2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup: Portugal beat Argentina in final

Portugal beat holders Argentina 2-1 in Kaunas to win their first FIFA Futsal World Cup.

Pany Varela gave Portugal a half-time lead in the final and struck again in the 28th minute. Ángel Claudino immediately pulled one back but Portugal held on to become the first reigning UEFA Futsal EURO champions to triumph at the World Cup. The trophy was lifted by Portugal captain Ricardinho, who was named player of the tournament, in what were his ninth major finals, ahead of Pany and Kazakhstan's Douglas Junior.

On their way to their first World Cup final, Portugal had needed extra time to knock out Serbia and two-time champions Spain (coming back from two goals down) before pipping Kazakhstan on penalties. Argentina, who knocked out Football Union of Russia* in the last-eight rematch of the 2016 final, defeated Brazil 2-1 to book their spot in the decider.

Ricardinho was named player of the tournamentFIFA via Getty Images

Kazakhstan, who like Portugal, came back from two down to win their quarter-final, against Iran, ended fourth after losing 4-2 to Brazil for third place. Lithuania, staging the ninth edition after postponement from 2020, fell in the group stage on their major tournament debut. All six other European teams made the round of 16, where Serbia fell to Portugal and the Czech Republic lost to Spain.

*Football Union of Russia, being the member association of the Russian Federation. In accordance with the World Anti-Doping Code and a December 2020 decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, this team participated in the FIFA Futsal World Cup Lithuania 2021 as neutral athletes of its national sports federation.

Knockout phase

Final
3 October: Argentina 1-2 Portugal (Kaunas)

Third place match
3 October: Brazil 4-2 Kazakhstan (Kaunas)

Semi-finals
30 September: Portugal 2-2aet, 4-3pens Kazakhstan (Kaunas)
29 September: Brazil 1-2 Argentina (Kaunas)

Quarter-finals
27 September: Spain 2-4aet Portugal (Vilnius)
27 September: Iran 2-3 Kazakhstan (Kaunas)
26 September: Morocco 0-1 Brazil (Vilnius)
26 September: Football Union of Russia 1-1aet, 4-5pens Argentina (Kaunas)

Round of 16

Kazakhstan celebrate reaching their first World Cup quarter-finalFIFA via Getty Images

24 September: Uzbekistan 8-9 Iran (Vilnius)
24 September: Portugal 4-3aet Serbia (Kaunas)
24 September: Spain 5-2 Czech Republic (Vilnius)
23 September: Kazakhstan 7-0 Thailand (Kaunas)
23 September: Argentina 6-1 Paraguay (Vilnius)
23 September: Brazil 4-2 Japan (Kaunas)
22 September: Football Union of Russia 3-2 Vietnam (Vilnius)
22 September: Venezuela 2-3 Morocco (Kaunas)

Group stage

Group A: Kazakhstan (through), Venezuela (debut, through), Costa Rica, Lithuania (hosts, debut)

12 September: Kazakhstan 6-1 Costa Rica (Kaunas), Lithuania 1-2 Venezuela (Kaunas)
15 September: Costa Rica 0-1 Venezuela (Kaunas), Lithuania 0-3 Kazakhstan (Kaunas)
18 September: Costa Rica 6-2 Lithuania (Kaunas), Venezuela 1-1 Kazakhstan (Vilnius)

Group B: Football Union of Russia (through), Uzbekistan (through), Guatemala, Egypt

12 September: Football Union of Russia 9-0 Egypt (Vilnius), Uzbekistan 4-5 Guatemala (Vilnius)
15 September: Egypt 6-3 Guatemala (Vilnius), Uzbekistan 2-4 Football Union of Russia (Vilnius)
18 September: Egypt 1-2 Uzbekistan (Vilnius), Guatemala 1-4 Football Union of Russia (Kaunas)

Group C: Portugal (through), Morocco (through), Thailand (through), Solomon Islands

13 September: Morocco 6-0 Solomon Islands (Kaunas), Thailand 1-4 Portugal (Kaunas)
16 September: Solomon Islands 0-7 Portugal (Kaunas), Thailand 1-1 Morocco (Kaunas)
19 September: Solomon Islands 4-9 Thailand (Kaunas), Portugal 3-3 Morocco (Klaipėda)

Lukáš Rešetár's late equaliser against Vietnam ensured Czech progressFIFA via Getty Images

Group D: Brazil (through), Czech Republic (through), Vietnam (through), Panama

13 September: Vietnam 1-9 Brazil (Klaipėda), Panama 1-5 Czech Republic (Klaipėda)
16 September: Brazil 4-0 Czech Republic (Klaipėda), Panama 2-3 Vietnam (Klaipėda)
19 September: Brazil 5-1 Panama (Klaipėda), Czech Republic 1-1 Vietnam (Kaunas)

Group E: Spain (through), Paraguay (through), Japan (through), Angola (debut)

14 September: Paraguay 0-4 Spain (Klaipėda), Angola 4-8 Japan (Klaipėda)
17 September: Spain 4-2 Japan (Klaipėda), Angola 1-4 Paraguay (Klaipėda)
20 September: Spain 4-1 Angola (Klaipėda), Japan 1-2 Paraguay (Vilnius)

Group F: Argentina (holders, through), Iran (through), Serbia (through), United States

14 September: Serbia 2-3 Iran (Vilnius), Argentina 11-0 United States (Vilnius)
17 September: Iran 4-2 United States (Vilnius), Argentina 4-2 Serbia (Vilnius)
20 September: Iran 1-2 Argentina (Vilnius), United States 0-7 Serbia (Klaipėda)

Serbia beat the US to go throughFIFA via Getty Images

The top two in each group and the four best third-place teams advanced to the knockout phase.

Venues

• Kaunas Arena
• Vilnius Arena
• Klaipėda Arena

World Cup roll of honour

2021: Portugal 2-1 Argentina (Kaunas)
2016: Argentina 5-4 Russia (Colombia)
2012: Brazil 3-2 aet Spain (Thailand)
2008: Brazil 2-2, 4-3 pens Spain (Brazil)
2004: Spain 2-1 Italy (Chinese Taipei)
2000: Spain 4-3 Brazil (Guatemala)
1996: Brazil 6-4 Spain (Spain)
1992: Brazil 4-1 United States (Hong Kong)
1989: Brazil 2-1 Netherlands (Netherlands)

European contenders

CZECH REPUBLIC

How they qualified: Main round Group 8 runners-up, Elite round Group D runners-up, Play-off vs Croatia D2-2agg aet W6-5pens
Previous World Cup appearances: 3
Previous World Cup best: second group stage (2004)
Futsal EURO best: third place (2003, 2010)

KAZAKHSTAN

How they qualified: Main round Group 5 winners, Elite round Group D winners
Previous World Cup appearances: 2
Previous World Cup best: round of 16 (2016)
Futsal EURO best: third place (2016)

LITHUANIA

How they qualified: hosts
Previous World Cup appearances: 0
Futsal EURO best: never qualified

European champions Portugal celebrate qualifyingAndré Sanano/FPF

PORTUGAL

How they qualified: Main round Group 8 winners, Elite round Group A winners
Previous World Cup appearances: 5
Previous World Cup best: third place (2000)
Futsal EURO best: winners (2018)

FOOTBALL UNION OF RUSSIA

How they qualified: Main round Group 7 winners, Elite round Group C winners
Previous World Cup appearances: 6
Previous World Cup best: runners-up (2016)
Futsal EURO best: winners (2001)

SERBIA

How they qualified: Main round Group 6 winners, Elite round Group B runners-up, Play-off vs Finland W6-5agg
Previous World Cup appearances: 1
Previous World Cup best: round of 16 (2012)
Futsal EURO best: fourth place (2016)

Spain won their second title in 2004AFP via Getty Images

SPAIN

How they qualified: Main round Group 1 winners, Elite round Group B winners
Previous World Cup appearances: 8 (maximum)
Previous World Cup best: winners (2000, 2004)
Futsal EURO best: winners (1996, 2001, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2016)