TEHRAN (Iran News) In a message released on Saturday night, Araqchi said the team’s victory in the final of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup once again showcased the capability and dynamism of Iran and its people across the continent.

The foreign minister described the championship as a clear sign of the iron determination of a great nation to surmount obstacles and ascend to the peaks of honor.

Araqchi extended congratulations to the Iranian nation, the players and coaching staff, as well as the Football Federation and the Ministry of Sport and Youth, praising their roles in securing the prestigious title.

Iran emerged champions of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026 with a 5-4 penalty shootout win after the thrilling final ended 5-5 after extra-time on Saturday.

In a hugely entertaining decider that had the fans at the Indonesia Arena on their feet throughout, Iran came from behind three times to lift the trophy for an amazing 14th time.

The foreign minister described the championship as a clear sign of the iron determination of a great nation to surmount obstacles and ascend to the peaks of honor.

Araqchi extended congratulations to the Iranian nation, the players and coaching staff, as well as the Football Federation and the Ministry of Sport and Youth, praising their roles in securing the prestigious title.

Iran emerged champions of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026 with a 5-4 penalty shootout win after the thrilling final ended 5-5 after extra-time on Saturday.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) Iran is scheduled to meet South Korea on Wednesday at the Al Shabab Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

“This is a group with respected teams, but we have set our objective and are determined to perform well,” he said. “We are familiar with the Korea Republic game and they are very strong, but we will go out to win.”

The Central Asian side did not qualify for the 2024 edition, but its perfect showing in the Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers has boosted its confidence.

“We have very strong, talented players, and all of them are looking forward to succeeding and achieving a significant result in our first match,” he added.

“This is a group with respected teams, but we have set our objective and are determined to perform well,” he said. “We are familiar with the Korea Republic game and they are very strong, but we will go out to win.”

The Central Asian side did not qualify for the 2024 edition, but its perfect showing in the Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers has boosted its confidence.

“We have very strong, talented players, and all of them are looking forward to succeeding and achieving a significant result in our first match,” he added.

“This is a group with respected teams, but we have set our objective and are determined to perform well,” he said. “We are familiar with the Korea Republic game and they are very strong, but we will go out to win.”

The Central Asian side did not qualify for the 2024 edition, but its perfect showing in the Saudi Arabia 2026 Qualifiers has boosted its confidence.

“We have very strong, talented players, and all of them are looking forward to succeeding and achieving a significant result in our first match,” he added.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) The match is scheduled for June 10 at the New Clark City Stadium in Capas, the Philippines.

Akrami will be assisted by his countrymen Farhad Farhadpour and Amirmohammad Davoudzadeh.

A total of 24 teams are participating in the third round for the final six slots in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

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TEHRAN (Iran News) Uzbekistan stayed resilient despite losing two players to red cards in the first half to lift the coveted trophy for a second time, having emerged champion in 2012.

Uzbekistan sported a determined look after the interval and took the game to Saudi Arabia despite its numerical disadvantage.

Its aggression paid off in the 51st minute after a VAR check confirmed Yazeed Al Dosari’s handball with Muhammad Khakimov making no mistake from 12 yards.

Saudi Arabia looked for a quick response but close-range attempts from Thari Saeed, Sufyani and Mukhtar Barnawi were well defended by a line of Uzbekistan players across the goalmouth.

The home fans at King Fahd Sports City Stadium were stunned into silence in the 70th minute after a quick break saw a surging Sadriddin Khasanov dribbling past Alwaleed Aloufi on the left before slotting past Al Otaibi to seal Uzbekistan’s amazing victory.

Uzbekistan sported a determined look after the interval and took the game to Saudi Arabia despite its numerical disadvantage.

Its aggression paid off in the 51st minute after a VAR check confirmed Yazeed Al Dosari’s handball with Muhammad Khakimov making no mistake from 12 yards.

Saudi Arabia looked for a quick response but close-range attempts from Thari Saeed, Sufyani and Mukhtar Barnawi were well defended by a line of Uzbekistan players across the goalmouth.

Uzbekistan sported a determined look after the interval and took the game to Saudi Arabia despite its numerical disadvantage.

Its aggression paid off in the 51st minute after a VAR check confirmed Yazeed Al Dosari’s handball with Muhammad Khakimov making no mistake from 12 yards.

Saudi Arabia looked for a quick response but close-range attempts from Thari Saeed, Sufyani and Mukhtar Barnawi were well defended by a line of Uzbekistan players across the goalmouth.

The post Uzbekistan Wins 2025 AFC U-17 Asian Cup appeared first on Iran News Daily.

TEHRAN (Iran News) Iran led from start to finish with Abolfazl Zamani starring with a brace with the Central Asian side to be sure of advancing should Indonesia fail to beat Uzbekistan in Sunday’s later game.

Abolfazl Zamani opened the scoring for Iran in Group C tie in the 26th minute and netted his second in the 34th minute after Yemen failed to deal with a cross from Yaghoob Barajeh, leaving the Iran No 16 to head home past a rooted Mokref.

Yemen fell further behind in the 42nd minute after Esmaeil Gholizadeh pounced on a poor pass from Ahmed Al Hajj before slotting the ball into the bottom right corner the-afc.com reported.

Yemen conceded the fourth following Mohammed Moqbel’s own goal, leaving the West Asian side on the ropes going into the break.

Iran stretched their lead a minute after the restart when Abbas Kahrizi sent a perfect cross for Ghandipour to nod home.

Yemen suffered further agony, conceding again in the 72nd minute after Nima Andarz supplied a cross for Abolfazl Zoleikhaei to finish with a close-range diving header.

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Carlos Queiroz’s team defeated China 3-0 at the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the UAE.

Sardar Azmoun set up Mehdi Taremi for the Iranian opener just 18 minutes into the match.

He robbed a hesitant Feng Xiaoting before squaring the ball to Taremi who fired home with ease to register his third goal of the tournament.

Azmoun scored Team Melli’s second goal after racing Liu Yiming in behind and rounding goalkeeper Yan Junling to score shortly after the half-hour mark.

Substitute Karim Ansarifard netted another for Iran after yet another defensive error in the added time.

Iran national football team will meet Japan in the Asian Cup semi-finals on Monday.

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The Italian World Cup-winning coach hailed his players after they overcame Thailand 2-1 to reach the last eight, saying they had proved they were among the best in Asia.

But Lippi, 70, said China still had a habit of drifting in and out of games after another Jekyll-and-Hyde performance in which they trailed 1-0 midway through the second half.

“Chinese players have to improve psychologically,” Lippi, who is expected to leave China after the Asian Cup following two-and-a-half years at the helm, told AFP.

“Sometimes they need to be much more focused and concentrated and pay more attention during the game. It’s a psychological thing. It’s very important to have the same intensity, the same determination from the beginning of the game,” the Italian coach added.

But Iran, Asia’s top-ranked team, will provide a much stiffer test and the expectation is that after Thursday’s game in Abu Dhabi, Chinese players will be packing their bags.

Lippi already appeared to be defending his record when he volunteered statistics that in his 10 competitive matches, China has won six and lost only two, to Iran and South Korea.

“That means I have to be very proud of my players,” he said, adding: “I’m very satisfied because this team is getting great results and we’re in the quarter-finals, which means we’re one of the top eight Asian teams.”

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The three-time champion sealed top spot in Group D following a 0-0 draw with Iraq on Wednesday, edging the West Asian on goal difference after both team finished on seven points.

Team Melli now awaits its Round of 16 opponents, the best third-placed team from either Group B, E or F, and Queiroz said he has to get his players ready for the business end of the competition.

“From now on, it’s a game which is everything for the winner and nothing to the loser. All the profile of the games have changed, so we can say that the Asian Cup starts for us in the next game,” Queiroz.

“Now we need to rest. After these three games, it’s important to have a good rest, and start to be mentally fresh for the (next) games.”

After having defeated Yemen and Vietnam with relative ease, Iran faced more formidable opponent in Iraq and Queiroz commended the 2007 champion.

“The game was intense, enthusiastic, and it was played in good spirit,” Queiroz said. “There was a lot of excitement on the pitch which was good for both teams, as well as for the fans of Iran and Iraq. I think the first half we played good football, we controlled the game and created two clear chances to score, unfortunately we didn’t.”

“In the second half, we changed our strategic approach. We knew that we had to give the initiative to Iraq and counter-attack. But at the end of the day, for the commitment, the efforts and the spirit of the game, I believe the draw was a fair result,” he noted.

“We expressed ourselves, created opportunities, we played good football against a very difficult team of Iraq,” the Portuguese concluded.

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Ebrahimi, 31, stole the show in the 2018 World Cup in Russia where Team Melli narrowly missed the chance to reach the knockout phase.

Iran defeated Morocco 1-0, lost to Spain 1-0 and drew 1-1 with Portugal in Russia.

Now, Ebrahimi says the 2018 World Cup has boosted their confidence for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, where Team Melli have been drawn in Group D along with Yemen, Vietnam and Iraq.

“We have a difficult task ahead because the Asian Cup has brought so many strong teams together.  However, we can emerge victorious from our matches if we play as we did in the World Cup. I hope we make our people proud in the competition,” Ebrahimi said in an interview with Varzesh3.com.

“I think Australia and Japan are the most powerful teams in this edition. Both teams have the capability of winning the title,” Qatar’s Al Ahli midfielder added.

Iran were knocked out of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in the penalty shootout against Iraq and Ebrahimi says it’s time to get revenge on them.

“I have not forgotten the defeat and I will do my best in our match against Iraq to take revenge on them,” Ebrahimi said.

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