The captain of Indonesia erupted with emotion after the historic victory over Japan

The historic win against Japan propelled Indonesia’s futsal team to their first ever Asian final, causing captain Mochammad Iqbal to burst with emotion while still urging the team to stay focused on the championship goal.

The thrilling 5-3 victory over Japan in the AFC Futsal 2026 semifinals not only took Indonesia’s futsal team to their first Asian final, but also brought overwhelming joy to captain Mochammad Iqbal Iskandar. After the final whistle at Indonesia Arena on the evening of February 5th, the leader of the archipelago team could not hide his emotions as he and his teammates made history.

In this intense match, Iqbal did not score, but his role as the anchor was especially crucial. The Indonesian captain worked tirelessly, maintained the team’s rhythm, and provided effective defensive support, significantly limiting Japan’s attacking power and helping goalkeeper Ahmad Habiebie keep the goal secure at critical moments.

After the match, Mochammad Iqbal shared his joy but maintained the calm composure expected of a leader: “Alhamdulillah, of course I’m very happy, very joyful. But as Coach Hector Souto said, we are not allowed to be satisfied yet. The goal is to keep pushing forward and only stop when we become champions.”

For Iqbal personally, the victory over Japan held even deeper meaning as it allowed Indonesia to “repay a past debt.” At the 2022 AFC Futsal Championship, Japan was the team that eliminated Indonesia in the quarterfinals, a bitter defeat that Iqbal also experienced. Therefore, the moment of defeating one of Asia’s most traditional powerhouses overwhelmed the Indonesian captain with emotion.

Right after the final whistle, the image of Iqbal kneeling and bowing his head in gratitude on the Indonesia Arena pitch quickly spread on social media. It was not only tears of joy but also a release after years of relentless effort: “Certainly very emotional, because we have created a new chapter in Indonesia’s futsal history,” Iqbal added.

Now, captain Mochammad Iqbal and his teammates are fully focused on the AFC Futsal 2026 final against Iran, the team regarded as the “king” of Asian futsal. The match will take place on the evening of February 7th at Indonesia Arena, where fans hope to witness a new peak for Indonesian futsal on home ground.