For many years, the AFC Futsal Asian Cup has followed a pattern that is hard to dispute: Iran’s dominance. Out of 18 editions of the tournament, Iran have lifted the trophy 14 times. This record places them far ahead of all other nations and has made Asia’s premier futsal competition almost synonymous with a single name.
Japan stand as the closest challenger. With four championship titles, six runner-up finishes, and regular appearances in the semifinals, Japan have demonstrated remarkable consistency. Even so, the gap in achievements compared to Iran remains striking. To this day, no nation has truly succeeded in breaking Iran’s long-term dominance.
Beyond these two traditional powers, however, the competitive landscape has begun to feature new narratives, most notably from Southeast Asia. Once viewed largely as supporting participants, teams from the region have gradually built a reputation through consistency and meaningful breakthroughs.
Thailand’s Consistency, Indonesia’s Historic Breakthrough
Thailand have emerged as the most stable representative of Southeast Asia in the AFC Futsal Asian Cup. The team finished as runner-up three times, in 2008, 2012, and 2024.
In addition, Thailand have claimed five third-place finishes, in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2016. Although they have yet to win the title, their frequent podium appearances have firmly established Thailand as a respected regional power at the Asian level.
Indonesia made history at the 2026 edition of the tournament. For the first time, the Indonesian national futsal team reached the final and secured a podium finish.
This achievement marked a major breakthrough after years of failing to advance deep into the competition. Indonesia officially stepped out of the shadows and entered the map of Asia’s top-tier futsal contenders.
Vietnam have also recorded a notable milestone. Although they have never reached the podium, a fourth-place finish in the 2016 edition demonstrated their ability to compete at the tournament’s decisive stages. That result added Vietnam to the list of Southeast Asian nations that have experienced the intensity of elite-level competition.
Meanwhile, other countries such as Uzbekistan, South Korea, Kazakhstan, China, Kuwait, Iraq, and Australia have produced more fluctuating results—occasionally reaching the semifinals or final, but without sustained consistency.
The 2028 AFC Futsal Asian Cup will be the next major stage, serving simultaneously as a qualification pathway to the FIFA Futsal World Cup. Iran’s dominance remains firmly intact, but the data points to an important shift: Southeast Asia is no longer merely participating, it is increasingly becoming a genuine part of Asia’s futsal competition landscape.
