- 10:10
The journey of the Lebanese women's futsal team in the 2025 Asian Cup qualifiers came to an end with a 4-0 defeat against Thailand during the fifth and final day of Group A competitions. The match was held at the Nonthaburi Stadium, marking the conclusion of Lebanon's campaign.
In the other Group A match played on the same day, Bahrain defeated Palestine 3-1. Group A also included Iraq, alongside Thailand, Lebanon, Palestine and Bahrain.
Key Highlights
Thailand dominated the match with goals scored by Darika Biyanpailon (14’), Pairploy Huajaipech (20’), Araya Saituin (22’) and Jingjira Poupfa (38’). With this result, Thailand finished at the top of the group with 12 points from four matches, followed by Bahrain (7 points), Palestine and Iraq (4 points each) and Lebanon with just one point. Thailand and Bahrain have qualified for the final stage.
A Challenging Journey for Lebanon
Lebanon struggled throughout the qualifiers, recording one draw and four defeats:
- Match day 1: Lebanon 1-1 Bahrain
- Match day 2: Lebanon 1-8 Thailand
- Match day 3: Lebanon 0-3 Palestine
- Match day 4: Lebanon 1-2 Iraq
- Match day 5: Lebanon 0-4 Thailand
Reactions from the Lebanese Head Coach
Following the qualifiers, Lebanon's coach, Maroun Khoury, expressed his disappointment at failing to qualify but praised his team's brave performances: "We fought heroically against Thailand, Asia's number one and the world's seventh-ranked team. Our results don’t reflect our efforts and gameplay. The lack of luck, experience and international competitions was detrimental. However, we are not far from the dream of a World Cup. Those who understand futsal know how much we have progressed."
Khoury also took responsibility for the results while advocating for greater support for the sport, saying, "I am proud to have built a team that fights, follows instructions and loves its country. I hope these qualifiers will be a starting point for developing women’s futsal in Lebanon, not an end, as in 2012 and 2018."
Despite the disappointment, Khoury remained determined, stating, "I will never abandon women’s futsal. I urge all players to persevere because success will come, without a doubt."
What’s Next?
Lebanon’s failure to qualify for the Asian Cup raises questions about the development and support of this sport in the country. After seven years of hiatus, women’s futsal is attempting to make a comeback. While the results were disappointing, this journey could mark the beginning of a new chapter for the sport in Lebanon.
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