Afghanistan National Futsal Team Faces a Tough Challenge in the “Group of Death” at the Islamic Solidarity Games

The futsal competitions of the Islamic Solidarity Games – 2025 will begin tomorrow in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Afghanistan’s national futsal team has been placed in Group B, alongside powerful teams of Iran, Morocco, and Tajikistan, facing a difficult challenge ahead.

The “Lions of Khorasan” will play their opening match against Tajikistan tomorrow, Tuesday, November 4, 2025, at 12:30 p.m. Their next matches against Iran and Morocco are scheduled for November 6 and 8, respectively.

In Group A, the teams from Azerbaijan, Libya, and Saudi Arabia will compete against each other. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout and semifinal stages to compete for the championship title.

Being placed in the so-called “Group of Death,” Afghanistan faces a very tough road ahead. Iran’s national futsal team, ranked first in Asia and fifth in the world, is considered the main favorite to win the championship. On the other hand, Morocco, the reigning African champion and currently ranked seventh in the world, will also enter the tournament as one of the strongest contenders. Tajikistan, ranked ninth in Asia and forty-fifth in the world, is seen as the weakest team in Group B. However, Afghanistan, which stands seventh in Asia and forty-third globally, holds a slightly better position than Tajikistan.

Therefore, on paper, Afghanistan’s chances of advancing to the next stage or reaching the final seem limited. Nonetheless, considering the team’s impressive performances in recent tournaments, along with the determination and commitment of its players, there is strong hope that Afghanistan can defeat its rivals and qualify as the second team from the group. In the past, Afghanistan has already proven itself as an emerging power in Asian and world futsal, capable of standing proudly against top teams and earning valuable points.

The remarkable victory of Afghanistan’s U-17 national futsal team at the Asian Youth Olympic Games in Bahrain—where they defeated Iran, the top team in Asia—has, on one hand, increased the responsibility and pressure on the senior national futsal team. On the other hand, this historic achievement has undoubtedly doubled the team’s motivation to repeat that championship glory.