Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – Iran’s national futsal team has been crowned champion of the Islamic Solidarity Games 2025, securing the gold medal with a commanding 5-0 victory over African champions Morocco in the final held at Riyadh’s Ola Arena on Tuesday evening.
Dominant Final Performance
Team Melli delivered a masterclass performance against the Moroccan side, controlling the match from start to finish. The scoring opened early with Amir Hossein Gholami finding the net, setting the tone for Iran’s offensive dominance.
Mehdi Karimi doubled Iran’s advantage with a powerful, ferocious shot that left the Moroccan goalkeeper with no chance. Captain Hossein Tayebi then extended the lead to 3-0, completing a first-half onslaught that left the African champions reeling.
Defensive Heroics and Strategic Brilliance
Facing a significant deficit, Morocco implemented an aggressive power play strategy that lasted over ten minutes toward the end of the first half. However, Iranian goalkeeper Bagher Mohammadi delivered a heroic performance between the posts, supported by exceptional team defending that consistently denied Moroccan scoring opportunities.
The first half concluded with Iran maintaining their commanding 3-0 advantage.
Second Half Mastery
The match tempo moderated in the initial minutes of the second period, though Iran missed two clear opportunities to further extend their lead.
As anticipated, Morocco reinstated their power play strategy with renewed intensity and vehement attacking pressure. Once again, the Iranian defensive unit rose to the challenge, with Mohammadi continuing his exceptional form by expertly handling every ball that reached his area.
Demonstrating tactical intelligence, Iran capitalized on Morocco’s offensive gambles by scoring twice into the unprotected goal during the power play. Captain Hossein Tayebi netted his second of the match, while Amir Hossein Gholami bookended the scoring with his second goal—Iran’s fifth—sealing a comprehensive victory in spectacular fashion.
Tournament Journey to Gold
Under the guidance of coach Vahid Shamsaei, Iran’s path to the championship demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth throughout the competition.
The campaign began with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against the same Moroccan team in the group stages. Iran then faced another challenging match against a determined Afghan side, resulting in another 2-2 draw that tested the team’s character.
The turning point came in their third group match, where Iran delivered an impressive 4-1 victory over Tajikistan. This momentum carried into the semifinals, where they secured a 4-2 win against Uzbekistan to earn their place in the final.
Morocco reached the championship match by defeating host nation Saudi Arabia in a tightly contested extra-time battle.
Championship Legacy
This gold medal achievement adds another prestigious chapter to Iran’s rich futsal history, reaffirming their status as a global powerhouse in the sport. The comprehensive victory over continental champions Morocco showcases the technical quality, tactical discipline, and mental fortitude that has become synonymous with Iranian futsal.
The Islamic Solidarity Games title represents a significant accomplishment for Coach Shamsaei and his squad as they continue to build toward future international competitions, carrying the pride of Iranian football forward on the world stage.