Why it matters:
Iran’s win secured the top spot in the group and reaffirmed its status as the tournament’s defending champion heading into the knockout stage.
What happened:
Iran beat Afghanistan 5–2 on Sunday in the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup.
The match was played in Indonesia, the tournament host.
Iran led 1–0 at halftime and pulled away in the second half.
The big picture:
Both teams had already qualified for the quarter-finals before kickoff, each with six points.
The match determined the group winner, giving Iran a psychological edge going forward.
Afghanistan had impressed earlier with wins over Saudi Arabia and Malaysia.
By the numbers:
Final score: Iran 5, Afghanistan 2
Group-stage wins for Iran: 3
Points before the match: 6 each
What’s next:
Iran advances to the knockout stage as group leader, while Afghanistan also moves on to the quarter-finals.
Hossein Amiri - Mojtaba Darabi
