The Afghanistan national futsal team ended its campaign at the 2026 Continental International Championship with an impressive performance, defeating New Zealand 6–1 in their final match of the tournament. Under head coach Dejan Dedović, the Afghan side concluded its participation with a promising display.
Afghanistan started the first half with an attacking approach and went into the break with a commanding 4–0 lead. Omid Qanbari scored twice in the 6th and 14th minutes to put Afghanistan ahead. Javad Haidari then added the third goal in the 18th minute, before Mehran Gholami scored Afghanistan’s fourth goal just seconds later.
In the second half, New Zealand pulled one goal back in the 25th minute, but Afghanistan maintained control and prevented their opponents from mounting a comeback. National team captain Akbar Kazemi also scored twice in the 29th and 35th minutes, securing a final 6–1 victory for Afghanistan.
The Afghanistan futsal team played four matches in the tournament. They suffered defeats against Thailand and Vietnam, drew with Russia, and defeated New Zealand in their final game. Overall, Afghanistan scored 11 goals and conceded 12 goals during the competition.
Although Afghanistan finished the tournament with one win, one draw, and two defeats, the team’s performance against Russia, the world’s seventh-ranked side, along with their emphatic victory over New Zealand, highlighted signs of progress and improved coordination under the new coaching staff. This performance could help the team prepare more effectively for future competitions.
Writer:Salima Aryaei
