The 2008 edition of the FIFA Futsal World Cup was being held in Brazil from September 30 to October 19. It was the sixth World Championship held under the aegis of football's world governing body. The venues were Nilson Nelson Gymnasium in Brasília and Ginásio do Maracanãzinho in Rio de Janeiro. The opening ceremony took place in Brasília with the finals in Rio. For the first time, 20 teams participate making this the largest edition ever held.The FIFA Futsal World Cup is the international championship for futsal, the indoor version of football.
The world championship tournament is held every four years, on the even year between two Football World Cups. The first event was held in 1989, the year FIFA became the world governing body of futsal. It was held in the Netherlands to commemorate the popularity of the game there. Through the 2004 Futsal World Championships, only two countries have taken the Futsal World Championship -- Brazil winning the first three, defeating the host Spaniards in 1996 to win their third title, followed by Spain winning the next two, defeating Brazil in 2000, then Italy in 2004 in the first Futsal World Championship final that didn't feature Brazil. In 2008 Brazil became the first host country to win the Championship beating Spain in a Penalty Shootout. The next event will be held in 2012 with regional qualifying expected to start in mid-2011.
All events prior to the 2008 World Cup has been 16-team events. The first event featured 6 from Europe, 3 from South America, two from Africa, two from Asia, two from North and Central America, and one from Oceania. By 2004, the breakdown was Europe 5 teams, Asia 4 (including the hosts, competing as Chinese Taipei), South America 3, North and Central America 2, Africa and Oceania one each. At 2008 for the first time, 20 teams participate making this the largest edition ever held.
The first stage of the event features four groups of four teams. The top two teams in each group then advance to a second stage of two groups of four teams. This is followed by a four-team knockout final series.