Brazil-Japan and Afghanistan-Cape Verde in the Copa das Nações semi-finals
The Copa das Nações de Futsal 2026 reaches the semi-finals this Saturday, with four national teams left in the fight for the title. Brazil face Japan and Afghanistan take on Cape Verde, after a final group-stage matchday that confirmed Cape Verde’s qualification and gave the Afghans first place in Group B.
The tournament is being played at the Ginásio Max Rosenmann, in São José dos Pinhais, in Paraná, and the final takes place on Sunday. Brazil, winners in 2023 and 2025, are looking for a third consecutive title.
Cape Verde make the most of their debut
After losing to Brazil 4-2 in a match in which they left a good impression, Cape Verde had to beat Indonesia to stay in the competition. They won 2-0. They built their lead in the first half and, in the second, held off the Indonesian response without conceding.
With this result, the Blue Sharks finished second in Group A, behind Brazil, and reached the semi-finals on their first appearance in the competition. The achievement carries extra weight because, according to the information released at the tournament’s presentation, the Cape Verde futsal national team was only created in January 2026.
Afghanistan top the group without conceding
Group B was more balanced. Japan and Peru drew 2-2 on matchday one and Afghanistan and Japan then drew 0-0, so everything was settled on the last day.
Afghanistan beat Peru 3-0 and finished first, with four points and without conceding a single goal in their two games. Japan ended up second, with two points, and Peru finished with one.
The first semi-final therefore features two teams without the pedigree of Brazil and Japan, but who earned on the pitch the right to contest a place in the final.
Brazil with only wins, Japan unbeaten
Brazil made a clean sweep in Group A: six points, seven goals scored and two conceded. Marquinhos Xavier’s side began by beating Cape Verde 4-2, with two goals from Arthur and one each from Rocha and Cléber. They then defeated Indonesia 3-0, with goals from Cléber, Fabinho and Rufino, and secured first place before the end of the group stage.
Japan reach the semi-finals unbeaten, but also without a win, after drawing both games. This semi-final brings together the only two teams that had already played previous editions of the Copa das Nações. Indonesia, Cape Verde, Peru and Afghanistan were all debutants.
Benfica and Sporting on the road to the final
The Brazilian squad includes four players from the Liga Placard: Arthur and Cléber, of Benfica, and Felipe Valério and Rufino, of Sporting. Three of them have already scored in this edition. Arthur netted twice against Cape Verde, Cléber scored in both games and Rufino got one of the goals against Indonesia.
Semi-final schedule
The day begins with the fifth-place match. The two semi-finals follow:
14:00 (18:00 in mainland Portugal): Indonesia x Peru (5th/6th place)16:00 (20:00): Afghanistan x Cape Verde (semi-final)18:00 (22:00): Brazil x Japan (semi-final)On Sunday, the third-place match is scheduled for 10:30 local time (14:30 in Portugal) and the final for 13:00 (17:00 in Portugal).
Brazil enter as favourites, with the most complete run and a core of players used to deciding titles. On the other side, Afghanistan have the defence that has yet to concede and Cape Verde arrive with the confidence of a side that has already exceeded expectations. The finalists will be known by the end of this evening in Portugal.
Source: CBF, CBFS, Globo Esporte, Futsal Planet, Okezone, Secretaria da Justiça e da Cidadania do Paraná