After Afghanistan’s national futsal team defeated Iran in the Asian finals, citizens inside and outside the country hailed the victory and the team’s championship title as an unprecedented and inspiring moment in Afghanistan’s history. Many praised the players, calling them symbols of perseverance and unity. At the same time, residents shared videos of the energetic and passionate street celebrations in Dasht-e Barchi, west of Kabul, describing the event as a moment of collective joy that, in a time of hardship and darkness, carried a clear message of resilience and hope. To many citizens, these young athletes, through effort and teamwork, have shown the world a different image of Afghanistan.
Videos circulated on social media show thousands of people in Dasht-e Barchi taking to the streets to greet the players who brought home the Asian championship title. The massive and spirited turnout has received wide praise and attention online.
The unprecedented scenes of jubilation in Barchi’s streets were broadcast live on social media platforms, particularly Facebook, and were widely shared. The footage shows crowds cheering and accompanying the players with great enthusiasm. Many Kabul residents who joined the celebration described the turnout as numbering in the millions.
Hassan Adeeb, a social media user, wrote: “In the fourteen or fifteen years I lived in Kabul, the west of the city had never seen such a gathering. There have been large gatherings in Dasht-e Barchi before, but none for celebration or victory. This is the first million-strong crowd in west Kabul to welcome a championship.”
Another user, Hanif Dowlat Beg Soltani, wrote: “This joy does not come from forgetfulness; it flows from remembrance, from the veins that still hold the strength to stand on the ruins and say, ‘We are still here.’”
At the same time, a photo of Ali Ahmadi, a player on Afghanistan’s under-17 national futsal team, alongside his father after returning from the Asian championship, has become one of the most widely shared images among social media users in Afghanistan.
In the picture, Ahmadi, the scorer of Afghanistan’s second goal in the decisive match against Iran, is seen embracing his father, whose face, according to users, “tells a story of years of hardship, patience, and struggle.” Many users reshared the image, calling it “two champions in one frame,” writing: “A father with calloused hands raised a son who today brings pride to a nation.”
Mujib Mehrdad, a poet and writer, commented: “Like father, like son.” He added, “In this image, the player’s father represents all hardworking fathers of Afghanistan who endure hardship and raise their children between life and death. His son has now become a symbol and role model for all young people of Afghanistan, youth who, through hard work, self-sacrifice, and despite deprivation and systemic inequality, bring dignity to our country. We are now Asian champions, and the world looks upon our people and our nation with respect. That is no small achievement.”
The touching video of this father and son, being lifted on shoulders, showered with flowers, and surrounded by admirers taking photos, has not only been widely shared but also inspired emotional praise and multiple interpretations.
Journalist Zahra Joya wrote: “In one of the videos from west Kabul, amid the crowd of men lined up to welcome the futsal champions, I saw a few women and girls. They were few, but their presence carried a special weight, like small sparks amid a sea of men. At that moment, I broke into tears… Among all the flags, shouts, and joy, a quiet sorrow grew in me, a sorrow that half of this country, half of this happiness, remains confined behind the walls of homes. Women who should be shoulder to shoulder with men in the streets shouting in celebration can now only watch from behind windows.”
She continued: “How incomplete this joy is… how painful and contradictory this image feels. In a place where men celebrate freedom, women are still wishing for it in silence. And among all the laughter and cheers, the only sound that lingered in my ears was the sob of myself, my sisters, and the mothers of these champions. May the Taliban be destroyed along with this wretched ideology…”
Journalist Naseer Kawoshgar wrote: “This image tells the story of two generations: one whose dreams were crushed by poverty, war, and misery, and another that grew up amid that same poverty but is now fulfilling the dreams of the first. There is no doubt that this Hazara father also had dreams at such an age, and now he sees them reflected in his son. If the story of the Hazaras of Afghanistan over the past decades could be captured in one picture, this would be it.”
A video of a middle-aged woman has also been widely circulated. She says: “I’m so happy that I can’t express it, every bit of my pain is gone. The message is: never lose hope, be joyful, play sports, and be champions.”
In the final match of the Asian Futsal Championship, Afghanistan’s national futsal team defeated Iran 2–1, earning Afghanistan’s first-ever Asian futsal title. Iran finished second, Thailand third, and Uzbekistan fourth. In the first half of the final, Afghanistan’s captain, Abbas Haidari, scored the opening goal in the 16th minute, and Ali Ahmadi scored the second goal in the second half with a volley from a corner kick. Iran managed to score once, but the game ended 2–1 in Afghanistan’s favor.
The match between Afghanistan and Iran was tense and eventful. In the first half, Afghanistan committed five fouls, giving Iran a penalty opportunity, which the Iranian players failed to convert. In the second half, fouls and scuffles were mostly committed by the Iranian side. With just five seconds left in the match, Afghanistan’s goalkeeper, Ahmad Esmaeili, blocked a shot from an Iranian player, who then kicked him aggressively. The referee, having witnessed the scene closely, immediately issued a red card and expelled the Iranian player from the field.
Following the expulsion, Iranian players resorted to violence, clashing with Afghan players and rushing toward their coaches, escalating tensions. However, officials and referees intervened to restore order. Before resuming the final five seconds, the referees issued red cards to Mohammad Akbari of Afghanistan, two Iranian players, and several members of Iran’s coaching staff.
Afghanistan’s under-17 futsal team played five matches in the third round of the Asian Championship in Bahrain and won all of them.
The brawl and aggressive behavior of Iranian players and coaches sparked a wave of reactions from citizens of Afghanistan, both at home and abroad. Some criticized it, while others responded with humor and commentary, sharing satirical posts and sketches about the incident.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
جشن خیابانی در دل محدودیتهای طالبان: استقبال پرشور مردم از قهرمانان فوتسال آسیا
