Indonesia, 31 January 2026 – Vietnam national futsal team will face Indonesia national futsal team in the quarterfinals of the AFC Asian Futsal Championship 2026, setting up a challenging encounter against the host nation. Notably, Vietnam previously defeated Indonesia 1-0 at SEA Games 33, a result that offers confidence heading into this high-stakes knockout match.
The quarterfinal is scheduled for February 3 after Indonesia finished top of Group A. In the final round of group-stage matches on January 31 at Indonesia Arena in Jakarta, Indonesia drew 1-1 with Iraq national futsal team. The result gave the hosts seven points from three games, enough to secure first place thanks to a superior goal difference, while Iraq also collected seven points but had to settle for second.
Meanwhile, Vietnam national futsal team suffered a narrow 0-1 defeat to Thailand national futsal team in their final Group B match. That loss left Vietnam second in the group with six points, while Thailand topped the standings with a perfect nine points. Thailand will now meet Iraq in another quarterfinal tie.
Vietnam’s upcoming match against Indonesia is expected to be a tough test. Playing in front of a passionate home crowd gives Indonesia a significant advantage. Although they lost to Vietnam at SEA Games 33, they later bounced back strongly to win the gold medal, showing their resilience and growth.
In their clash with Iraq, Indonesia started aggressively, pressing high and dictating the tempo from the opening minutes. Their early dominance paid off in the fifth minute when Samuel Eko scored from a short-corner routine. The hosts continued to create chances and twice struck the crossbar but could not extend their lead. Iraq also threatened, with captain Salim Faisal hitting the woodwork with a powerful effort.
In the second half, Iraq pushed forward and deployed a power-play strategy to search for an equalizer. Their persistence was rewarded in the 30th minute when Haedr Majed, acting as an advanced goalkeeper, scored from a corner to level the score at 1-1. The closing minutes were tense, with both sides exchanging attacks. Iraq even found the net in the final seconds, but after a VAR review, the goal was disallowed. The match ended in a draw.
With both teams showing strong form, the quarterfinal promises to be intense. Vietnam will rely on discipline, experience, and their proven ability to handle pressure, while Indonesia will count on home support and attacking energy. It sets the stage for a dramatic battle for a semifinal spot.
Anh Minh
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