Review of Afghanistan developments
The Afghanistan U-17 futsal team excelled at the Asian Games held in Bahrain, establishing themselves as a formidable squad. This youthful team, guided by an Afghan coach, exceeded all expectations.
Several months prior, when the Afghanistan Football Federation appointed Behrouz Jafari, the previous head coach of the Herat Ittihad futsal team, as the head coach of the Afghanistan national under-17 futsal team, no one aside from Behrouz Jafari believed that his youthful squad would manage to reach the semi-finals of the Asian Games in Bahrain by triumphing over their rivals with a significant score margin.
Behrouz Jafari had a commendable history with the Herat Union futsal team, having led them to become the runners-up in the Afghanistan Futsal Premier League. However, he demonstrated that strategic planning and trust in young players yield positive results. The ambitious head coach of the Afghanistan U-17 national futsal team conducted a 20-day training camp in Tehran starting on September 24, 2025, after which he proceeded to the Asian Games in Bahrain.
The Asian Youth Games, often referred to as the AYG, is a multi-sport competition that takes place every four years, featuring young athletes from across the Asian continent, organized by the Olympic Council of Asia. Athletes will compete in 24 different sports from October 22 to October 31, 2025.
Review of the group stage matches in the 2025 Asian Youth Futsal Games
At the end of the group stage of the 2025 Asian Youth Futsal Games, the Afghanistan U-17 Futsal team distinguished itself as the top team in the group stage, demonstrating exceptional performance. The tournament included teams from Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, China, Bahrain, Iran, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and Kyrgyzstan.
Behrouz Jafari’s students triumphed in all three of their matches within the initial group, securing their place in the semi-finals as the frontrunners with a cumulative score of 9 points. In contrast, no other team across the two groups in the competition was able to achieve a total of 9 points. Following Afghanistan, the teams from Iran and Thailand in the second group, each with 7 points, along with Uzbekistan from the first group, which accumulated 4 points, also progressed to the semi-finals.
Review of the performance of the Afghanistan U-17 futsal team in the group stage
Afghanistan achieved the highest offensive statistics, sharing this distinction with Iran, boasting a positive goal difference of 18 and netting 21 goals across three matches. The Afghansiatn U-17 futsal team is scheduled to compete against Thailand on Tuesday, 28 October 2025, at 19:30 Tehran time and 20:30 Afghanistan time in Manama, Bahrain.
Iran achieved a favorable goal difference of 18; however, they allowed four goals, which is one more than Afghanistan. In terms of defense, Afghanistan showcased the most robust defense in the tournament, conceding merely three goals across three matches. Following Afghanistan, Iran ranked as the second-best defensive team, having conceded four goals. Notably, Iran scored one additional goal compared to Afghanistan, totaling 22 goals.
On the other hand, Bahrain, which also served as the host for the tournament, exhibited the poorest performance, suffering losses in all three of their group matches, failing to score any goals while conceding 26, ultimately finishing at the bottom of Group A and being eliminated from the tournament. Uzbekistan, following a significant 10–2 loss to Afghanistan, demonstrated signs of progress by drawing 2–2 with China in their second match and subsequently defeating Bahrain 13–0 in their third. China, which began strongly with a 6–0 victory over Bahrain, later drew 2–2 with Uzbekistan before succumbing to a 4–1 defeat against Afghanistan in their third match, thereby missing the opportunity to advance to the semi-finals.
In Group B, Saudi Arabia exhibited one of the most vulnerable defenses, allowing 26 goals across three matches. However, they outperformed Bahrain by scoring three goals and managed to avoid finishing at the bottom of the table with a 3-1 victory against Kyrgyzstan. Conversely, Kyrgyzstan concluded their participation in Group B in fourth place without securing any points, despite having a stronger defense that conceded only 13 goals.
The match with the highest score during the group stage occurred between Iran and Saudi Arabia, concluding with a score of 14–0 in favor of Iran.
Additionally, the Afghanistan U-17 futsal team achieved their most significant victory in a match against Uzbekistan, which ended with a score of 10–2 in favor of the Afghan youth.
Characteristics of the Afghanistan U-17 Futsal Team
With three successive wins and a total of nine points, the Afghanistan U-17 futsal team not only led its group but also earned the title of the best team during the group stage. This achievement demonstrates exceptional tactical unity, strong mental focus among the players, and effective coaching management. Behrouz Jafari’s squad showcased defensive discipline and impressive offensive creativity in every match; a trait that is seldom observed in Afghan grassroots teams.
Offensive structure: Mixed play and high pressure
Afghanistan was among the most offensive teams in the tournament, netting 21 goals across three matches. This was demonstrated by their proficient application of high pressing, rapid ball turnover in the opponent’s half, and their capacity to make crucial decisions in the final moments. A 10-2 triumph against Uzbekistan highlighted the team’s capability to alter the pace of the game, apply pressure on the opponent’s defense, and take advantage of the spaces behind the defense.
Furthermore, the variety of goal scorers within the Afghanistan U-17 futsal team indicates that the offensive strategy does not rely on any single player; instead, the team functions in a multi-faceted approach, which serves as a significant benefit for grassroots development.
Defensive performance: strength and coordination
Afghanistan has established itself as the most robust defensive team in the competition, having conceded only three goals in three matches. The defenders, in conjunction with the goalkeeper, consistently managed to thwart China’s rapid assaults and Uzbekistan’s coordinated plays. The team’s strengths lay in their implementation of a dynamic defensive strategy and their swift recovery following ball loss.
In contrast to the Iranian team, which allowed four goals, the defense of Afghanistan was more unified.
Game management and team morale
One of the most notable characteristics of the Afghanistan U-17 futsal team was their determination and concentration throughout the entirety of the matches. In contrast to earlier grassroots teams, which frequently lost their focus in the closing moments, the present team succeeded in sustaining pressure and managing the game until the final whistle. This reflects robust mental conditioning and specialized psychological training provided by the coaching staff.
Coach Leadership
Behrouz Jafari plays a crucial role in the tactical framework of the team. He has successfully created a balance between quick play and possession by accurately assessing the individual skills of the players. His choices regarding formation and the timing of substitutions have contributed to sustaining the team’s energy and concentration during the matches.
Furthermore, Jafari’s contemporary approach to implementing “player rotation in the 2-2 system” and “covering half spaces” has resulted in a well-structured Afghanistan team during both offensive and defensive phases.
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Future prospects for Afghanistan U-17 futsal team
The present performance of Afghanistan U-17 futsal team is encouraging for a new generation in Afghan futsal. The athletes of this team have demonstrated that with ongoing technical, psychological, and infrastructural support, they can become the backbone of the senior national team in the years to come. The primary challenge that lies ahead is to sustain this level of focus and performance during the semi-finals and finals, where the experience of high-stakes games will be crucial.
The Afghanistan U-17 Futsal Team distinguished itself as the leading team in the group stage through a consistent, offensive, and well-rounded performance. This achievement stems from a blend of local talent, contemporary tactics, and proficient coaching management. Should this momentum persist, Afghanistan may soon establish itself as one of the rising forces in grassroots futsal within both the Asian and global arenas.
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