Brazil and Portugal triumphed emphatically and exhilarated abundantly. Hat-tricks from Emilly and Lidia Moreira inspired them through to FIFA Futsal Women’s World Cup™ semi-finals against Argentina and Spain respectively. Meanwhile Japan and Italy, both of whom thrilled at Philippines 2025, saw their runs come to an end.
Portugal 7-2 Italy
Portugal goals: Carolina Pedreira (6), Lidia Moreira (6, 21 & 35), Janice Silva (24 & 39), Kika (28)
Italy goals: Erika Ferrara (10), Sara Boutimah (29)
Player of the Match: Lidia Moreira
Portugal’s A-listers twinkled once again. Ana Azevedo craftily assisted the first two goals, Janice Silva decorated a double with a heavenly dink, Fifo delivered another masterful display and Ana Catarina Pereira came up with two herculean saves. The star of stars in Luis Conceicao’s cast was nevertheless Lidia Moreira. Her flair frightens adversaries. Her end product killed Italy.
Francesca Salvatore’s side nevertheless go home having made memories. The best ones include a tournament-record 17-0 win over Panama, a thrilling fightback defeat of IR Iran, and the exceptional performances of Renata Adamatti.
“I’m immensely grateful to be here and to be able to represent my country. My goals were three important ones. They were down to the collective work of the team. It’s feels really good to be among the best four teams in the world.”
Lidia Moreira, Portugal pivot
“We competed well in the first half. Then in the second half, we paid too heavily for individual mistakes. They were really decisive. Against this kind of team, you can’t make mistakes. Our goal here was to do our best. I think we did that. We wanted to reach the quarter-finals, we did, and Portugal are one of the [title] favourites.”
Brenda Bettioli, Italy winger
Renata Adamatti won the penalty for Italy’s first and set up their second. The 32-year-old exits Philippines 2025 with nine goal involvements – more than any other player.
Brazil 6-1 Japan
Brazil goals: Emilly (4, 11 & 39), Ana Luiza (9), Debora Vanin (13), Luana (14)
Japan goal: Julia OG (36)
Player of the Match: Debora Vanin
Can anyone stop the reigning Best Women’s Player? Can anyone stop the number-one-ranked team? Emilly registered two rockets and a delicate late dink to assume pole position in the adidas Golden Boot race. Brazil decrypted their opponents at will and won by five. Wilson Saboia’s side will enter their biggest test yet, against number-two-ranked nation Spain, brimming with belief.
Japan can take huge heart from making a game of it in the second half. The Nadeshiko Five’s free-flowing futsal – and the performances of Ryo Egawa and Sara Oino – illuminated this competition.
“Brazil go into games trying to settle the outcome as quickly as possible, putting all our strength into the start of the game. That doesn’t mean we lowered our intensity in the second half. I think that, given we had a bit of a lead, we managed injuries and cards, which can affect the next game.”
Taty, Brazil fixo
“We came here to win. We wanted to beat Brazil, but they showed their strength from the very beginning. We understand why they’re the number-one team.”
Yuria Suto, Japan goalkeeper
Japan, with Nene Inoue excellent, incredibly denied Brazil scoring for 24 minutes and 46 seconds of action between goals from Luana and Emilly. It was comfortably the longest the Seleção have gone without rippling net in Manila.
