Futsal World Cup 2028 Qualifying: Belarus Hit Eight as France and Italy Make It Two Wins From Two
Six ties were played on Friday night in the main round of European qualifying for the 2028 FIFA Futsal World Cup, and the big guns mostly had their way. France and Italy both made it two wins from two, Belarus hit eight past Albania, and Croatia edged Germany in the night’s tightest game. It was another reminder of how unforgiving the five-a-side game can be at this level.
France, Croatia and Italy win the big ties
In Le Mans, France beat Montenegro 4-1 to stay perfect in Group 2. The hosts led 3-0 at half-time and never looked troubled, moving to six points from two games. Montenegro stay second on three points, and the two sides meet again in the return fixture on Tuesday, November 10.
Croatia moved top of Group 3 with a 3-2 win over Germany in Rijeka, leading 3-1 at the break before holding on. Both sides now have three points, but Croatia’s head-to-head win puts them ahead — and they still have a game in hand. Lithuania host Croatia on Tuesday.
Italy stayed perfect in Group 10 with a 4-3 win away to Kosovo, having led 2-0 at half-time. The Azzurri have six points from two games, while Kosovo stay on three. The return fixture is in Italy on Tuesday.
Belarus and Slovenia run riot
Belarus bounced back from their opening defeat to Kazakhstan by thrashing Albania 8-2 in Humenné, leading 7-1 at half-time. Group 6 is wide open now: Kazakhstan and Belarus both have three points and Albania have none — and Belarus host Kazakhstan on Tuesday.
The Netherlands won 5-1 away to Andorra to join Serbia on four points at the top of Group 8, while Slovenia thrashed Norway 7-1 in Ljubljana to move top of Group 11 on goal difference ahead of Belgium. Slovenia host Belgium on Tuesday in the group’s next big game.
The November window continues today with Sweden vs Armenia and Poland vs Northern Ireland, then Romania vs Denmark and Azerbaijan vs Latvia on Sunday. The 12 group winners and the four best runners-up advance to the elite round, with seven European places at the 2028 World Cup in total.
