TEHRAN (Iran News) At stake for the winner will be a mouth-watering clash with Brazil in the quarter-finals, with the five-time champion having booked its last eight ticket with a 5-0 defeat of Costa Rica on Tuesday.

Iran, seeking to better its bronze medal finish of 2016, enjoyed serene passage to the knockout stage by topping Group F.

Having opened its campaign with a 7-1 defeat of Venezuela, the 13-time AFC Futsal Asian Cup winner followed that up with wins over Guatemala (9-4) and France (4-1).

Salar Aghapour has led the team’s challenge, with the midfielder having already netted six goals at Uzbekistan 2024 while the likes of Mahdi Karimi and Moslem Oladghobad have also played pivotal roles in Iran’s bid for a first ever world title.

Morocco progressed to the knockout stage as the Group E runner-up, its 4-1 defeat to defending champion Portugal costing them top spot.

While Iran will be confident of advancing, it knows the threat Morocco pose with the African side’s world ranking of six just two behind the Asian champion.

TEHRAN (Iran News) Bronze medalists in 2016, Iran will face Morocco in the Round of 16, with the North African side having finished second in Group E.

Both teams had already secured their spots in the Round of 16 after victories over Guatemala and Venezuela.

Iran ended the deadlock in the 25th minute after Salar Aghapour broke into the area from the left before slipping the ball into the back of the net from an acute angle past a rooted Garros.

Iran’s second goal came in the 28th minute after Garros denied Aghapour’s effort from distance, only to concede moments later after Moslem Oladghobad found space on the left to fire a low drive into the back of the net.

Rafieipour put Iran 3-0 up three minutes later from a powerful low shot from distance, as the goals kept pouring in with Aghapour netting his second in the 37th minute with a long range effort.

France pulled one back after the restart, benefitting from a power play move with Mamadou Toure converting from distance but it was already a case of job done for Iran by then.

TEHRAN (Iran News) Iran is scheduled to meet France on Sunday in Group F. The two elite free-scoring sides will collide for the right to finish first, with Iran requiring only a draw.

“France showed its improvement in futsal over the last two games. They play patiently, have good individual skills and have accurate finishing,” Derakhshani said.

“We know that they are competing with us to be at the top of the group and this can be a game that the spectators will enjoy,” he added.

The 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup is being held from September 14 to October 6 in Uzbekistan’s cities of Bukhara, Andijan and Tashkent.

TEHRAN (Iran News) –They met Ayatollah Khamenei in Tehran on Wednesday.

The athletes won the 13th title in the AFC Futsal Asian Cup in Thailand on April 28.

Today’s meeting was also attended by Minister of Sports and Youth Kiomars Hashemi and President of Iran’s Football Federation Mahdi Taj.

Iran’s head coach, Vahid Shamsaei, has said that his men have the potential to go the distance at September’s FIFA Futsal World Uzbekistan 2024 after winning the title in the recent Asian games in Thailand.

The Iranian players had won their sixth consecutive match with a 4-1 victory over Thailand to lift their 13th title.

TEHRAN (Iran News) –Iran will be on high alert when it faces Kyrgyzstan in the quarter-finals at the Bangkok Arena on Wednesday.

Iran has never failed to reach the knockout stage since it first won the tournament in 1999, while Kyrgyzstan- who did not feature in the 2022 edition – had consecutive fourth place finishes in 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Iran took home the three points in its opening game, winning 3-1 against debutant Afghanistan, that followed up with a 5-3 victory over Bahrain before sealing top spot in Group D after its 4-0 masterclass against Kuwait.

The Iranian side is the overwhelming favorite to lift a record-extending 13th title despite the absence of star Hossein Tayebi through injury. Head coach Vadid Shamsaei believes that the return of Ali Ashgar Hassanzadeh can inspire the team.

“Our strategy has evolved since two years ago. With Tayebi injured, we’ve had to adjust our plans, hence the inclusion of Hassanzadeh in the team. He brings valuable experience and mentorship to the squad, which I believe will benefit us,” said Shamsaei.

“I believe Kyrgyzstan has a good team, considering it defeated Japan, making it a formidable opponent. Currently, we are conducting thorough analysis, devising solutions, and moving forward. The Asian teams in the tournament have proven to be tough competitors, as evidenced by Kyrgyzstan and the likes of Tajikistan as well.

“Facing Kyrgyzstan won’t be easy. I’ve personally faced them as a player, and it is a formidable opponent. Its approach to the game in terms of tactics and philosophy has noticeably improved over the years. My message to my players is simple: if we give our best, we won’t have a poor game.”