The World Cup in Uzbekistan kicked off with controversy surrounding a football poster, and the conclusion of the group stage revealed one of the most disgraceful matches in futsal history. France and Iran were at the center of a major scandal. As both teams aimed to avoid finishing first in Group F to dodge Morocco in the round of 16 and potentially Brazil in the semi-finals. Libya and Paraguay have already reported alleged match-fixing to FIFA, and more federations may follow, though a successful investigation seems unlikely.
France failed to register a single shot on goal in the first half. Managing only two off-target attempts, while Iran recorded six shots, two of which were on target. The crowd at the Bukhara Universal Complex was left shocked by the poor display and booed both teams. FIFA officials in attendance looked on in disbelief. Fans felt a mix of shame and anger that further tarnished the credibility of this World Cup edition. Croatian Dario Marinovic expressed his frustration, remarking that “FIFA and everyone laughs at us,” while teammate Franco Jelovcic joked about aspiring to be an “Olympic sport.”
the match
The match reached its peak of absurdity just four minutes after the restart when former Palma Futsal player Salar Aghapour easily entered the area and shot past French goalkeeper Thibaut Garros, who made a glaring error in allowing the goal. This moment is likely to haunt the French Football Federation as players and coaches around the World Cup reacted with outrage. Argentine Matías Lucuix stated he was “speechless,” and Spanish coach Miguel Andrés called it a “shame,” criticizing coaches Raphael Reynaud and Vahid Shamsaee for not representing their profession properly.
The match ended 4-1 in favor of Iran, who topped Group F under a competition system that requires urgent revision. France finished second and will face Thailand in the next round. Granada coach denounced the actions of both teams, while Spanish and Libyan players expressed their dismay on social media, lamenting the disgraceful state of the sport.
In the aftermath, Raphael Reynaud’s press conference, where he blamed Vahid Shamsaee, was alarming. Reynaud attempted to explain their tactics, expressing disappointment at Iran’s lack of engagement. Captain Kevin Ramirez acknowledged the team’s poor performance but suggested they were preparing for the next phase. Brazil’s coach Marquinhos Xavier delivered a sharp critique of both teams, stating, “We don’t know who will win, but we already know who lost,” and urged accountability for the state of futsal.
Spain awaited the outcome of the final match on Sunday to determine their opponent. Venezuela, finishing third in Group F, will face Spain in the round of 16. The match is set for Wednesday at the Universal Complex in Andijan. Meanwhile, Brazil will play Costa Rica, and the Netherlands will face Ukraine, with quarter-final matchups being finalized on Friday.
