Futsal World Cup 2028 Qualifying: Poland Hit 12 Again as Andorra Earn First Point in Rotterdam
The November window of European qualifying for the 2028 FIFA Futsal World Cup closed on Wednesday night with two very different stories: another goal avalanche from Poland in Belfast, and a first point of the campaign for Andorra in Rotterdam. Poland thrashed Northern Ireland 12-1 at the Newforge Sports Complex, while the Netherlands were held 2-2 by Andorra at the Topsportcentrum.
Poland hit twelve again in Belfast
Poland needed barely a minute to take control. Tomasz Kriezel opened the scoring after just 60 seconds, Zastawnik made it 2-0 twenty-eight seconds later, and the visitors never looked back. Zastawnik finished the night with a hat-trick, and Kaniewski matched him with a treble of his own as Poland scored twelve for the second time in four days against the same opponents.
Northern Ireland’s consolation came from Ryan McMenemy in the 32nd minute, but the hosts’ misery was completed by own goals from Darius Roohi and captain Adam Barr. It was a harsh lesson for a Northern Ireland side playing in a home-and-away World Cup qualifying group for the first time, and the defeat leaves them without a point from three matches, having conceded 41 goals.
The win puts Poland on nine points from three games, with 30 goals scored, and UEFA confirms the Poles are now assured of at least a top-two finish in Group 5. Bosnia and Herzegovina sit second on three points with a game in hand, and they host Northern Ireland on February 25 before the group closes with Bosnia against Poland on March 3.
Andorra’s first point stuns Rotterdam
In Rotterdam, Andorra earned their first point of the main-round campaign with a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands. Regalo gave the visitors the lead in the 17th minute, Boukhari levelled three minutes later, and Rodriguez restored Andorra’s advantage in the 22nd minute. The Dutch needed Boukhari’s second goal, two minutes from time, to rescue a point.
It was a famous result for Andorra, who had lost 4-0 in Serbia and 5-1 at home to the Netherlands in their first two games. The draw keeps the Netherlands top of Group 8 on five points, ahead of Serbia on four with a game in hand, and UEFA confirms the Dutch are also assured of a top-two finish. Andorra’s remaining game is at home to Serbia on February 26, while the group closes with Serbia against the Netherlands on March 3.
All 20 ties of the November window are now played, and the main round pauses until the December window on December 8-9. The final group games follow in late February and early March, when the 12 group winners and the four best runners-up will book their places in the elite round — and the race for the seven European spots at the 2028 finals, from October 7 to 29, will take its next big step.
