Argentina Defeat Brazil to Secure Third Consecutive Under-17 Futsal Crown
Hosted at the Suma Stadium in Asunción, Paraguay, the tournament concluded with Argentina reasserting their dominance in South American youth futsal.
The high-stakes final proved to be a test of resilience for the young squad. Towards the end of the first half, Argentina were reduced to 10 men when Gian Sonier received a straight red card for violent conduct against an opponent. Despite playing a man down during a pivotal stretch of the match, goalkeeper Santino Sánchez kept his team afloat with a series of crucial saves. Argentina capitalised on their chances through goals from Tomás Barrios and team captain Lorenzo Sampedro, ultimately sealing the title in extra time.
Watching from the stands, senior national futsal team head coach Matías Lucuik observed the young talents secure a sweet double revenge over their continental rivals. Argentina had previously suffered a 2–0 defeat to Brazil in the group stage of this tournament. Earlier in the year, Brazil had also beaten Argentina in the final of the Juvenile Pan American Games in Panama.
The triumph further solidifies the coaching credentials of Santiago Basile. Having won the World Cup as a player in 2016, Basile took charge of the Under-17 national setup and has maintained a flawless record in the continental tournament, winning all three editions under his stewardship. Before Basile’s arrival, the title had been held by Brazil.
