2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup The 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup was the 7th FIFA Futsal World Cup, an international futsal tournament that took place from 1–18 November 2012 in Thailand. An extra four teams (increase to 24 from 20 at the 2008 event in Brazil) were competing at this World Cup. This was the first men's FIFA tournament held in the country, having hosted the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women's World Championship. This was also the first men's FIFA tournament in Southeast Asia since the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship, held in Malaysia. Brazil defended their title, winning it for
African nations at the FIFA World Cup before playing any matches. No African countries applied to compete at the 1950 FIFA World Cup. Egypt was the only African country to apply to compete at the 1954 World Cup. They were placed in a two-team group with Italy, but lost 1–2 in Cairo and 1–5 in Milan, and thus did not qualify for the World Cup. Egypt, Ethiopia, and Sudan all applied to enter the qualification process for the 1958 FIFA World Cup, but Ethiopia's entry was rejected by FIFA. Egypt and Sudan competed in an Africa/Asia zone with ten Asian countries for one spot at the World