FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup:
Iran hits five past Paraguay to progress
Iran secured a last-eight place at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup thanks to a 5-1 victory over Paraguay in Victoria, Seychelles.
Saturday’s win left Iran second in the Group B table with six points.
Ali Naderi’s men had to hold off a late comeback from Mauritania to edge out the African newcomer 5-4 in the opening game in the competition.
A bronze medalist in last year’s edition in Dubai, Iran got off to a flying start at the Paradise Arena on Saturday, with Movahed Mohammadpour and goalkeeper Mahdi Mirjalili smashing home from distance to give the Asian champion a two-goal lead inside five minutes.
This was a third goal in eight World Cup outings for Iranian Mirjalili, who went on to pick up the Man-of-the-Match prize.
“He makes amazing saves and scores amazing goals. He’s the best goalkeeper in the world and showed that again today,” Mohammadpour said of Mirjalili after the game.
Milciades Medina cut the deficit with a sensational bicycle kick in the second period, but Ali Nazem restored Iran’s two-goal cushion less than two minutes before the second interval.
Mahdi Shirmohammadi added a fourth midway through the third period and Mohammad Ma’soumi found the net with seven seconds remaining to seal the win against the 2025 Copa America finalist.
Having settled for a third-place finish in its last two World Cup appearances, Iran will be eager to walk away with the ultimate prize this time around.
Saturday’s showing suggests Naderi’s men will be among the favorites to go all the way in Seychelles. They are solid in defense and imaginative in attack, while in Mirjalili Iran boasts a man capable of settling matches with his hands and feet.
The top spot in the group will be up for grabs when Iran and two-time champion Portugal square off today.
Andre Lourenco scored twice to help Portugal defeat Mauritania 8-4 later on Saturday to move atop the table on goal difference.