014 AFC Futsal, finishing second in the South and Central Asian’s Zone. The South and Central Asian Zone’s qualifying round for the 2014 AFC Futsal Championship was held in Uzbekistan last month.
The 2014 AFC Futsal Championship qualification was held in late 2013 to determine 12 spots to the final tournament in Vietnam. The teams finishing first, second and third in the 2012 AFC Futsal Championship, and the host nation for the 2012 competition, received automatic byes to the Finals.
Twenty-four teams registered in qualifying action for 12 places in the finals. Reigning champions Japan, runners-up Thailand, Iran and 2014 edition hosts Vietnam had direct entry into the tournament proper. Top three of each zone qualified for the 2014 AFC Futsal Championship that will be held in Vietnam from April 30 to may 10, 2014.
Teams of Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, Iran, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Chinese Taipei, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Lebanon, Kuwait and Iraq will participate in the final tournament.
The AFC Futsal Championship is the main national futsal competition of the Asian Football Confederation nations. It was first held in 1999 and has been played annually. Iran has been dominant, winning 10 out of the 12 editions of the competition played so far, and finishing 3rd in two others.
