Month: May 2025

 Belarus end Iran’s dream

Victoria: Iran’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Seychelles 2025 title ambitions came to a premature end after losing 4-3 to Belarus in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

The AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup™ Thailand 2025 champions Iran struck first but in the end, could not stop Belarus from powering their way back into the game to take their place in the semi-finals against either Senegal or Italy.

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Belarus goalkeeper Mikhail Avgustov shook the Iran crossbar with a vicious volley, before picking the ball out of his net seconds before the first period was up, Mohammad Masoumi guiding home Ali Mirshekari’s pass.

Ihar Bryshtsel won and thrashed home a penalty to equalise in the second, and put Belarus ahead with a fine finish at the start of the third. 

Bryshtsel then earned a second spot-kick, but this time Seyedmohammad Dastan made a big block.

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The relief was short-lived. Yahor Hardzetski dispatched a gorgeous overhead kick and Anatoliy Ryabko headed home to put Nico’s team three goals up. 

Masoumi and Movahed Mohammadpour then struck to pull Iran to within one, but Belarus held on to progress.

A lone goals seals Iran women futsal victory

Hohhot:
the-afc.com

A late goal from Iran secured a 1-0 victory in their opening match of the AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup™ China 2025 as they saw off the Philippines on Wednesday morning.

Making their tournament debut, the Philippines came within a whisker of pulling off one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history against the defending champions, who won every one of their 10 matches en-route to claiming the title in both previous editions in 2015 and 2018.

In the end, IR Iran found a way through in the dying stages as Maral Torkaman broke Philippines’ hearts to take all three points in the Group B encounter at the Hohhot Sports Centre.

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Far from being overawed, the Philippines took the game to their opponents from the start and Isabella Bandoja nearly gave them the lead in the third minute as Farzaneh Tavasoli denied her in a one-on-one situation before the rebound was chipped just over by Isabella Flanigan.

Iran then found their stride and saw efforts from Mahtab Banaei, Nasimeh Gholami and Torkaman saved by Samantha Hughes, while Elham Anafjeh and Fereshteh Karimi put their chances wide.

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That sort of profligacy characterised the Central Asians’ first-half showing as Karimi and Torkaman blasted the ball over from good positions, while Hughes – the youngest player at this tournament who turns 17 in two weeks’ time – stymied Iran’s other shots, in particular pulling off an outstanding double save on Torkaman and Banaei.

Group B: IR Iran v Philippines

It was Tavasoli’s turn to shine shortly after the break as she somehow clawed away Dionesa Tolentin’s point-blank shot before then repelling another fierce strike from the same player.

The teams continued to trade blows but Iran, ranked ninth by FIFA – 46 places above the Philippines – struggled to find the breakthrough thanks to tenacious defending and strong goalkeeping.

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But just when it looked like the match would end in only the second-ever goalless result, Torkaman came up with the goods for Iran.

Having spurned several chances already, Torkaman made no mistake with three minutes left after being set up by Sara Shirbeigi to sidefoot into an empty net and seal a hard-fought win.

Preview – Group B: Iran v Philippines

Tue, 06 May, 2025
the-afc.com

Hohhot: Set to make their tournament debut, the Philippines arguably could not have asked for tougher opening opponents than Iran as both prepare to face off in their AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup ™ China 2025 Group B tie on Wednesday.

The reigning champions have won all of their 10 matches in the competition’s history and will be confident of adding a third crown. Having led them to glory in the inaugural 2015 edition, Foruzan Solymani returns to helm a side with plenty of experience, with five players set to appear in their third tournament.

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One of them is Sara Shirbeigi, who is the competition’s all-time top-scorer with 14 goals, who is optimistic about recovering from an injury setback to play her part.

“I hope we can become champions of Asia for the third consecutive time,” she said. “All our goals and efforts will be focused on this. However, as you know, achieving this is challenging since teams like Japan and Thailand are strong competitors. Nonetheless, we are Iran.

“Our team still has weaknesses that we worked on during the recent SAT Futsal Championship in Thailand and I hope that by addressing these issues, we can lift the championship trophy for the third time and make our nation proud.”

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The Philippines will certainly aim to give the Central Asians a stiff test as they continue to prepare for the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup 2025 in November, which they have automatically qualified for as hosts.

Led by Spanish head coach Rafael Rodriguez, the FILIPINA5 — recently unveiled as the team’s new moniker — impressed in the Qualifiers against higher-ranked opponents to seal their first-ever berth in the Finals. 

While Rodriguez believes preparations have gone well, he acknowledged that Iran will pose a tough challenge, especially with key striker Katrina Guillou — scorer of four of their 10 Qualifiers goals — sidelined.

“It’s a big challenge for us – they’re the best team in Asia,” said Rodriguez. “We’re going to learn a lot from that match. We know it will be very difficult, but we’re approaching it with great enthusiasm.

“We have tried to train as much as possible in the Philippines over the past month, although players have been joining gradually over the last few weeks. We played two friendly matches in the Philippines, and the rest of our preparation took place in China.

“I don’t think there’s any one key player but it’s true that Katrina, who couldn’t be with us, brought a lot of experience. She’s also a player with a knack for scoring goals.”

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While the Philippines played their first women’s futsal national team match in 2005, the side has only been revived in recent years and Rodriguez, in looking at the big picture, feels that being awarded hosting rights to the FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup will further boost their developmental efforts.

“I believe we’re making progress in many areas,” he said. “We want to build a solid team, with a strong mentality and a clear identity. We’re improving both individually and collectively. We need to keep consolidating every step we take.”

IR Iran v Philippines

Venue: Hohhot Sports Centre (Hohhot)

Kick-off: Wednesday, 05:00 (UTC+3)   

Portugal-Iran ends with a European victory

Victoria: Iran concluded their FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Seychelles 2025 Group B campaign with a 7-5 defeat to two-time champions Portugal on Monday.

The loss saw AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup™ Thailand 2025 champions Iran finishing second in Group B, setting up a quarter-final meeting against Group A winners Belarus on Thursday. Portugal will face Japan.

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Team Melli struck first inside The Paradise Arena. Seyed Mirjalili dribbled the ball forward and, with the Portuguese expecting a trademark volley, cannily played a perfect pass to Mohammadali Nazarzadeh, whose excellent, acrobatic finish gave Pedro Mano no chance.

Andre Lourenco equalised, but Iran regained the lead through Reza Amiri’s stunning overhead kick.

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A period of Portuguese dominance then ensued. Leo Martins, one of the most lethal finishers in the game, turned provider as they netted five goals without reply. 

Mohammadali Mokhtari pulled one back in style, only for Miguel Pintado to restore Portugal’s four-goal advantage. 

Nazarzadeh and Mokhtari pulled two back for Iran, but it was too little, too late.

Iranian Women’s National Futsal Team Eyes Historic Hat-Trick at 2025 AFC Championship

The Iranian women’s national futsal team, champions of the last two editions of the AFC Women’s Futsal Championship, is aiming to secure a historic third consecutive title in the upcoming tournament. Riding on the momentum of its golden generation, Iran enters the 2025 championship as a firm favorite.

Tournament Overview

The third edition of the AFC Women’s Futsal Championship is set to take place from May 6 to 17, 2025, in Hohhot, China. This premier continental competition will bring together Asia’s strongest women’s futsal teams, each vying not only for the trophy but also for a spot in the inaugural FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup, hosted by the Philippines.

The tournament will begin with a group stage, where two teams from each group will directly advance to the knockout rounds. Additionally, the two best third-placed teams will also qualify for the quarter-finals. The top three finishers in the tournament will qualify for the World Cup, joining host nation Philippines.

Iran’s Group and Key Opponents

Iran has been drawn in a group with:

  • Vietnam
  • Hong Kong
  • Philippines

Vietnam, who held Iran to level points in a recent friendly tournament in China, poses the most significant challenge in the group. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong and Philippine teams, though spirited, have not yet reached Iran’s level of competitiveness. The Philippines, however, may prove unpredictable due to their added motivation as World Cup hosts.

Championship Pedigree and Aspirations

Iran claimed the AFC title in 2015 and 2018, establishing itself as a powerhouse in Asian women’s futsal. Now, after a seven-year break, the national team is eager to lift the trophy for the third time. This ambition has brought renewed energy to both the players and coaching staff, all committed to cementing Iran’s dominance in the sport.

Squad and Key Players

Iran’s 14-player squad retains much of the core that secured their previous two championships. The team is coached by Forouzan Soleimani. Iran’s women’s futsal Team is ranked 9th in the FIFA Ranking. Key figures from the golden generation include:

  • Farzaneh Tavassoli
  • Tahereh Mehdipour
  • Nasimeh Gholami (Captian)
  • Sara Shirbeigi
  • Fereshteh Karimi

These seasoned athletes bring not only skill but invaluable championship experience to the squad.

Emerging talents who have excelled in domestic leagues will also feature prominently:

  • Mahdieh Mahmoudinia
  • Fatemeh Rahmati
  • Maral Torkman
  • Fatemeh Hosseini

Together, this blend of experience and youth forms a balanced, formidable lineup ready to take on Asia’s best.

Outlook: A Defining Moment

This tournament represents a critical moment in the history of Iranian women’s futsal. A third title would solidify Iran’s status as the dominant force in Asia and secure its spot at the first-ever FIFA Women’s Futsal World Cup. The stakes are high, and the road ahead is challenging, but Iran is determined to rise once again.

PLAYER TO WATCH

MARAL TORKMAN

Name: Maral Torkman
Date of Birth: 06th Dec 2002
Place of Birth: Karaj
Age: 22 years
Club Nasr Fardis
Height: 160 cm

Maral started her sporting activities at the age of 11, playing football in the neighborhood. She was influenced by her brothers, two of whom play professional football: Mehdi who plays for Mes Rafsanjan and Amir Hossein. Her father was also a former footballer.
At the age of 14 , Maral was selected for the Iran U15 team.In a strange twist, Maral at 17 decided to change her passion and head towards Futsal. She joined the local team Saipa team and quickly became a success story. She was soon selected for the National Iranian women’s futsal team.

Iran’s Group Stage Schedule – 2025 AFC Women’s Futsal Championship

  • Wednesday, May 07
    🆚 Iran vs. Philippines – 06:30 (Tehran Time)
  • Friday, May 09
    🆚 Hong Kong vs. Iran – 12:30 (Tehran Time)
  • Sunday, May 11
    🆚 Iran vs. Vietnam – 12:30 (Tehran Time)

Iran qualifies for the Quarter Final after defeating paraguay in FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup

Victoria, Seychelles: A suffocating defense carried Iran to a second consecutive victory at Seychelles 2025, leaving winless Paraguay on the brink. In the match held at the Paradise Arena, Victoria, Iran led in the first period by a score of 2-0.

Iran got off to a fast start with Movahed Mohammadpour and Mehdi Mirjalili smashing in shots from distance sealed the first period.

Paraguay’s attempts to cut the deficit were thwarted until midway through the second, when Milciades Medina took flight and scored a sensational bicycle kick.

Ali Nazem restored Iran’s two-goal cushion, followed by insurance strikes from Mahdi Shirmohammadi and Mohammad Masoumi to seal things for Team Melli.

Iran had 4 players cautioned in the match, one of whom Mirshekari would miss the decider against Portugal due to his second yellow card in the tournament.
Movahed MOHAMMADPOUR, Ali MIRSHEKARI, Mohammadali NAZARZADEH and Mohammad MASOUMI were the recipient of yellow cards.

Iran edges past Mauritania in FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Seychelles 2025

Iran’s beach Soccer National Football Team opened its campaign in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Seychelles 2025 with a narrow win against the debutante side Mauritania

Mauritania were four goals down after little more than 15 minutes, beauties from Ali Mirshekari, Movahed Mohammadpour, Mahdi Shir and Mokhtari putting Iran into cruise control. Then Cheikh started to sizzle. He finished the game with a hat-trick as the African underdogs gave the Asian titans an almighty scare.
while Iran scored 4 goals in the first period, in the final period , The Asian Champions were completely shut out.

The match ended 5-4 for Iran to win its first 3 points.

Iran goals: Mohammadali Mokhtari (2), Ali Mirshekari, Movahed Mohammadpour, Mahdi Shir

Mauritania goals: Cheikh Belkheir (3), Ahmedou Bilal.

Player of the Match: Cheikh Belkheir

Mauritania’s hat-trick hero and the MVP of the match said:“We believed we could win until the last second. We gave it everything. It was our debut, nerves play a part. But we showed we could produce a big performance against one of the best teams in the world. We’re still confident we’ll get through this group.”


Meanwhile, Iran’s Mohammadpour Movahed, said “The first match of each tournament is so hard. We have to adapt to things because we are not familiar with the sand, so we tried to improve our teamwork. Mauritania started to pressure our defence and pressed us man to man, which took up a lot of energy and made it difficult for us.”
The humid conditions of Seychelles and the rain made the job much more difficult for the Iranians who were struggling towards the end of the third period in which they failed to score..

A much tougher encounter awaits the Persians against Portugal, which edged Paraguay in a 20-goal classic, with the match ending 11-9 . Iran will meet Paraguay on Saturday.

Mohammadali Mokhtari’s double left him on 14 goals in his last 12 appearances in the competition. With 19 overall, he has Mohammad Ahmadzadeh’s 26-goal Iranian record in sight.