Iran Kicks Off 2024 Futsal World Cup in Style
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran beat Venezuela 7-1 in the 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup on Monday.
In the match, held at the Bukhara Universal Sports Complex, Salar Aghapour, Mahdi Karimi and Behrooz Azimi led the way with a brace each as the Asian champion put on a show of intent right from the start.
Aghapour put the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Thailand 2024 winner ahead after only seven minutes with Karimi (10th, 13th) scoring a quickfire double to put Iran 3-0 up.
Venezuela found some attacking verve and was able to reduce the deficit in the 15th minute through Milton Francia, however, that only served to motivate Iran to move up another gear.
Azimi restored Iran’s three-goal lead with his strike in the 19th minute to leave his team in a commanding position at half-time.
Iran dominated the second half with Aghapour getting his second in the 23rd minute before efforts from Amir Hossein Davoudi (27th) and Azimi (39th) completed the emphatic win for Iran.
Vahid Shamsaei’s team will face Guatemala and France on September 19 and 22, respectively in Group F.
The 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup is being held from September 14 to October 6 in Uzbekistan cities Bukhara, Andijan and Humo Arena.