A small but passionate group of Indian fans filled the Qushaian Al-Mutairi Hall in Ardiya, Kuwait, on September 25, cheering as their team made history in futsal. India grabbed their first-ever international futsal win, beating Mongolia 3-0 in the final Group A match of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 Qualifiers, according to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) website.
The teams headed into halftime with India up 1-0, setting the stage for a breakthrough moment in a sport that’s just starting to gain traction in India. This victory wasn’t just a first win—it also marked India’s clean sheet debut on the global stage, a huge milestone that could spark more interest in Indian futsal.
Seaon DSouza shone brightest, scoring twice to lead the charge. Anmol Adhikari sealed the deal with the third goal. Even though India had already bowed out of the qualifiers after losses to Kuwait (1-4) and Australia (1-10), the squad played with heart to end on a high note. They finished third in Group A with three points in their second tournament appearance.
Mongolia, ranked 110th in the world—25 spots ahead of India—desperately wanted to snap their winless streak in qualifiers since 2018. But India stayed disciplined, mirroring their gritty effort against Kuwait. Early on, Mongolia controlled the ball, yet India defended smartly, blocking shots and shutting down space.
The first goal came in the 17th minute. India captain Nikhil Mali fired a shot that Mongolia’s goalkeeper Narmandakh Battulga blocked, but Mali quickly passed the rebound to DSouza. He blasted it into the top left corner for a 1-0 lead.
Mongolia pressed in the second half, but India held strong. In the 33rd minute, a fast counter-attack worked magic. Mali drew the keeper out on a long ball, then slipped it to DSouza for an easy tap-in—his third goal of the tournament.
India kept the pressure on, striking again in the 35th minute. Aman Shah set up Anmol Adhikari, who fired home to make it 3-0 and lock in the win.
Player of the match Seaon DSouza shared his joy afterward: “It feels absolutely amazing. I’m really proud of myself and my team because this marks our first victory in futsal, and I was able to contribute with two goals. I would like to express my gratitude to my coach, teammates, the team physio, the entire support staff, and of course, the Indian fans in Kuwait who came to support us in every game. I’m deeply grateful to them, and I would like to dedicate these goals to my mom and dad,” he said, per the AIFF site.
This impressive performance could inspire a wave of young talent in Indian futsal, showing the sport’s bright future in the country.
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