Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Ahead of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024™, the official tournament mascot, XON, has been unveiled.

XON™ symbolizes the unique attributes of futsal, such as its speed and thrilling nature, while also reflecting Uzbekistan’s local and regional heritage. The charming Turanian tiger embodies the spirit of the futsal event, highlighting that there is a place for everyone on the futsal pitch and within the community, regardless of their background.

The choice of XON™ was inspired by the Turanian tiger’s ability to move with power and grace, a trait comparable to the agility and finesse of the best futsal players who excel in challenging situations.

The FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024 will be a historic event, as it marks the first FIFA tournament to be held in Central Asia, underscoring FIFA’s commitment to making football truly global.

The competition will last for 23 days, from September 14 to October 6, bringing together the top national teams and players from around the world. A total of 24 teams from all six continents will participate.

Five teams from Central Asia will compete in the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024: Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan and Tajikistan will make their FIFA Futsal World Cup debuts, alongside newcomers France and New Zealand, bringing the total number of debutant teams to four.

The matches will take place in three host cities: Tashkent, Bukhara, and Andijan.