TEHRAN (Tasnim) – FIFA has praised Team Melli after winning the 2016 AFC Futsal Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

The Iranian team defeated Uzbekistan 2-1 in the final match on Sunday and claimed the title for the 11th time.

Iran has dominated the Asian futsal scene since the inaugural continental contest was staged in Malaysia in 1999, clinching top-three finishes at all 14 of the tournaments that have been held to date. Indeed, the Iranians have emerged victorious a staggering 11 times, while finishing second once and third two times;  it has consequently participated in more World Cups than any other country, FIFA.com wrote.

At Uzbekistan 2016, Team Melli got off to a typically strong start, comfortably winning all three of their Group B matches. It subsequently thrashed Kyrgyzstan 7-0 in the quarter-final and Vietnam 13-1 in the semis, prior to coming from behind to defeat the host 2-1 in a closely contested final.

By Tasnim News Agency