The curtain came down on the tenth edition of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024 in dramatic style on Sunday night as Brazil made history in Tashkent by beating Argentina 2-1 to win a record-extending sixth title, adding to the ones they claimed in 1989, 1992, 1996, 2008 and 2012.

In a historic final – the first between two teams from South America – Ferrão and Rafael gave Brazil a 2-0 half-time lead before Argentina ended a period of incessant pressure by pulling one back through Matías Rosa. 

Brazil clung on for a dramatic last two minutes to hand Argentina, the champions in 2016, a second successive Final defeat and only their second loss in their last 21 FIFA Futsal World Cup matches.

Brazil, who have won five out of the six finals they have appeared in, finished the tournament with seven wins from seven games and only six goals conceded, their best-ever defensive performance. 

The evening began with the third-place playoff, which ended with Ukraine claiming bronze and their best-ever FIFA Futsal World Cup finish; with a 7-1 victory against France – who were making their first ever appearance at the Finals. 

Despite ending with familiar winners – the tenth edition of futsal’s greatest competition was a tournament of firsts. 

It was the first time FIFA had staged an event in Central Asia; with more than 150,000 fans attending the games spread between the three host cities of Tashkent, Andijan and Bukhara. 

The tournament – which featured 24 teams from all six confederations – was also broadcast or streamed live in over 175 territories around the world – as the popularity of the game of futsal continues to grow at an exponential rate.

It was also the first time four nations took to courts on the highest stage of them all – as New Zealand, Tajikistan and Afghanistan joined France in competing in the FIFA Futsal World Cup for the first time.

Sunday, October 6, is set to deliver a thrilling FIFA Futsal World Cup final when South American giants, Argentina and Brazil face each other in a quest to take home the trophy.

Argentina beat France 3-2 last week to secure their spot in the final while Brazil took down Ukraine 3-2 in their semi-final match.

Argentina won the title in 2016 but fell short in the 2021 final, while Brazil returns to a World Cup final after 12 years.

These two teams have already faced off in a 2024 final: the CONMEBOL Copa América™ Futsal, where Brazil won 2-0.

This time, Argentina will be looking to turn the tables.

The last 10 meetings between these South American superpowers have, however, been really balanced, with Argentina winning three, Brazil winning three and four ending all square.

Experts meanwhile say Sunday’s match could go either way - that each team has a 50% chance at scooping the trophy.

Fans across Afghanistan can tune into Ariana Television from 5pm to watch the first match - between France and Ukraine, for 3rd place.

The much anticipated Uzbekistan 2024 final will follow at 7pm.

Brazil, Ukraine, Argentina and debutants France are all through to this year’s FIFA Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan after having come out tops through the groups stage, round of 16 and the quarterfinals. 

Semis will kick off on Wednesday, October 2, when Brazil face Ukraine in Tashkent.

On Thursday, October 3, Argentina will face France.

Third-place match will be played on Sunday, October 6 in Tashkent.

The final will follow later in the day.

The tournament’s most successful team so far has been Brazil with Marcel the top scorer. 

There have been 341 goals scored in 48 matches, averaging 7.1 goals per match up to the quarterfinals. Leading the pack is Brazil’s Marcel, who has scored an impressive 10 goals. 

Close behind is Argentina’s Alan Brandi with 7 goals.

Iran’s Salar Aghapour follows with 6 goals and several players are tied with 5 goals each, including Argentina’s Kevin Arrieta and Matías Rosa, Brazil’s Pito, Kazakhstan’s Arnold Knaub, and Venezuela’s Kevin Briceño.

Francis Lokoka, Abdessamad Mohammed and Raphael Reynaud discuss France beating Paraguay and reaching the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024 quarter-finals.

For France however, making it to the semi-finals is a dream come true. Making their first ever appearance at this global event, team member Abdessamad Mohammed summed it up after they beat Paraguay. “I’m not sure we could have dreamt for more than this,” he said. 

Fellow teammate Francis Lokoka added: “It is absolutely amazing. If somebody had told me this was going to happen, I would not have believed them in my wildest dreams.”

“It is unbelievable,” said coach Raphael Reynaud. “When we came here our aim was to make it through the group stage. But we are competitors so once we’d achieved that, we told ourselves that anything was possible. We believe that we can go far in this tournament.

“What is happening here is a dream come true, but we have worked hard to get here, putting the pieces together one step at a time. It is no accident that we have come this far. You do not beat Paraguay in a World Cup quarter-final by chance.”