The national futsal team has shifted its preparations back to Afghanistan to ensure player safety and maintain uninterrupted training ahead of the 2026 Asian Cup.
Herat | By Nilab Rahimi
The Afghanistan national futsal team has returned to the country after relocating its training camp from Mashhad, Iran, due to recent security unrest and instability, team officials confirmed.
The squad had been holding a preparatory camp in Iran as part of its build-up for the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026. However, growing security concerns, movement restrictions, and internet disruptions prompted the decision to move the camp back to Afghanistan to safeguard players and preserve training continuity.
On Tuesday afternoon, 13 national team players along with three members of the domestic coaching staff entered Herat via land route. Three players — Hossein Mohammadi, Seyed Morteza Hosseini, and Hamidreza Hosseini — were unable to travel with the group due to incomplete travel documentation and ongoing club commitments. Officials said they are expected to join the team in the coming days.
Team representatives stated that the relocation was a precautionary measure aimed at avoiding interruptions to the team’s preparation programme. The squad will continue training in Herat for several days and is scheduled to play friendly matches before moving on to Kabul for the next phase of its camp.
According to the Afghanistan Football Federation’s planning, the national futsal team will later travel to Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia — the host nations of the 2026 Asian Cup — to take part in advanced training camps and international warm-up matches.
Officials also confirmed that two friendly matches against Thailand and two against Vietnam are scheduled for January 28 and 30, 2025. These fixtures are considered a key component of the team’s technical and tactical preparation ahead of the continental tournament.
The federation reiterated its commitment to providing stable training conditions and competitive exposure, stressing that all logistical decisions are being made with player safety and performance readiness as top priorities.