Italy, whose last appearance at the tournament came a decade ago in Colombia in 2016, are aiming to secure a place after missing out on the last two editions (Lithuania 2021 and Uzbekistan 2024). Seven European teams will qualify for the finals (six if a UEFA nation hosts the tournament). At 12:00 CEST tomorrow, UEFA headquarters in Nyon will host the draw for the Main Round qualifying groups, live on uefa.com.
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DRAW AND MAIN ROUND

The 36 teams involved — the 24 highest-ranked nations plus the 12 sides advancing from the Preliminary Round — will be divided into 12 groups of three, with each group played on a home-and-away basis.

Teams will be drawn according to the UEFA rankings, with Italy placed in Pot 1.

The 12 group winners and the four best runners-up will advance directly to the Elite Round. The remaining eight runners-up will contest play-offs to determine the final four teams progressing to the second phase.

The qualifying campaign will begin in October 2026, with the Main Round concluding by March 2027.

Pot 1

Portugal, Spain, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, France, Croatia, Italy, Slovenia, Czechia, Poland, Netherlands, Armenia

Pot 2

Georgia, Belarus, Slovakia, Finland, Belgium, Serbia, Hungary, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Germany, Azerbaijan

Pot 3

Sweden, Latvia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Denmark, Montenegro, Norway, Andorra, Lithuania, Albania, Estonia, Northern Ireland

UEFA Qualifiers for the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2028

Main Round group stage
12-21 October 2026
2-11 November 2026
6-9 December 2026
22 February-3 March 2027

Main Round play-off draw
5 March 2027

Main Round play-offs
12-21 April 2027

Elite Round group stage draw
20 May 2027

Elite Round group stage
6-15 September 2027
11-20 October 2027
13-22 December 2027

Elite Round play-off draw
20 January 2028

Elite Round play-offs
10-19 April 2028