Before the final round of matches in Group F, France (ranked 10th in the world) and Iran (ranked 5th) had both secured their tickets to the next round. However, the group winners will face Morocco (ranked 8th in the world) in the round of 16. In this bracket, the world's number 1 team Brazil and Spain (ranked 3rd) will also be present.
Meanwhile, the second-placed team in Group F will face Thailand (ranked 25th in the world), with more chances to win. In that situation, both France and Iran played soullessly in the first half. Both teams made many indirect errors when passing the ball back to the goalkeeper - which is unacceptable given the level of both teams.
In the second half, the French team conceded a goal very easily and lost 1-4. This caused a strong reaction from other teams, some of which filed a complaint to the World Football Federation (FIFA).
"FIFA is aware of the complaints lodged by the teams participating in the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024 regarding the Group F match between France and Iran. We will have no further comment while we investigate the matter," a FIFA spokesperson said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the French Football Federation has yet to comment.
"Iran and France, both the coaches and the players, have discredited my sport," said Thai futsal coach Miguel Rodrigo on social network X. The Spanish strategist also used harsher words to criticize the two teams' playing attitude.
Falcao, the Brazilian futsal legend, also did not accept the performance of the French and Iranian futsal teams. He said: "What they showed showed a lack of respect for the World Cup. The match was clearly fixed from the first minute."
French futsal team coach Raphael Reynaud said his team's performance was not as expected because of the aim of avoiding cards and injuries.
Iran's futsal team is one of the strongest teams in the world, having finished third in the 2016 World Cup. Meanwhile, the French futsal team is participating in the World Cup for the first time this year.
