2026 AFC Futsal Championship: Iran successfully defends its title after a thrilling final

The two teams were tied 5-5 after two extra periods, before Iran won 5-4 in the penalty shootout, securing their successful defense of the continental championship.

Iran opened the scoring in the 3rd minute with a precise shot by Hossein Tayebi following a quick free kick. However, Indonesia quickly responded. In the 7th minute, Reza Gunawan capitalized on a rebound from the Iranian goalkeeper to equalize at 1-1.

The match exploded just minutes later. Israr Megantara scored consecutively in the 8th and 9th minutes, both goals coming from rapid counterattacks initiated by the Indonesian goalkeeper, putting the hosts ahead 3-1. Before the first half ended, Mahdi Karimi narrowed the gap to 2-3 for Iran with a well-executed free kick play.

In the second half, Iran increased the pressure. In the 23rd minute, Ahmad Abbasi scored to level the score at 3-3. But Indonesia regained the lead when Samuel Eko seized an opportunity from a defensive error, making it 4-3 in the 24th minute. With nothing to lose, Iran switched to power-play. In the 37th minute, Karimi, acting as the flying goalkeeper, unleashed a powerful shot to equalize 4-4, forcing the final into two extra periods.

The extra periods continued with intense drama. In the 48th minute of the second extra period, Indonesia executed a quick corner kick, and Israr Megantara tapped in close to make it 5-4. However, just seconds later, Salar scored to tie it 5-5 for Iran as the West Asian team kept up their power-play strategy. Neither side could score further, ending the extra time at 5-5.

The tension rose even higher in the penalty shootout. Firman started successfully for Indonesia, while Yousef failed to beat goalkeeper Nizar. The remaining players from both teams converted their penalties, taking the shootout to the sixth round. At the crucial moment, Israr Megantara missed his shot after the referee adjusted the ball, giving Iran the chance to finish the match. Sabzi calmly scored from the spot, sealing a 5-4 shootout victory for Iran, defeating Indonesia and reaffirming their status as Asia’s futsal champions.

Despite the heartbreaking loss, the Indonesian team can still hold their heads high. Making their first-ever appearance in a continental final, the "Archipelago" team delivered a brave and fair fight against the “king” of Asian futsal, marking a historic milestone for Southeast Asian futsal.