The Indonesian National Futsal Team has made history, triumphing as champions of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026. In a thrilling final showdown against formidable opponents Iran at the Indonesia Arena on Saturday evening (7/2) WIB, Indonesia secured a 4-3 victory. This monumental achievement marks Indonesia’s first-ever title in the competition, significantly surpassing their previous best performance of reaching the quarter-finals.
However, the path to victory was anything but straightforward, with the match proving to be an intense battle from the very start. Indonesia faced an early setback, conceding a goal in just the third minute when Tayyebi found the back of the net with a powerful strike from inside the penalty box, putting Iran ahead.
Yet, the Indonesian side showcased remarkable resilience, quickly finding their footing and leveling the score. Reza Gunawan unleashed a superb shot that brought Indonesia back into contention at 1-1. The momentum then shifted dramatically in Indonesia’s favor as Israr Megantara delivered a stunning performance, netting two rapid goals to complete a brace, propelling his team to a commanding 3-1 lead.
Just when Indonesia seemed to be taking control, Iran mounted a crucial comeback before the close of the first half. Through a well-executed free-kick routine, Karimi skillfully slotted the ball home, narrowing Indonesia’s lead to 3-2 as the whistle blew for halftime, setting the stage for an electrifying second half.
The second half commenced with Iran demonstrating their resolve, equalizing the score at 3-3, intensifying the pressure on the hosts. Nevertheless, Indonesia swiftly regained their advantage, with Samuel Eko once again putting his team ahead, bringing the score to a tense 4-3.
With time running out and facing a deficit, Iran opted for a high-stakes power play strategy. The tactical gamble paid off, as they successfully converted, drawing level at 4-4 and forcing the gripping encounter into extra time, much to the delight and apprehension of the crowd.
The drama continued into extra time, where Israr Megantara once again rose to the occasion, putting Indonesia ahead with another crucial goal. Yet, Iran refused to yield, with Salar responding to equalize the score at a dramatic 5-5. With neither side able to break the deadlock, the championship was ultimately decided by a tense penalty shootout.
In the high-pressure penalty shootout, two Indonesian players, Israr and Dewa Rizky, unfortunately missed their attempts. Iran, on the other hand, saw only Masoud Yousef fail to convert from the spot. The shootout concluded with Iran winning 5-4, bringing an epic and fiercely contested final to a nail-biting finish.
Summary
The Indonesian National Futsal Team faced Iran in an intense final of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 at Indonesia Arena. Indonesia initially fell behind 1-0 but quickly surged ahead to a 3-1 lead, thanks to two goals from Israr Megantara. Iran managed to narrow the gap to 3-2 by halftime and later equalized at 3-3, before Samuel Eko restored Indonesia’s lead to 4-3.
Iran then used a power play to equalize at 4-4, sending the match into extra time. In extra time, Israr Megantara again put Indonesia ahead, but Iran responded to level the score at 5-5. The championship was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout, which Iran won 5-4, making Indonesia the runner-up in a fiercely contested match that surpassed their previous best performance.