A single starting place at the FIFA Futsal World Championship Chinese Taipei 2004 from 21 November to 5 December is at stake when six nations from the Oceania Zone come together for the OFC futsal qualifying tournament. The event takes place at the Australian Sports Institute Arena complex in Canberra from 25 to 29 July.

Three games have been scheduled for each of the five matchdays, with two kicking off in the evening each day. "We hope this will attract a bigger crowd," Oceania Football Confederation (0FC) General Secretary Tai Nicholas remarked. Admission prices have been kept low in another bid to bolster attendances.

On paper, hosts Australia look unstoppable, but New Zealand, Vanuatu, Fiji, Samoa and the Solomon Islands will be determined to prove they are not there just to make up the numbers.

Australia are without striker Elliot Zwangobani, the star of the 1999 qualifying tournament in Port Vila, but this nation of 20,000 registered and active futsal players will undoubtedly field a compact line-up.

A list of notable absentees includes Paul Lombardo, Danny Macor and Matt Whyte, but Australia still feature Brett Hewit, Simon Keith, Gavin O'Brien and Elia Salloum, all veterans of the FIFA Futsal World Championship Guatemala 2000. Australia's experience is not in doubt: they are one of only five nations to have taken part in all FIFA Futsal World Championships since 1989.

Of the remaining contenders, New Zealand and Vanuatu appear best equipped to make an impact. Ten of New Zealand's 12-strong squad play together for East Auckland Club, and Nathan Robertson's men will certainly be keen to do better than their disappointing fifth in Vanuatu five years ago.

Another surprise in store from Vanuatu? Vanuatu occupy a role best described as dangerous outsiders. Many an envious glance has been cast at the island's futsal infrastructure, including a league staged every year in the capital Port Vila, and the Korman stadium, a purpose built futsal hall offering ideal training conditions. The team benefits from the experience of national coach Juan Carlos Buzzetti, who has encouraged his players' dream of taking part at the World Championships despite the daunting size of the task. Football in general is on the up in Vanuatu, evidenced by the senior team's shock 4-2 victory over New Zealand recently.

Fiji finished a respectable second at the 1999 qualifying tournament, but futsal is still in its infancy here and the national squad was picked on the basis of a tournament between district sides. Recognising the need to raise competitive standards among its members, the OFC signed up Brazilian futsal expert Guillerme Costa to advise Fiji, Samoa and New Zealand in the run-up to the qualifiers. The Samoan team mainly consists of outdoor players but at least benefits from the experience gained by Junior Michael, Dennis Bryce and Peko Victor in qualifying five years ago. The diverse and colourful squad sprang a huge surprise with a friendly victory over a strong Australia side in 2003.

International debut for Solomon Islands The Solomon Islands are taking part in the FIFA Futsal World Championship qualifiers for the first time and will compete in their debut international fixture. The Solomon starlets are technically able and thus well-suited to this variant of the game, although the team, comprising internationals not picked for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™ qualifiers in Adelaide, has been forced to train on open-air basketball courts in the absence of anything better. A futsal coach from Sydney was brought in to pass on help and advice ahead of the qualifying showdown.

The tournament was originally set for last year, but the rescheduling to 2004 has proved a beneficial move. Nicholas is delighted at the six-strong field: "This is a positive sign for the development of futsal in Oceania. We're happy at the high level of interest signified by the teams signing up to take part, and we're especially delighted to see the Solomon Islands making their international futsal debut."

Match schedule

Matchday 1: Sunday 25 July 2004

New Zealand - Vanuatu Samoa - Fiji Australia - Solomon Islands

Matchday 2: Monday 26 July 2004

Solomon Islands - Samoa Fiji - Vanuatu New Zealand - Australia

Matchday 3: Tuesday 27 July 2004

Samoa  - Vanuatu Solomon Islands - New Zealand Australia - Fiji

Matchday 4: Wednesday 28 July 2004

Fiji - New Zealand Vanuatu - Solomon Islands Australia - Samoa

Matchday 5: Thursday 29 July 2004

Fiji - Solomon Islands Samoa - New Zealand Vanuatu - Australia