OFC Futsal Championship 2004

After a five-year hiatus, the OFC Futsal Championship returned for its fourth edition in 2004, with the winner also qualifying for the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Cup™ in Chinese Taipei. The tournament was held in Canberra, Australia, and was contested between six nations in a round-robin format. Hosts and three-time defending champions were joined by Vanuatu, Fiji, New Zealand, Samoa, and the Solomon Islands.

Hosts Australia resumed their dominance of the competition, extending their unbeaten record in the OFC Futsal Championship to 21 matches, dating back to 1992, with five wins from their five matches. They were made to work hard for 1-0 victories over both Fiji and Vanuatu but handed nearest challengers New Zealand a 4-0 defeat to claim their fourth consecutive continental title and a spot at the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Cup™ in Chinese Taipei. New Zealand suffered their only loss of the tournament against the eventual champions, impressing with victories in their remaining four matches to finish second, while Vanuatu was a further three points behind in third.

Australia entered the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Cup™ hoping to snap their six-game winless run at the showpiece event. There last win coming at the 1992 World Cup against Cuba. They lined up in Group B alongside three-time champions Brazil, Thailand and the Czech Republic. In their opening match, they were blown away by a silky Brazilian outfit 10-0, that was followed by a 5-0 defeat to the Czech Republic. Australia’s best chance to break their drought was against Thailand but they narrowly lost 3-2, ending the tournament with a win.