Led by AFC Futsal Player of the Year Vahid Shamsaee, Foolad Mahan are on 55 points after 22 games in the 14-team standings while Mansouri Gharchak are four points adrift.
Foolad Mahan will kick-start their maiden continental campaign on March 5 against Kyrgyzstan’s AUB Altyn Tash Bishkek in Group A. Nagoya Oceans (Japan), Stroitel Zarafshan (Uzbekistan) and Nawrouz (Iraq) are the other teams in this pool.
The Iraqi team’s participation in this tournament, however, will depend on FIFA’s suspension on Iraq. They will take part only if the suspension is lifted by February 4, the deadline for the registration of players.