Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Medellin: Islamic Republic of Iran and Vietnam have joined Thailand in the Round of 16 of the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2016 following the conclusion of the Group Stage on Sunday (local time).
Iran were the last Asian team to play in the Group Stage and rounded up their Group F campaign with a 3-3 draw against Azerbaijan, according them the knockout stages ticket as one of the best third-place finishers. Their Round of 16 clash is against reigning champions Brazil.
Vietnam were made to wait for favourable results in the last matchday after completing their Group Stage campaign with a 2-0 loss to heavyweights Italy. The Group Stage concluded indeed in their favour as they also punched a third-place finisher’s ticket to the knockout stages where they will play Russia.
Thailand, meanwhile, were the first Asian nation to secure their place in the next stage which is against Azerbaijan after downing Egypt 2-1 last Friday (local time).
Asia's two other representatives - Ubekistan and Australia - exited the tournament at the Group Stage level with the Australians on the brink of qualifying for the Round of 16 as a third-place finisher after their last Group Stage match last Saturday (local time) but the results in the other groups the next day were not favourable to them.
Asian teams’ Round of 16 fixtures (all local dates):
September 20
Russia v Vietnam
September 21
Brazil v Iran
September 22
Thailand v Azerbaijan
Photo: FIFA/Getty Images