Why it matters:
Iran’s qualification keeps one of Asia’s strongest futsal teams in contention for gold, reinforcing its regional dominance ahead of key international tournaments.
The big picture:
The Islamic Solidarity Games feature athletes from Muslim-majority nations, celebrating sportsmanship and unity. In futsal, Morocco led the group with seven points, while Iran secured five points to advance to the knockout stage.
What he is saying:
Iran’s head coach, Vahid Shamsaei, praised his players for maintaining focus and intensity throughout the group stage, saying the team is “ready to fight for the title” in the semifinals.
Key points:
Iran’s goals were scored by Mohammad Hossein Derakhshani, Hossein Tayebi, Mehdi Karimi, and Hossein Sabzi.
Iran drew 2–2 with both Morocco and Afghanistan earlier in the group stage.
Afghanistan was eliminated with four points, while Tajikistan finished last after three losses.
The semifinals are set for Monday, with the final scheduled for Tuesday.
Go deeper:
Iran Defeats Bahrain in Volleyball Opener at Islamic Solidarity Games
M.Majdi - Mojtaba Darabi
