Iran Women set to take part in friendly futsal tourney in Brazil
Iran’s women’s national futsal team has been invited to take part in a four-team tournament in Brazil next April, also featuring the host, Morocco, and Canada, announced Elmira Saminipour, the team director.
The exact schedule and fixtures for the event are yet to be confirmed by the host country, Saminipour added.
All four teams competed in the recently concluded Futsal Women’s World Cup in the Philippines. The two-time Asian champion Iran suffered defeats against Brazil (4-1) and Italy (3-1) either side of a 6-2 victory over Panama, finishing third in Group D in November and missing out on a quarterfinal place.
Brazil went on to lift the trophy at the inaugural event, beating Portugal 3-0 in the final.
Morocco, which won the Africa Cup of Nations title on home soil last April, finished runner-up to Argentina in Group A with six points before suffering a 6-1 defeat against Spain in the quarterfinals.
Canada, meanwhile, finished bottom of Group B after losses to Colombia (2-0), Thailand (6-3), and Spain (7-0).
“Lavoisier Freire, the director of Brazil’s national futsal teams, was impressed by Iran’s style of play, the players’ determination, and the team’s management on such a big stage when the two sides met at the World Cup,” Saminipour said. “That convinced him to extend a direct invitation to the Iranian women’s team right after the match.”
She added: “Participation in this tournament could play a significant role in the future plans of our national team. Our goal is not merely to compete, but to use every international opportunity for growth, gaining experience, and better preparing the squad. We hope that through proper planning, we can make an effective impact in these competitions and once again serve as worthy representatives of Iranian futsal.”