TEHRAN, IRAN — Afghanistan’s Under-17 men’s futsal team began a three-week camp in Iran on October 5, giving the squad its final extended preparation period before the Youth Olympic futsal tournament opens in Dakar on November 1.
Afghanistan’s General Directorate of Physical Education and Sports reported that ambassador Fazl Mohammad Haqqani and sports representative Musa Khodadadi met the players and staff in Iran. The camp is scheduled to run for three weeks.
FIFA’s official draw placed Afghanistan in Group A with Senegal, Argentina and Panama. The men’s tournament has eight teams divided into two groups of four, with every player aged 17 or younger.
Afghanistan holds the Asian Football Confederation place in the men’s field. On the announced timetable, the Iran camp will finish in the final week of October, shortly before the team begins its group campaign in Senegal.
The men’s and women’s futsal tournaments will be played from November 1 to 12. FIFA says 160 players will contest 32 matches across the two competitions, with early games at the Iba Mar Diop Complex and the finals at Dakar Arena.
Dakar 2026 will stage the second edition of the Youth Olympic futsal tournaments after the sport made its Games debut at Buenos Aires 2018. It will also be the first Olympic sporting event hosted in Africa.
Sources: GDPES; FIFA draw; FIFA tournament guide.
