India takes on Australia in AFC Futsal Cup qualifiers

India will face Australia in their second Group A match of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers in Ardiya on Monday. Coach Reza Kordi said the team is improving and close to its first international win

Hyderabad: India may have begun the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers with a defeat to Kuwait, but the Futsal Tigers are on the right track, according to head coach Reza Kordi.

Now having taken charge of three games so far, the Iranian said the boys have shown improvement with every game, and the first-ever international futsal win is not far away.

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India will face Australia in the second Group A qualifier on Monday at the Qushaian Al Mutairi Hall in Ardiya at 18:30 IST.

The match will be streamed live on the 51 Kuwait app and 51.com.kw.

The 1-4 defeat to the hosts on Saturday was no blemish on the young careers of the Indian futsal squad. Not many gave India, the lowest-ranked team (135th) in the group, a chance against Kuwait, the best-ranked side (43rd). Still, the home crowd, which had set up an intimidating atmosphere with drums, chanting and big flags, was left stunned when David Laltlansanga slid in to put India in the lead.

Laltlansanga, Indian futsal’s trailblazer, kept his record of scoring in each of the four Futsal Asian Cup qualifier matches India have played so far. While India failed to register a win in the previous Qualifiers, he impressed with six goals, only two less than top scorer Saeid Ahmadabbasi of IR Iran.

“In the first half, we played very well. We got one chance and scored a beautiful goal,” said head coach Kordi. “In the second half, we created more chances, but unfortunately, we didn’t score. This is futsal. If you have a chance and don’t finish, then surely you will concede easy goals, and that’s what happened with the third and fourth goals.”

Ultimately, Kuwait, one of the most experienced futsal teams on the continent with 13 Asian Cup appearances, scripted the comeback and took the three points. Despite conceding four, India’s Ozen Vivian Silva, goalkeeper of the tournament in the AIFF Futsal Club Championship 2023-24 for Ambelim SC, had a terrific outing, making as many as 20 saves.

After the game, Kordi said, “I would like to apologise to all our Indian fans and supporters. The federation has supported us very well for this tournament. Congratulations to the Kuwait team, but in my opinion, we didn’t lose to them. We lost first to our lack of experience and also to their goalkeeper (Fawad Al Khawari), who made a lot of saves. Both the goalkeepers were in top form.

“Still, I am so happy and proud of these young players, our Futsal Tigers. And I am sure that in the future, India can reach the very top of Asia. We are on the right track.”

India’s quest for a first international futsal victory now takes them to the next game against Australia, ranked 53rd in the world and winners of their first encounter against Mongolia by 8-1. Kordi was in attendance in Ardiya as the Futsalroos pulled away with five second-half goals.

“Now we need to focus on recovery for the next game. I watched Australia against Mongolia. Australia have very good players with strong experience in Asia. But we will try to beat them, and then we will see what happens in the third game against Mongolia. They do have a lot of experience, but we have a chance to beat them. We believe we can do it,” Kordi said.