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AFC Women's Futsal Asian Cup
The competition will witness the crowning of first-time champions - either Japan or Thailand, while the third and final qualification berth to the inaugural FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup Philippines 2025 is on the line in the third-place playoff between China PR and Islamic Republic of Iran.
Ahead of the two mouthwatering showdowns at the Hohhot Sports Centre, the-AFC.com picks out two key players from each of the four teams who could make the difference between glory and heartbreak.
Final
Thailand v Japan
Thailand
Paerploy Huajaipetch
Age: 22
Age: 22
Goals: 3
Playing in her first AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup, Paerploy Huajaipetch has certainly made an impression for Thailand.
A superbly-taken brace against Japan secured a famous 3-1 win in their final group stage match and served notice of the Thais’ ability to finally go all the way, having finished third at each of the previous two editions.
Speedy, agile and skilful, the pivot is always a threat to the opposition and also struck in the quarter-final victory against Hong Kong, China, underlining her importance in the team.
Jenjira Bubpha
Age: 29
Goals: 4
Scoring, passing, defending - Jenjira Bubpha can do it all and the Thai has spearheaded their charge to a historic first-ever final.
A ruthlessly dispatched penalty in the semi-final against China PR drew them level at 2-2 and set the stage for a 3-2 victory, and also brought her tally up to four goals - the same amount she netted in 2018 on her competition debut.
Now with experience under her belt, Jenjira stands tall as a leader despite her diminutive stature and the all-action player will be key to the Southeast Asian side’s hopes of winning a maiden crown.
Japan
Kaho Ito
Age: 30
Assists: 2
Captain for both her club Badral Urayasu Las Bonitas and at international level, Kaho Ito has demonstrated her leadership skills to bring Japan to a third successiveAFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup final.
The Nara native’s role as a fixo makes her a key cog in orchestrating attacks for Japan, who inflicted on Iran their first ever tournament defeat with a 3-2 triumph in the semi-finals.
With two assists in her competition debut, Ito is likely to be a vital figure if they are to lift their maiden trophy.
Yukari Miyahara
Age: 30
Goals: 3
The left-footed Yukari Miyahara has been a joy to watch in Hohhot with her incisive attacking instincts and skilful dribbling, which has returned three goals in her competition debut.
It was the Chiba native’s second-half goal that turned out to be the winner in their semi-final victory over Iran, and kept them on track to claim a historic first title.
Since establishing herself as a regular in 2024, Miyahara - who works as a dietician - has showcased her importance and is also a threat from set-pieces.
Third-place Playoff
China PR v IR Iran
China PR
Liu Danping
Age: 25
Age: 25
Goals: 1
Assists: 2
Assists: 2
Making her competition debut, Liu Danping has been one of the standout players not just for China PR but also the tournament, and played a vital role in their historic charge to the semi-finals.
The Hangzhou Linping FC goalkeeper has produced a host of vital saves throughout their campaign in Hohhot, while adding a different dimension to their attack thanks to her excellent technique.
Apart from a superb long-range goal, Liu has registered two assists and created numerous goalscoring opportunities with her precise distribution.
Regarded as one of China PR’s rising stars, she will no doubt have to be at her best if they are to clinch a FIFA World Cup berth.
Fan Yuqiu
Age: 27
Age: 27
Goals: 2
With a goal in each of her last two games in Hohhot, Fan Yuqiu appears to have hit her stride at the right time ahead of China PR’s third-place playoff clash with FIFA World Cup qualification on the line.
A former youth international at U16 and U19 level, Fan’s attacking instincts have proved to be an asset in futsal and she helped Shanghai Huazheng win the league last season.
Part of the squad that reached the quarter-finals in 2018, Fan also brings experience to this relatively young China PR side in their push to reach the global stage.
IR Iran
Maral Torkaman
Age: 22
Goals: 4
Assists: 1
Assists: 1
She is making waves at her first ever AFC Women’s Futsal Asian Cup, but Maral Torkaman has established herself as a bonafide star for a while now despite her young age.
Aged 11, the Karaj native made the Iran U14 national team and a switch to futsal in 2019 has proved to be very successful with numerous accolades at both club and international level.
Capable of both scoring and setting up teammates, the skilful Torkaman came close to sparking a comeback with two powerful strikes against Japan in Iran’s semi-final defeat and will be vital to their chances of redemption in the third-place playoff.
Fereshteh Khosravi
Age: 29
Age: 29
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
Assists: 1
Part of the 2018 title-winning squad, Fereshteh Khosravi returned to the Iran squad hoping to win a second straight crown but has still starred despite them suffering semi-final heartbreak.
The 29-year-old Saipa Tehran player represented her country at both U19 and senior international level on the 11-a-side pitch before turning her attention to the hard court, and has established herself there as well.
It was Khosravi who struck in extra time to help Iran see off Chinese Taipei in the quarter-finals and also laid on an assist for Torkaman in the semis against Japan, proving her ability to be a game-changer.
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