The AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup 2025 will witness the crowning of first-time champion - either Japan or Thailand, while the third and final qualification berth to the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup Philippines 2025 is on the line in the third-place playoff between China and Iran.
She is making waves at her first ever AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup, but Maral Torkaman has established herself as a real star for a while now despite her young age.
Aged 11, the Karaj native made the Iran U-14 national team and a switch to futsal in 2019 has proved to be very successful with numerous accolades at both club and international level.
Capable of both scoring and setting up teammates, the skillful Torkaman came close to sparking a comeback with two powerful strikes against Japan in Iran’s semi-final defeat and will be vital to their chances of redemption in the third-place playoff.
Moreover, part of the 2018 title-winning squad, Fereshteh Khosravi returned to the Iran squad hoping to win a second straight crown but has still starred despite them suffering semi-final heartbreak.
The 29-year-old Saipa Tehran player represented her country at both U-19 and senior international level on the 11-a-side pitch before turning her attention to the hard court, and has established herself there as well.
It was Khosravi, who struck in extra time to help Iran see off Chinese Taipei in the quarter-finals and also laid on an assist for Torkaman in the semis against Japan, proving her ability to be a game-changer.