Format & regulations

Contested every four years, the FIFA Futsal World Cup has been showcasing the game's top talent since its inception in 1989. It consists of a qualifying round, play-offs and a final tournament.

The road to the finals begins with a qualifying round comprised of ten mini-tournaments, with the winners and two best runners-up advancing to the two-legged play-offs.

The 20-team final tournament now falls in the even-numbered year between the football FIFA World Cup. They consist of two group stages, with the top pair advancing in each section, eventually to the semi-finals when it becomes a knockout competition, with extra time and penalty shoot-outs used to decide the winner if necessary.

Regulations
The regulations for the FIFA Futsal World Cup have been approved by the FIFA Organising Committee and ratified by the FIFA Executive Committee.