Afghanistan Defeats Malaysia 7-0, Advances to Asian Futsal Cup Knockout Stage
Afghanistan’s national futsal team defeated Malaysia 7-0 in the 2026 Asian Cup, securing advancement to the knockout stage with a commanding Group 4 performance in Indonesia.
Afghanistan dominated from the opening minutes, with Seyyed Hussein Mousavi, Farzad Mahmoudi, Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini, and Mohammad Moradi scoring four first-half goals to take control.
Reza Hussainpour, Mohammad Javad Safari, and Omid Ghanbari added three second-half goals, completing the historic victory for the Khorasan Lions team.
Afghanistan topped Group 4 with six points after previously defeating Saudi Arabia 3-0 in their opening match, confirming their place in the elimination rounds.
Iran also advanced from the group with six points in second place, while Saudi Arabia and Malaysia were eliminated without scoring any points.
Afghanistan has steadily developed its futsal program over the past decade despite limited resources and infrastructure challenges. The sport has gained popularity domestically as it requires smaller facilities than traditional football, allowing Afghan athletes to train and compete despite ongoing economic and security difficulties that have impacted sports development nationwide.
Futsal success represents a rare bright spot for Afghanistan sports amid broader challenges including restricted women’s participation, limited international exposure, and funding shortages. The national team’s strong performance demonstrates that despite adversity, Afghan athletes can compete effectively at continental levels when provided opportunities, though systemic obstacles continue limiting the country’s overall sporting potential and youth development programs.
Afghanistan will face Iran on Sunday in their final group match at Jakarta’s Velodrome Stadium to determine the group’s final standings in what will be a ceremonial match.
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