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{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox national football team with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| 2ndRegional cup apps | 2ndRegional cup best | 2ndRegional cup first | 2ndRegional name | 3rdRegional cup apps | 3rdRegional cup best | 3rdRegional cup first | 3rdRegional name | 4thRegional cup apps | 4thRegional cup best | 4thRegional cup first | 4thRegional name | American | Association | Badge | Badge_size | body1 | body2 | body3 | BSWW Rank | Captain | Coach | Confederation | Confederations cup apps | Confederations cup best | Confederations cup first | Current | date | Elo max | Elo max date | Elo max year | Elo min | Elo min date | Elo min year | Elo Rank | FIFA max | FIFA max date | FIFA max year | FIFA min | FIFA min date | FIFA min year | FIFA Rank | FIFA Trigramme | filetype | filetype1 | filetype2 | filetype3 | First game | Home Stadium | Largest loss | Largest win | Last game | leftarm1 | leftarm2 | leftarm3 | medaltemplates | medaltemplates-expand | Most caps | Name | Nickname | Only game | Other-affiliation | pattern_b1 | pattern_b2 | pattern_b3 | pattern_la1 | pattern_la2 | pattern_la3 | pattern_name1 | pattern_name2 | pattern_name3 | pattern_ra1 | pattern_ra2 | pattern_ra3 | pattern_sh1 | pattern_sh2 | pattern_sh3 | pattern_so1 | pattern_so2 | pattern_so3 | Regional cup apps | Regional cup best | Regional cup first | Regional name | rightarm1 | rightarm2 | rightarm3 | shorts1 | shorts2 | shorts3 | socks1 | socks2 | socks3 | Sub-confederation | Top scorer | Type | type | U17WC apps | U17WC best | U17WC first | U20WC apps | U20WC best | U20WC first | UEFAu21Champ apps | UEFAu21Champ best | UEFAu21Champ first | Upright |website | World cup apps | World cup best | World cup first }} The Iran national football team (Template:Langx), recognised as IR Iran by FIFA since 2018,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.fifa.com/associations/association/irn/%7Carchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190504124701/https://www.fifa.com/associations/association/IRN/%7Curl-status=dead%7Carchive-date=4 May 2019|title=Member Association – IR Iran|website=FIFA|access-date=22 June 2021}}</ref> represents Iran in men's international senior football and is governed by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

At the continental level, Iran has won three AFC Asian Cup championships in 1968, 1972, and 1976. They have also won three Asian Games in 1974, 1990, and 1998. The nation's best performance at the world level was reaching the quarter-finals at the 1976 Summer Olympics. At the FIFA World Cup, Iran have qualified seven times (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026) but have never progressed beyond the group stages; they have however, won three matches: against the United States in 1998, Morocco in 2018, and Wales in 2022. At the regional level, Iran has won four WAFF Championships and one CAFA Nations Cup. The team also won intercontinental AFC–OFC Challenge Cup in 2003.

HistoryEdit

Template:See also

Early yearsEdit

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File:Iran1304.jpg
The very first Iran football team that traveled to Baku in 1926

The Iranian Football Federation was founded in 1920.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.fifa.com/associations/association=irn/%7Carchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070603155130/http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=irn/%7Curl-status=dead%7Carchive-date=3 June 2007|title=Member Association – Iran}}</ref> In 1926, Tehran XI (selected players from Tehran Club, Template:Ill, and Armenian Sports Club) traveled across the border to Baku, Soviet Union; this was the first away football match for an Iranian team. This Tehran Select team is the predecessor of Iran's national football team.

The first match that Team Melli played was on 23 August 1941, away at Kabul in a 1–0 win against British India while Iran's first FIFA international match was on 25 August 1941, away at Afghanistan.<ref name="Iran: Fixtures and Results">{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.fifa.com/associations/association=irn/fixturesresults/gender=m/index.html%7Carchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070603173212/http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=irn/fixturesresults/gender=m/index.html%7Curl-status=dead%7Carchive-date=3 June 2007|title=Iran: Fixtures and Results|publisher=FIFA.com }}</ref>

Iran won the Asian Cup three consecutive times (1968, 1972, 1976) to which the team has not been able to add since. In 1978, Iran made its first appearance in the World Cup after defeating Australia in Tehran. Iran lost two of three group stage matches against the Netherlands and Peru.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://www.teammelli.com/articles/iran_in_world_cup_1978.htm%7Ctitle=Iran in World Cup 1978|work=teammelli.com|access-date=21 January 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100104101448/http://www.teammelli.com/articles/iran_in_world_cup_1978.htm%7Carchive-date=4 January 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> Team Melli managed to surprise some in the footballing community<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/football/world_cup_2002/1632238.stm | work=BBC News | title=Iranian football facts | date=1 November 2001 | access-date=5 May 2010 | archive-date=19 November 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119142638/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1632238.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> by securing one point in its first ever World Cup appearance against Scotland which saw Iraj Danaeifard cancel out an own goal scored by Andranik Eskandarian for the 1–1 draw.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://www.the-world-cup-2006.com/teams-iran.htm%7Ctitle=while FIFA World Cup 2006 Iran Team Overview|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719151054/http://www.the-world-cup-2006.com/teams-iran.htm%7Carchive-date=19 July 2008}}</ref>

File:Iran Football 78WC.jpg
Iran playing in the 1978 World Cup against Scotland in Córdoba, Argentina

After the Iranian RevolutionEdit

After the Iranian Revolution, football was somewhat neglected. During the 1980s, the Iranian national team did not feature in World Cup competitions due to the Iran–Iraq War (1980–88) and domestic football embraced the inevitable effects of conflict. The national team withdrew from the Asian qualifiers for the 1982 World Cup and refused to participate in the qualifiers for the 1986 World Cup because of having to play on neutral ground. The war and political upheavals left Iran without major club competitions until 1989 when the Qods League was established. A year later, the Qods League was renamed the Azadegan League. Despite failing to qualify for both the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, it was said that during this period, a number of quality players burst onto the Iranian football scene laying the foundation for third place in the 1996 AFC Asian Cup (victories in that tournament included a 3–0 victory against Saudi Arabia and a 6–2 victory against South Korea) and their second stab at World Cup glory in 1998.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://www.iranvisitor.com/index.php?cID=416&pID=1176%7Ctitle=The History of Soccer in Iran|work=iranvisitor.com|access-date=21 January 2008|archive-date=31 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101231095740/http://www.iranvisitor.com/index.php?cID=416&pID=1176%7Curl-status=live}}</ref>

1998–2006Edit

Template:Further On 29 November 1997, Iran qualified for the 1998 World Cup after eliminating Australia in a close playoff series. After being tied 3–3 on aggregate, Iran advanced due to the away goals rule; Iran held Australia to a 1–1 draw at home, and a 2–2 draw in Melbourne.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://mondediplo.com/1998/04/04iran%7Ctitle=A third half for Iranian football|work=mondediplo.com|date=April 1998 |access-date=21 January 2008|archive-date=15 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215113041/http://mondediplo.com/1998/04/04iran%7Curl-status=live}}</ref>

At their first game at the 1998 FIFA World Cup against Yugoslavia, Iran lost 1–0 to a free kick by Siniša Mihajlović.<ref name="autogenerated1" /> Iran recorded their first World Cup victory in the second game<ref name="autogenerated2" /> beating and eliminating the United States 2–1 with Hamid Estili and Mehdi Mahdavikia scoring goals for Iran. The Iran-US World Cup match was preheated with certain excitement because of each country's political stance after the Iranian revolution and the Iran hostage crisis. However, in an act of defiance against all forms of hatred or politics in sports, both sides presented one another with gifts and flowers and took ceremonial pictures before the match kickoff.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://1800-worldcup.com/world_cup_finals/france1998/matches/jun21.htm%7Ctitle=France 1998 World Cup: 1st Round – Day 12 Match Reports|work=1800-worldcup.com|access-date=22 January 2008|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224104/http://1800-worldcup.com/world_cup_finals/france1998/matches/jun21.htm%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> Iran played against Germany in the third game, losing 2–0 courtesy of goals from Oliver Bierhoff and Jürgen Klinsmann, finishing third in the group with 3 points.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1013/results/matches/match=8767/report.html%7Carchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930225110/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=1013/results/matches/match=8767/report.html%7Curl-status=dead%7Carchive-date=30 September 2007|title=FIFA.com – 1998 FIFA World Cup France }}</ref>

Iran finished first in the group stage of the 2000 Asia Cup but lost to South Korea in the quarter-finals. They failed to qualify for World Cup 2002, held in Asia for the first time, after an aggregate defeat to the Republic of Ireland, losing 2–0 in Dublin and winning 1–0 in Tehran. The elimination saw manager Miroslav Blažević step down from the top spot to be replaced by his assistant Branko Ivanković who stepped up from assistant coach.

After qualifying to the Asian Cup 2004, Iran was drawn with Thailand, Oman and Japan in the tournament. Iran finished second in the group. In the quarter-final clash against South Korea, Iran won 4–3. They then lost to host China on penalty kicks, and won against Bahrain 4–2 to finish third place in the tournament.

On 8 June 2005, Iran and Japan became the first countries other than hosts Germany to qualify for the 2006 World Cup. The match between the two countries in Tehran, played on 24 March 2005, was the highest attended qualifying match among all confederations. The match ended with five fans dead and several others injured as they left the Azadi Stadium at the end of the match.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4383939.stm%7Ctitle=Five die after Iran football game|publisher=BBC|access-date=7 June 2013|date=26 March 2005|archive-date=19 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119142637/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4383939.stm%7Curl-status=live}}</ref>

Iran started their Germany 2006 appearance with a match against North America's Mexico in Group D. Being 1–1 at half-time, defensive mistakes led to a Mexican 3–1 win, with goals from Omar Bravo and Sinha. Yahya Golmohammadi scored the only Iranian goal. Team Melli played against Portugal in the second game, losing 2–0. The goals were scored by Deco and a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo. Iran were eliminated from the competition before their third and final game against Angola, a 1–1 draw.

Temporary suspensionEdit

In November 2006, Iran was suspended by FIFA from all participation in international football on the grounds of governmental interference in the national football association.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.fifa.com/en/media/index/0,1369,126229,00.html |title=FIFA suspends Iran Football Federation |publisher=FIFA |access-date=27 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070102093639/http://www.fifa.com/en/media/index/0%2C1369%2C126229%2C00.html |archive-date=2 January 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The ban lasted less than a month<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://the-afc.com/english/media/default.asp?mnsection=media&section=newsDetails&newsID=7658 |title=FIFA to lift Iran ban: Blatter |publisher=the-AFC.com |access-date=17 December 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070623134749/http://www.the-afc.com/english/media/default.asp?mnsection=media |archive-date=23 June 2007 }}</ref> and as a dispensation was given to allow the Iran under-23 team to participate in the football competition of the 2006 Asian Games,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://the-afc.com/english/media/default.asp?mnsection=media&section=newsDetails&newsID=7543 |title=FIFA President announces temporary lifting of Iran ban |publisher=the-AFC.com |access-date=27 November 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070623134749/http://www.the-afc.com/english/media/default.asp?mnsection=media |archive-date=23 June 2007 }}</ref> fixtures were unaffected.

2007–14Edit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} The IRIFF appointed Amir Ghalenoei as manager of Iran on 17 July 2006 to succeed Branko Ivanković. After finishing first in the 2007 Asian Cup qualifying round two points ahead of South Korea, Iran placed first in the group stage of the final tournament in Malaysia, eventually losing to their qualifying opponents in a penalty shoot-out in the quarterfinals. His contract was not renewed and Team Melli was left with a caretaker manager for several months.

Then-leading international goalscorer Ali Daei was chosen to become the new manager after Spanish coach Javier Clemente had been closer to signing on as Iran's national team manager, when talks collapsed when he refused to live full-time in the country.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/news/2008/March/02/ali-daei-named-new-iran-coach%7Ctitle=Ali Daei named new Iran coach|work=soccerway.com}}</ref> Iran was placed with Kuwait, Syria and United Arab Emirates in the third round of 2010 World Cup qualifying. Ali Daei resigned from his position as the Iranian national coach on 29 March 2009,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/mar/30/iran-football-ali-daei | work=The Guardian | location=London | title=Iran football coach Ali Daei loses job following team's defeat | first=Robert | last=Tait | date=30 March 2009 | access-date=5 May 2010 | archive-date=6 September 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906062749/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/mar/30/iran-football-ali-daei | url-status=live }}</ref> replaced by Afshin Ghotbi. Iran failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup after finishing fourth overall in its group.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/asia/standings/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113083920/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/asia/standings/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 November 2007 |title=FIFA.com |publisher=FIFA.com |access-date=7 September 2010}}</ref>

During the final game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Korea in Seoul on 17 June 2009, seven members of the team wore green wristbands in support of the Iranian Green Movement during the 2009 Iranian election protests. Initial rumors and false reports were that all seven players were banned for life by the Iranian Football Federation, however, state-run media claimed that all seven had "retired".<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/2009/06/24/2009-06-24_iran_soccer_players_banned.html |title=Iran soccer players banned from national team after wearing green pro-opposition wristbands |first=Andy |last=Clayton |date=24 June 2009 |work=NY Daily News |access-date=8 July 2010 |location=New York |archive-date=31 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831040659/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/2009/06/24/2009-06-24_iran_soccer_players_banned.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="theguardian">{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jun/23/iran-football-protest-ban%7Cfirst=Robert%7Clast=Tait%7Cdate=23 June 2009|access-date=16 December 2017|title=Iran bans election protest footballers|work=The Guardian|archive-date=6 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130906195640/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jun/23/iran-football-protest-ban%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> On 24 June 2009, FIFA wrote to Iran's Football Federation asking for clarification on the situation. The Iranian Football Federation replied that no disciplinary action has been taken against any player.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2009/06/26/sp-iran-green.html |title=Iran says it didn't punish soccer players |date=26 June 2009 |publisher=CBC |access-date=8 July 2010 |archive-date=28 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628190654/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2009/06/26/sp-iran-green.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Afshin Ghotbi renewed his contract until the end of 2011 AFC Asian Cup and the team qualified for the tournament with 13 points as group winners. During the final qualification match against South Korea, several Iranian players started the match wearing green armbands or wristbands, a symbol of protest at the outcome of the Iranian presidential election.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/5559871/Iranian-football-team-shows-support-for-Mousavi-with-green-arm-bands-at-Seoul-World-Cup-qualifier.html |title=Iranian football team shows support for Mousavi with green arm bands at Seoul World Cup qualifier |date=17 June 2009 |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=17 June 2009 |location=London |archive-date=16 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616095809/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/5559871/Iranian-football-team-shows-support-for-Mousavi-with-green-arm-bands-at-Seoul-World-Cup-qualifier.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Most removed them at half-time. The newspaper Iran reported that Ali Karimi, Mehdi Mahdavikia, Hosein Kaebi and Vahid Hashemian had received life bans from the Iranian FA for the gesture.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0625/1224249508070.html |title=Iranian players receive life bans for gestures |last=Tiat |first=Robert |date=25 June 2009 |work=The Guardian |access-date=25 June 2009 |archive-date=20 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020142037/http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0625/1224249508070.html |url-status=live }}</ref> However, the Iranian FA denied this claim in a response to FIFA's inquiry saying that "the comments in foreign media are nothing but lies and a mischievous act."<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/5634682/Iran-denies-punishing-players-for-wearing-green-wristbands.html%7Ctitle=Iran denies punishing players for wearing green wristbands|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=25 June 2009|access-date=25 June 2009|location=London|archive-date=14 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614112258/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/international/5634682/Iran-denies-punishing-players-for-wearing-green-wristbands.html%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> Head coach Afshin Ghotbi also confirmed that it was a rumour and the Iranian FA "has not taken any official stand on this issue."<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/iran-did-not-suspend-players-coach-says/%7Ctitle=Iran Did Not Suspend Players, Coach Says|newspaper=The New York Times|date=26 June 2009|access-date=27 June 2009|first=Jack|last=Bell|archive-date=28 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628191517/http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/26/iran-did-not-suspend-players-coach-says/%7Curl-status=live}}</ref>

Afshin Ghotbi qualified Iran for the 2011 Asian Cup and finished second in the West Asian Football Federation Championship 2010 just a few months before the Asian Cup. Iran were able to gain all nine possible points in the group stage of the Asian Cup but after an extra time goal from South Korea, Iran were yet again eliminated from the quarter-finals.

On 4 April 2011, former Real Madrid manager Carlos Queiroz agreed to a two-and-a-half-year deal to coach the Iranian national team until the end of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.<ref name="Goal">{{#invoke:cite|news| title = Carlos Queiroz agrees deal to become Iran head coach | work = Sport | publisher = Soccernet | date = 4 April 2011 | url = http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/902584/carlos-queiroz-agrees-deal-to-become-iran-coach?cc=5901 | access-date = 4 April 2011 | location = Dubai | archive-date = 18 August 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110818141931/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/902584/carlos-queiroz-agrees-deal-to-become-iran-coach?cc=5901 | url-status = live }}</ref> Under Queiroz, Iran began their World Cup qualification campaign successfully, defeating the Maldives 4–0 in the first leg of their second round of qualifiers. After winning 5–0 on aggregate, Iran advanced to the third round of qualifiers where they were drawn with Indonesia, Qatar and Bahrain.

File:Iran-Maldavies.jpg
Iran's squad in July 2011 against Maldives. Manager: Carlos Queiroz. Standing left to right: Aghili, Hosseini, Haddadifar, Ansarifard, Zare, Pooladi; sitting left to right: Heydari, Norouzi, Rahmati, Khalatbari, Karimi.

Iran highlighted their position at the top of their group by defeating Bahrain 6–0 at home in the Azadi Stadium as well as inviting former German youth international Ashkan Dejagah who scored twice on his debut against Qatar. After a 4–1 win at Indonesia, Iran qualified for the final round of direct qualifiers, the fourth round. In the fourth round, Iran played South Korea, Qatar, Uzbekistan and Lebanon in their group. Queiroz made new foreign-based additions to his squad, adding players such as Reza Ghoochannejhad.

Iran started their fourth round of Asian qualifiers with a 1–0 win in Uzbekistan. Team Melli then drew Qatar and lost in Lebanon before defeating South Korea at the Azadi on 16 October with a goal from captain Javad Nekounam. After a 1–0 loss in Tehran against Uzbekistan, Iran defeated Qatar 1–0 in Doha and Lebanon 4–0 at home. In their last qualification match, Iran defeated South Korea 1–0 in Ulsan Munsu with a goal from Ghoochannejhad, clinching their ticket to Brazil as group winners with 16 points. Thus, Iran became the third team that Queiroz has managed to qualify for the World Cup, having reached the 2002 edition with South Africa and the 2010 edition with Portugal, leading the latter to a knockout stage finish. Iran continued their winning streak, securing qualification to the 2015 Asian Cup months later as well.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/men/afc-asian-cup-qualifiers/27245-lib-irn-md5-201113.html |title=Asian Cup 2015 (Qs) MD5: Lebanon 1–4 Iran |publisher=AFC |date=20 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514040022/http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/men/afc-asian-cup-qualifiers/27245-lib-irn-md5-201113.html |archive-date=14 May 2014 }}</ref>

Since Queiroz's role as manager of the Iranian national team, he has introduced players from the Iranian diaspora to the national squad. These players include German-Iranians Daniel Davari and Ashkan Dejagah, Dutch-Iranian Reza Ghoochannejhad, Swedish-Iranians Omid Nazari and Saman Ghoddos, and Iranian-American Steven Beitashour among others.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/iran-players-watch-world-cup-23269497%7Ctitle=5 Iran Players to Watch at the World Cup|publisher=ABC News|access-date=16 April 2014|archive-date=17 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140417091756/https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/iran-players-watch-world-cup-23269497%7Curl-status=live}}</ref><ref name="guardianmagath">{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/18/asgkan-dejagah-felix-magath-fulham%7Ctitle=Ashkan Dejagah says Felix Magath is the right man to keep Fulham up|newspaper=The Guardian|date=18 April 2014|access-date=19 April 2014|archive-date=19 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140419064501/http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/apr/18/asgkan-dejagah-felix-magath-fulham%7Curl-status=live}}</ref>

Iran competed in Group F alongside Argentina, Nigeria and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Prior to the tournament, they founded the Central Asian Football Association.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In the opening match of the tournament on 16 June, Iran drew Nigeria 0–0 making it their first clean sheet in the World Cup.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2014/6/16/5815590/nigeria-vs-iran-2014-world-cup-final-score-result%7Ctitle=Nigeria vs. Iran: Final score 0–0, Super Eagles held in dire stalemate|work=SB Nation|date=16 June 2014 |access-date=24 July 2020|archive-date=24 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200724035818/https://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2014/6/16/5815590/nigeria-vs-iran-2014-world-cup-final-score-result%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> In their next match, Iran was defeated by Argentina 1–0 with a late goal from Lionel Messi and received praise after holding Argentina for 90 minutes while creating some attacking opportunities of their own.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25285221%7Ctitle=BBC Sport – World Cup: Argentina 1–0 Iran|first=David|last=Ornstein|work=BBC Sport|access-date=12 February 2018|archive-date=14 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114205734/http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/25285221%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> Iran was eliminated from the tournament in their next game, a 3–1 defeat to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Iran's lone goal was scored by Reza Ghoochannejhad.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/20140625-reza-makes-charlton-history-at-world-cup-1678140.aspx%7Ctitle=Iran's Rez Ghoochannejhad becomes Charlton's first ever player to score a goal at the World Cup after 3–1 loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina|first=Olly|last=Groome|work=cafc.co.uk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140730124624/http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/20140625-reza-makes-charlton-history-at-world-cup-1678140.aspx%7Carchive-date=30 July 2014}}</ref> After the tournament, Queiroz declared he would resign as manager of Iran but later switched and extended his contract until the 2018 FIFA World Cup.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-asia-iran-quieroz-idUKKBN0HC04720140917%7Ctitle=Queiroz ends contract saga by signing Iran deal|work=Reuters UK|date=17 September 2014 |access-date=6 July 2021|archive-date=24 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024014437/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-asia-iran-quieroz-idUKKBN0HC04720140917%7Curl-status=live}}</ref>

Late 2010sEdit

Iran qualified for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup as group winners where Team Melli were the highest ranked seed.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-asia-cup-idUKBREA2H04J20140318%7Ctitle=Hosts Australia top seeds for 2015 Asian Cup|work=Reuters|access-date=18 March 2014|archive-date=6 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306222654/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-asia-cup-idUKBREA2H04J20140318%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> Iran faced Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE in Group C. With the second highest number of fans in the tournament after hosts Australia, the Iranians defeated Bahrain 2–0 with limited preparations.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://au.sports.yahoo.com/football/news/article/-/25960236/iranian-crowd-sets-asian-cup-standard/%7Ctitle=Iranian crowd sets Asian Cup standard|work=yahoo.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150124082850/https://au.sports.yahoo.com/football/news/article/-/25960236/iranian-crowd-sets-asian-cup-standard/%7Carchive-date=24 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/3550/asian-cup/2015/01/11/7862822/queiroz-iran-victimised-by-fifa-sanctions%7Ctitle=Queiroz: Iran 'victimised' by sanctions - Goal.com|work=Goal.com|access-date=12 January 2015|archive-date=13 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113181409/http://www.goal.com/en/news/3550/asian-cup/2015/01/11/7862822/queiroz-iran-victimised-by-fifa-sanctions%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> A defensive-minded Iran then defeated Qatar 1–0 thanks to a Sardar Azmoun goal before defeating UAE by the same scoreline to reach the top of their group.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-23/iran-censors-images-of--inappropriate-female-soccer-fans/6043600%7Ctitle=#teammelli: Social media helps Iranian fans defy censorship of images from Asian Cup matches in Australia|work=ABC News|date=23 January 2015 |access-date=23 January 2015|archive-date=23 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123132254/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-23/iran-censors-images-of--inappropriate-female-soccer-fans/6043600%7Curl-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/match/iran-vs-uae/1466402/report|title=Iran 1 - 0 UAE Match report - 1/19/15 Asian Cup - Goal.com|work=goal.com|access-date=23 January 2015|archive-date=22 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122214758/http://www.goal.com/en/match/iran-vs-uae/1466402/report%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> In the quarter-finals Iran faced Iraq who they had beaten weeks prior in a friendly match. Having received a controversial red card in the first half, Iran competed with ten men, managing to score goals late in extra time to draw the match 3–3. In the ensuing penalty shootout, Iran lost 7–6.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/afc-asian-cup/former-socceroos-blast-referee-ben-williams-for-embarrasing-sendoff-in-irans-asian-cup-loss-to-iraq-20150124-12xdox.html%7Ctitle=Former Socceroos blast referee Ben Williams for 'embarrasing' [sic] send-off in Iran's Asian Cup loss to Iraq|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=24 January 2015 |access-date=16 April 2020|archive-date=27 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127064307/http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/afc-asian-cup/former-socceroos-blast-referee-ben-williams-for-embarrasing-sendoff-in-irans-asian-cup-loss-to-iraq-20150124-12xdox.html%7Curl-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/jan/23/asian-cup-iran-fans-protest|title=Iranian women stand united in protest and hope at Asian Cup|first=Joe|last=Gorman|work=The Guardian|date=23 January 2015 |access-date=11 December 2016|archive-date=5 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105182316/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2015/jan/23/asian-cup-iran-fans-protest%7Curl-status=live}}</ref>

Iran began their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign with friendly matches against Chile and Sweden in March 2015.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/match/iran-vs-chile/1998633/report%7Ctitle=Iran 2 - 0 Chile Match report - 3/26/15 Friendlies - Goal.com|work=goal.com|access-date=31 March 2015|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402073759/http://www.goal.com/en/match/iran-vs-chile/1998633/report%7Curl-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-friendly-sweden-idUKKBN0MR2JI20150331|title=Ibra silences raucous Iran fans to give Sweden 3–1 win|work=Reuters UK|date=31 March 2015 |access-date=6 July 2021|archive-date=18 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170818215110/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-friendly-sweden-idUKKBN0MR2JI20150331%7Curl-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=3993&artikel=6131039|title=Regimkritiska budskap på Friends kan ge böter|newspaper=Sveriges Radio|date=31 March 2015 |access-date=31 March 2015|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402135739/http://sverigesradio.se/sida/artikel.aspx?programid=3993&artikel=6131039%7Curl-status=live%7Clast1=Ramel |first1=Fredrik |last2=Akhtari |first2=Kavoos }}</ref> Queiroz resigned from his managerial post thereafter due to disagreements with the Iranian Football Federation.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/news/detail/item38283/Queiroz-quits-as-Iran-coach%7Ctitle=Asian Football News – Queiroz quits as Iran coach – FOX SPORTS|work=FOX SPORTS|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323003733/http://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/news/detail/item38283/Queiroz-quits-as-Iran-coach%7Carchive-date=23 March 2015}}</ref> On 14 April 2015, Iran were drawn with Oman, India, Turkmenistan and Guam in the second round of qualifiers.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2015/m=4/news=draw-throws-up-derbies-and-drama-2590319.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_news%7Carchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418130433/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2015/m=4/news=draw-throws-up-derbies-and-drama-2590319.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_news%7Curl-status=dead%7Carchive-date=18 April 2015|title=Asian draw throws up derbies and drama|date=14 April 2015|work=FIFA.com}}</ref> On 26 April, Queiroz announced that he would continue as the manager of Iran for their 2018 World Cup campaign. Iran became the second team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|agency=Associated Press |title=Iran become second team to qualify for World Cup |url=https://www.khaleejtimes.com/iran-become-second-team-to-qualify-for-world-cup |date=13 June 2017 |access-date=15 June 2018 |newspaper=Khaleej Times |location=Tehran |archive-date=15 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615214954/https://www.khaleejtimes.com/iran-become-second-team-to-qualify-for-world-cup |url-status=live }}</ref> after a 2–0 win at home over Uzbekistan on 12 June 2017.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|agency=Associated Press |title=Iran second team to qualify for 2018 World Cup after beating Uzbekistan |url=https://eu.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2017/06/12/iran-qualifies-for-2018-world-cup-after-beating-uzbekistan/102786192/ |date=12 June 2017 |access-date=15 June 2018 |newspaper=USA Today |publisher=Gannett |archive-date=19 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119142638/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2017/06/12/iran-qualifies-for-2018-world-cup-after-beating-uzbekistan/102786192/ |url-status=live }}</ref> They also clinched first place in their qualification group after South Korea's defeat to Qatar.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Church |first=Michael |title=China, Qatar face elimination as Iran look to Russia |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-worldcup-asia/china-qatar-face-elimination-as-iran-look-to-russia-idUKKBN192090 |date=11 June 2017 |access-date=15 June 2018 |work=Reuters |archive-date=15 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615214927/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-worldcup-asia/china-qatar-face-elimination-as-iran-look-to-russia-idUKKBN192090 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Iran won the first match against Morocco after Aziz Bouhaddouz scoring an own goal.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Miller |first=Nick |title=Aziz Bouhaddouz own goal in added time hands Iran win against Morocco |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/15/morocco-iran-world-cup-group-b-match-report |date=15 June 2018 |access-date=15 June 2018 |newspaper=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |archive-date=15 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615224921/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/15/morocco-iran-world-cup-group-b-match-report |url-status=live }}</ref> They then lost against Spain with a goal scored by Diego Costa, with video assistant referees denying an Iranian equalizer.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last1=White |first1=Jim |last2=Bloom |first2=Ben |title=Fortunate Diego Costa goal sees Spain overcome Iran's stubborn resistance |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-cup/2018/06/20/iran-vs-spain-world-cup-2018-live-score-latest-updates/ |date=20 June 2018 |access-date=21 June 2018 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |archive-date=20 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620203455/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-cup/2018/06/20/iran-vs-spain-world-cup-2018-live-score-latest-updates/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The third match against Portugal ended in a draw after a penalty scored by Karim Ansarifard<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=Late penalty holds Portugal to runner-up spot in Group B |url=http://www.marca.com/en/world-cup/2018/06/25/5b314da246163fc8048b45b7.html |date=25 June 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018 |newspaper=Marca |language=es |publisher=Unidad Editorial Información Deportiva, S.L.U. |archive-date=26 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626135600/http://www.marca.com/en/world-cup/2018/06/25/5b314da246163fc8048b45b7.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and because Morocco could only manage a 2–2 draw to Spain, Iran were eliminated.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/world-cup/news/iran-scores-results-world-cup-ends-after-nearly-forcing-ronaldo-portugal-on-brink-of-elimination/ |title=Iran scores, results: World Cup ends after nearly forcing Ronaldo, Portugal on brink of elimination |last=Gonzalez |first=Roger |date=25 June 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018 |work=CBS Sports |publisher=CBS Interactive Inc. |archive-date=26 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180626201007/https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/world-cup/news/iran-scores-results-world-cup-ends-after-nearly-forcing-ronaldo-portugal-on-brink-of-elimination/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Iran's four points is the most received in any World Cup appearance.

File:IRN-VIETNAM 20190112 Asian Cup 18.jpg
Azmoun and Taremi played a key role in the front line of the team in these years.

Having qualified for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup earlier, Iran was drawn into group D, where they shared fate with Iraq, Vietnam and Yemen. Iran opened their tournament against Yemen, nearly conceding a goal early but after 10 minutes, Iran regained the ground and proved more dominant in certain aspects, thrashing Yemen 5–0.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/blog/2019/1/8/asian-cup-2019-iran-takes-5-0-win-against-yemen |title=Asian Cup 2019: An emotional loss for Yemen as Iran takes 5–0 win |publisher=English.alaraby.co.uk |date=23 May 2019 |access-date=19 November 2021 |archive-date=30 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930103941/https://english.alaraby.co.uk/english/blog/2019/1/8/asian-cup-2019-iran-takes-5-0-win-against-yemen |url-status=live }}</ref> A 2–0 win over the Vietnamese side gave Iran direct qualification to the knockout stage.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://english.alarabiya.net/en/sports/2019/01/12/Iran-beats-Vietnam-2-0-for-2nd-win-at-Asian-Cup.html |title=Iran beats Vietnam 2–0 for second win at Asian Cup |publisher=Al Arabiya English |date= 12 January 2019|access-date=19 November 2021 |archive-date=16 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616083857/https://english.alarabiya.net/en/sports/2019/01/12/Iran-beats-Vietnam-2-0-for-2nd-win-at-Asian-Cup.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Iran ended their group stage with a goalless draw over neighbor Iraq and took first place.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|first=Karzan |last=Sulaivany |url=https://www.kurdistan24.net/en/sport/ac86f49b-3286-4643-8088-6f6594957dfe |title=Asian Cup 2019: Iran tops group after fiery goalless draw against rivals Iraq |publisher=Kurdistan24.net |date=16 January 2019 |access-date=19 November 2021 |archive-date=25 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425052302/http://www.kurdistan24.net/en/sport/ac86f49b-3286-4643-8088-6f6594957dfe |url-status=live }}</ref> After the group stage, Iran encountered Oman, with a defending mistake almost costing Iran's chances but Ahmed Mubarak Al-Mahaijri's penalty was saved by Alireza Beiranvand. Iran then defeated Oman 2–0 to reach the last eight.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|first=David |last=Nelson |url=https://en.as.com/en/2019/01/20/football/1548001356_977417.html |title=Iran into the quarter-finals with solid performance against Oman - AS.com |publisher=En.as.com |date=20 January 2019 |access-date=19 November 2021 |archive-date=24 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924014256/https://en.as.com/en/2019/01/20/football/1548001356_977417.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In the quarter-finals against a defensive China, Iran outclassed the Chinese 3–0 to meet Japan in the semi-finals.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|first=Robbie |last=Dunne |url=https://en.as.com/en/2019/01/24/football/1548342829_085944.html |title=Iran have too much for China as they march on to the semi-final - AS.com |publisher=En.as.com |date=24 January 2019 |access-date=19 November 2021 |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809000314/https://en.as.com/en/2019/01/24/football/1548342829_085944.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Iran missed the opportunity to reach the final once again when they fell 3–0 with all three goals scored in second half.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://en.mehrnews.com/news/141983/Iran-eliminated-from-AFC-Asian-CUP-after-losing-to-Japan-0-3 |title=Iran eliminated from AFC Asian CUP after losing to Japan 0–3 in semifinals – Mehr News Agency |publisher=En.mehrnews.com |date=28 January 2019 |access-date=19 November 2021 |archive-date=2 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102204613/https://en.mehrnews.com/news/141983/Iran-eliminated-from-AFC-Asian-CUP-after-losing-to-Japan-0-3 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Early 2020sEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

Iran was the highest-ranked team to be seeded in the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, being drawn into the second round where they would deal with two Arab countries, Iraq and Bahrain, along with Cambodia and Hong Kong. Iran, under new Belgian manager Marc Wilmots, began with a 2–0 away win over Hong Kong. After the death of Sahar Khodayari, the 14–0 win over Cambodia allowed select Iranian women to enter the stadium for the first time since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.<ref name=reuters-40-yrs>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=2019-10-10 |title=Iranian women attend first soccer match in 40 years |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-soccer-women-idUSKBN1WP1QZ |access-date=2022-11-25}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web| url = https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/fifa-world-cup/latest/news/md2-group-c-hong-kong-0-2-ir-iran%7C title = MD2 – Group C: Hong Kong 0–2 IR Iran| access-date = 24 November 2020| archive-date = 22 October 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201022041032/https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/fifa-world-cup/latest/news/md2-group-c-hong-kong-0-2-ir-iran%7C url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|first=AS |last=English |url=https://en.as.com/en/2019/10/10/football/1570717133_630385.html |title=Iran 14-0 Cambodia as women return to stadium after 40 years - AS.com |publisher=En.as.com |date=10 October 2019 |access-date=19 November 2021 |archive-date=26 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026020859/https://en.as.com/en/2019/10/10/football/1570717133_630385.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Their next away encounters against Bahrain and Iraq went on to be consecutive defeats which Iran lost 0–1 and 1–2, respectively.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://english.alarabiya.net/en/sports/2019/10/15/Bahrain-defeats-Iran-1-0-in-second-round-of-Asian-WC-qualifiers |title=Bahrain defeats Iran 1–0 in second round of Asian WC qualifiers |publisher=Al Arabiya English |date= 15 October 2019|access-date=19 November 2021 |archive-date=19 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119142640/https://english.alarabiya.net/sports/2019/10/15/Bahrain-defeats-Iran-1-0-in-second-round-of-Asian-WC-qualifiers |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-11/15/c_138557140.htm |title=Iraq beats Iran 2–1 at FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 group C match – Xinhua | English.news.cn |publisher=Xinhuanet.com |date=15 November 2019 |access-date=19 November 2021 |archive-date=30 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630025728/http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2019-11/15/c_138557140.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> Following two consecutive draws between Iraq and Bahrain, Iran was left with the possibility of being eliminated from the World Cup outright in the second round, leading to the sacking of Marc Wilmots.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|first=Ben |last=Thomas |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/05/soccer/marc-wilmots-steps-iran-coach/ |title=Article expired |publisher=The Japan Times |date=1 January 1970 |access-date=19 November 2021 |archive-date=27 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027041617/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2019/12/05/soccer/marc-wilmots-steps-iran-coach/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The COVID-19 pandemic in Iran forced the remaining fixtures to be played without spectators in June 2021, forcing Iran to play their remaining games in Bahrain under new coach Dragan Skočić; but with Bahrain losing its home support as an advantage, and Iraq assured a place in the final phase, Iran was able to stage a comeback, occupying first place and, together with Iraq, progressed to the final phase.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210615-iran-iraq-and-uae-saudi-march-into-final-phase-of-world-cup-qualifying |title=Iran, Iraq and UAE, Saudi march into final phase of World Cup qualifying |publisher=France 24 |date=15 June 2021 |access-date=19 November 2021 |archive-date=14 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714151141/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210615-iran-iraq-and-uae-saudi-march-into-final-phase-of-world-cup-qualifying |url-status=live }}</ref>

Iran became the thirteenth team to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup after a 1–0 win at home over Iraq on 27 January 2022. In March 2022, Iranian women were again banned from entering the stadium for a World Cup qualifier.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|title=Iran again bans women from football stadium – Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East |url=https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/03/iran-again-bans-women-football-stadium |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=www.al-monitor.com |date=30 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref> Iran's World Cup preparation friendly match against Canada at BC Place in June 2022 was cancelled by the Canadian Soccer Association amid opposition and mounting criticism, namely in regards to the Iranian government's role in shooting down Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web| url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/canada-can/story/4675795/canada-soccer-cancels-iran-friendly-amid-opposition | title=Canada cancels Iran friendly amid opposition | date=26 May 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web| url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/article/canada-soccer-cancels-mens-national-team-friendly-vs-iran-in-vancouver/ | title=Canada Soccer cancels men's national team friendly vs. Iran in Vancouver | date=26 May 2022 }}</ref>

By the start of the World Cup in Qatar, Iran was the highest ranked team from Asia. In October 2022, calls were made to ban the Iranian national team from the World Cup for the Iranian government's blocking of Iranian women from their stadiums, their supplying of weapons to Russia during the invasion of Ukraine, and the treatment towards protesters during the Mahsa Amini protests.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Hall |first=Peter |date=2022-11-02 |title='This is not our national team' – why some Iranians want their own country banned from World Cup |language= |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/this-is-not-our-national-team-why-some-iranians-want-their-own-country-banned-2022-11-01/ |access-date=2022-11-04}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=2022-10-31 |title=Qatar World Cup 2022: Ukraine FA wants Fifa to ban Iran from tournament |language= |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63463937 |access-date=2022-11-04}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=2022-10-20 |title=Qatar World Cup 2022: Fifa asked to ban Iran from tournament |language= |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63338691 |access-date=2022-11-04}}</ref> However, Iran started its World Cup campaign with a nightmare, losing 2–6 to England in the opening game as Iran suffered the worst ever loss in its FIFA World Cup history.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|title=England demolish Iran in World Cup opener as Bukayo Saka and Jude Bellingham play starring roles |url=https://www.planetsport.com/soccer/news/england-demolish-iran-world-cup-opener-bukayo-saka-jude-bellingham-play-starring-roles |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=PlanetSport |date=21 November 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The Iranian team notably made headlines in their opening match against England after refusing to sing the national anthem in solidarity with the Mahsa Amini protests, with some Iranian supporters cheering against their own team or boycotting their team amidst the ongoing protests as they felt the team was representing the government.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Church |first=Ben |date=2022-11-21 |title=Iran players remain silent during national anthem at World Cup in apparent protest at Iranian regime |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/21/football/iran-national-anthem-england-2022-world-cup-spt-intl/index.html |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|title=Iran players decline to sing national anthem |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63706487 |access-date=2022-11-25}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|date=2022-11-21 |title='Guilty conscience': Iranians in London torn over cheering on their team |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/21/guilty-conscience-iranians-in-london-torn-over-cheering-on-their-country-due-to-crackdown |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|last=Whitehead |first=Jacob |title=Iranian state television censors players protesting anthem at World Cup |url=https://theathletic.com/3919310/2022/11/21/iran-world-cup-protest/ |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=The Athletic |language=en}}</ref>

In the following match against Wales, amidst the boos and whistles from some of the Iranian supporters during the playing of the national anthem, the Iranian players were filmed singing the national anthem before defeating Wales 2–0 for their first-ever win over a European nation at the World Cup, with some protestors having their pre-revolutionary Lion and Sun flags and Women, Life, Freedom banners snatched from them by pro-government fans and stadium security at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news| url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-63762276 | title=World Cup: Iran protesters confronted at World Cup game against Wales | work=BBC News | date=25 November 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web| url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/25/iran-supporters-jeer-national-anthem-before-emotional-win-over-wales | title=Iran offer powerful show of defiance on day of jeers, tears and joy | website=TheGuardian.com | date=25 November 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web| url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/world-cup-security-confiscate-iran-28582265 | title=World Cup security take Iran fans' flag as joint protest broken up at Wales game | website=Daily Mirror | date=25 November 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news| url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63753096 | title=Iran players sing national anthem against Wales | work=BBC Sport }}</ref> Protesters were harassed by government supporters with some protesters being detained by Qatari police, while stadium security confirmed they were given orders to confiscate anything but the flag of the Islamic Republic of Iran.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web| url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/worldcup/2022/11/25/iran-protesters-world-cup-harassed-wales-match/10771198002/ | title=Iran protesters harassed by government supporters at World Cup match vs. Wales | website=USA Today }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://theathletic.com/3944297/2022/11/28/world-cup-iran-women-life-freedom/%7Ctitle=Detained at the World Cup for wearing a 'Women Life Freedom' T-shirt|date=28 November 2022|work=The Athletic}}</ref> Documents obtained by Iran International showed Iran was coordinating secret efforts with Qatar to control who attends the World Cup and restrict any signs of dissent.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web| url=https://www.iranintl.com/en/202211279876 | title=IRGC Man Says Qatar Helping Iran Silence Dissidents in World Cup | date=9 March 2024 }}</ref>

Ahead of Iran's final group stage match against the United States, the Iranian players were allegedly called in to a meeting with members of the IRGC and were threatened with violence and torture for their families if they did not sing the national anthem or joined the protests against the Iranian regime.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/28/football/iran-soccer-family-threats-intl-spt/index.html%7Ctitle=Iran threatened families of World Cup soccer team, according to security source|date=28 November 2022|work=CNN}}</ref> During the match, the Iranian players sang the national anthem again before losing to the United States 1–0 for the first time in their history and thereby being knocked out of the tournament.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web| url=https://www.nationalreview.com/news/iranian-players-mumble-through-national-anthem-at-world-cup-after-alleged-government-threats/ | title=Iranian Players Mumble through National Anthem at World Cup after Alleged Government Threats | website=National Review | date=29 November 2022 }}</ref> Some Iranians celebrated the defeat and one Iranian man was killed by security forces in Bandar-e Anzali after honking his car horn in celebration.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|news| url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-63805284 | title=World Cup 2022: Man killed in Iran celebrating football team's loss – report | work=BBC News | date=30 November 2022 }}</ref> Another Iranian fan was also arrested by Qatari police after he was wearing a shirt with the Woman, Life, Freedom slogan.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web| url=https://www.nbcnews.com/video/iranian-soccer-fan-tackled-by-qatar-world-cup-security-over-protest-slogan-155670597526 | title=Iranian soccer fan tackled by Qatar World Cup security over protest slogan | website=NBC News }}</ref>

During the World Cup as well as the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, the Iranian government reportedly sent paid members of the Basij and IRGC to cheer for the team in the stands.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Iran were eventually knocked out in the semi-final of the Asian Cup by hosts Qatar.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After the game, Iranian officials reportedly arrested ten teenagers in the city of Javanrud for celebrating the team's elimination from the tournament.<ref>Template:Cite tweet Template:Better source</ref>

Late 2020sEdit

Iran qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on 25 March 2025 following a 2–2 draw against Uzbekistan in the third round of AFC qualification.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Team imageEdit

NicknamesEdit

The Iranian national team has received several nicknames by supporters and media. The most common one used is "Team Melli" (Template:Langx), meaning "The National Team" in Persian. Although the Iranian supporters have popularized "Team Melli",<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/match/45657/uae-vs-iran/report |title=UAE 0–3 Iran: Team Melli Cruise Into Quarter-Finals |publisher=Goal.com |access-date=21 October 2013 |archive-date=24 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624165159/http://www.goal.com/en/match/45657/uae-vs-iran/report |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Veo 2014">{{#invoke:cite|web| last=Veo | first=Valerio | title=Team Melli looked excellent in defeat | website=ESPNFC.com | date=23 November 2014 | url=http://www.espnfc.com/team/iran/469/blog/post/1901739/iran-played-to-an-impressive-1-0-loss-to-argentina-at-the-2014-world-cup | access-date=11 January 2015 | archive-date=25 December 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225010542/http://www.espnfc.com/team/iran/469/blog/post/1901739/iran-played-to-an-impressive-1-0-loss-to-argentina-at-the-2014-world-cup%20 | url-status=live }}</ref> other nicknames for the team include "Persian Stars"<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://90tv.ir/news/پیش-بازی-ایران-یمن-ستارگان-پارسی-وارد-می-شوند%7Ctitle=پیش بازی ایران – یمن : ستارگان پارسی وارد می‌شوند|website=90tv.ir|language=fa|trans-title=Iran-Yemen pre-match: Persian stars arrive}} Template:Dead link</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/match/57314/iran-vs-russia/report? |title=Iran 1–0 Russia: Khalatbari Strike Sinks The Sbornaya |publisher=Goal.com |access-date=21 October 2013 |archive-date=6 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206100540/http://www.goal.com/en/match/57314/iran-vs-russia/report |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://www.ufwc.co.uk/2012/09/iran-vs-north-korea-prepare-for-the-ufwc-megaclash/%7Ctitle=Iran vs North Korea: prepare for the UFWC 'megaclash'|publisher=UFWC|date=23 September 2012|access-date=21 October 2013|archive-date=21 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021210420/http://www.ufwc.co.uk/2012/09/iran-vs-north-korea-prepare-for-the-ufwc-megaclash/%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> (entitled since the World Cup 2006) "Shiran e Iran",<ref name="khabar">{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://www.khabarsport.com/detail/3527/ |title=Elephants surrounded by the lions of Iran (in Persian) |publisher=khabarsport.com |date=15 October 2013 |access-date=22 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20131022101157/http://www.khabarsport.com/detail/3527/ |archive-date=22 October 2013 }}</ref><ref name="varzesh11">{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://www.varzesh11.com/fa/soccer_news_centre/news/تمجید_سایت_AFC_از_رحمان_احمدی_دروازه_بان_شیران_ایران/2426 |title=The AFC website hailed Rahman Ahmadi the goalkeeper of Iranian lions (in Persian) |publisher=Varzesh11 |access-date=22 October 2013 |archive-date=28 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131028211614/http://www.varzesh11.com/fa/soccer_news_centre/news/%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%AC%DB%8C%D8%AF_%D8%B3%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%AA_AFC_%D8%A7%D8%B2_%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86_%D8%A7%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%AF%DB%8C_%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%87_%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%86_%D8%B4%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86_%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/2426 |url-status=dead }}</ref> meaning "The Iranian Lions" or "The Lions of Persia",<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2012/06/sports-the-lions-of-persia.html |title=The Lions of Persia |publisher=Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) |date=12 June 2012 |access-date=22 October 2013 |archive-date=23 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023061144/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/tehranbureau/2012/06/sports-the-lions-of-persia.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> "Shir Delan", "Lion Hearts" and "Princes of Persia"<ref name="espnfc">{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://espnfc.com/columns/story/_/id/861355/john-duerden:-asian-cup-history?cc=5901 |title=Traditional powers eye return to glory (Princes of Persia become Kings of Asia) |publisher=ESPN |date=6 January 2011 |access-date=21 October 2013 |archive-date=10 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110204006/http://espnfc.com/columns/story/_/id/861355/john-duerden:-asian-cup-history?cc=5901 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="irandaily">{{#invoke:cite|web| url=http://www.iran-daily.com/1389/10/9/MainPaper/3858/Page/11/MainPaper_3858_11.pdf | title=Princes of Persia Rout Qatar Army | publisher=Iran-daily | access-date=22 October 2013 | archive-date=20 September 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920173057/http://www.iran-daily.com/1389/10/9/MainPaper/3858/Page/11/MainPaper_3858_11.pdf | url-status=live }}</ref> (used since AFC Asian Cup 2011).<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web| url=http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-534561 | title=What a despicable slogan for Iranian soccer team | publisher=CNN iReport | access-date=22 October 2013 | archive-date=23 October 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023061544/http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-534561 | url-status=live }}</ref> Iran's slogan for the 2014 FIFA World Cup was Honour of Persia, selected in an internet poll held by FIFA.<ref name="honourofpersia">{{#invoke:cite|news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/15/sport/football/world-cup-slogans-football/%7Ctitle=World Cup 2014: FIFA's bus slogans cause misery and mirth on social media|first=Matt |last=Knight|date=15 May 2014|work=CNN|access-date=16 May 2014|archive-date=22 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622224001/http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/15/sport/football/world-cup-slogans-football%7Curl-status=live}}</ref><ref name="fifa.slogans2014">{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/games/be-there-with-hyundai/winning-slogans |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518031244/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/games/be-there-with-hyundai/winning-slogans/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 May 2014 |title=The Winners |publisher=fifa.com|access-date=10 June 2014}}</ref> A more recently used nickname, due to the presence of the Asiatic cheetah on the 2014 World Cup jersey, is Youzpalangan which means "The Cheetahs";<ref name="PersianFootball.com">{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://www.persianfootball.com/news/2014/02/01/irans-world-cup-kit-unveiled-photos/%7Ctitle=Iran's World Cup kits unveiled [PHOTOS]|publisher=PersianFootball.com|access-date=1 February 2014|archive-date=3 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203073932/http://www.persianfootball.com/news/2014/02/01/irans-world-cup-kit-unveiled-photos/%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> the team mascot "Yupa" is also a cheetah,<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|date=2018-05-19 |title=Iran national football teams' mascot unveiled |url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/423740/Iran-national-football-teams-mascot-unveiled |access-date=2023-04-02 |website=Tehran Times |language=en}}</ref> although this has been seen as a government propaganda ploy to wane people away from the lion nickname due to the pre-revolutionary Lion and Sun.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Kits and crestsEdit

Template:Sister project Traditionally, Iran national football team's home kit is white, and the away kit is red. Sometimes, green shirts with white shorts and red socks are used.

Kit suppliersEdit

The table below shows the history of kit supplier for the Iranian national football team.

Kit supplier Period
icon|FRG}} Adidas 1978
icon|FRG}} Puma<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3USDwh2yUZQ title=Iran national football team (Team Melli) 1980 Asian Cup and 1980 Olympic qualifiers website=YouTube access-date=4 January 2018 archive-date=11 February 2019 archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190211083731/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3USDwh2yUZQ&gl=US&hl=en url-status=live

}}</ref>

1980
icon|IRN}} Amini<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://www.varzesh3.com/news/1353457/%7Ctitle=تیم ملی و آدیداس بعد از 40 سال به هم رسیدند|access-date=28 August 2016|archive-date=19 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119142647/https://www.varzesh3.com/news/1353457/%d8%aa%db%8c%d9%85-%d9%85%d9%84%db%8c-%d9%88-%d8%a2%d8%af%db%8c%d8%af%d8%a7%d8%b3-%d8%a8%d8%b9%d8%af-%d8%a7%d8%b2-40-%d8%b3%d8%a7%d9%84-%d8%a8%d9%87-%d9%87%d9%85-%d8%b1%d8%b3%db%8c%d8%af%d9%86%d8%af%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> 1981–1993
icon|IRN}} Shekari 1993–1998
icon|GER}} Puma 1998–2000
icon|IRN}} Shekari 2000–2003
icon|IRN}} Daei Sport 2003–2006
icon|GER}} Puma 2006–2007
icon|IRN}} Merooj 2007–2008
icon|IRN}} Daei Sport 2008–2009
icon|ITA}} Legea 2009–2012
icon|GER}} Uhlsport<ref name="PersianFootball.com" /> 2012–2016
icon|ITA}} Givova<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://www.varzesh3.com/news/1313518/%7Ctitle=برند ایتالیایی اسپانسر تیم ملی شد|work=Varzesh3.com|access-date=30 March 2016|archive-date=19 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119142654/https://www.varzesh3.com/news/1313518/%d8%a8%d8%b1%d9%86%d8%af-%d8%a7%db%8c%d8%aa%d8%a7%d9%84%db%8c%d8%a7%db%8c%db%8c-%d8%a7%d8%b3%d9%be%d8%a7%d9%86%d8%b3%d8%b1-%d8%aa%db%8c%d9%85-%d9%85%d9%84%db%8c-%d8%b4%d8%af%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> 2016
icon|GER}} Adidas<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://90tv.ir/news/294431/توافق-حاصل-شد-تیم-ملی-آدیداس-می-پوشد%7Ctitle=توافق حاصل شد/ تیم ملی آدیداس می پوشد|work=90tv.ir|access-date=27 August 2016|archive-date=29 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829081229/http://90tv.ir/news/294431/%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%82-%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%84-%D8%B4%D8%AF-%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%85-%D9%85%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%A2%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B3-%D9%85%DB%8C-%D9%BE%D9%88%D8%B4%D8%AF%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> 2016–2019
icon|GER}} Uhlsport 2019–2022
icon|IRN}} Merooj<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|date=2022-07-24 |title=نتیجه مزایده اسپانسر تیم ملی فوتبال ایران چطور تغییر کرد؟ |url=https://www.mehrnews.com/news/5541945/نتیجه-مزایده-اسپانسر-تیم-ملی-فوتبال-ایران-چطور-تغییر-کرد |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=خبرگزاری مهر | اخبار ایران و جهان | Mehr News Agency |language=fa}}</ref> 2022–present

SponsorshipEdit

On 1 February 2014, Iran announced the addition of the endangered Asiatic cheetah on their 2014 FIFA World Cup kits to bring attention to its conservation efforts.<ref name="PersianFootball.com" />

RivalriesEdit

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Iran and Iraq are neighboring rivals. According to the Malay Mail, "Emotions are always high when Iran and Iraq meet on the football pitch". In the contemporary era, especially during the reign of Saddam Hussein, the two countries had worsened relations and fought the Iran–Iraq War for 8 years.<ref name="ESPN">{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Duerden |first=John |title=Asia awaits neighbourly rivalry |url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/863589 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905023944/http://www.espnfc.com/story/863589 |archive-date=5 September 2017 |access-date=22 November 2014 |work=ESPN}}</ref><ref name="CNN">{{#invoke:cite|web|last=Montague |first=James |date=13 January 2011 |title=Pitch Warfare: Iran face Iraq in soccer grudge match |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/01/11/football.asian.iraq.iran/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905001230/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/01/11/football.asian.iraq.iran/ |archive-date=5 September 2017 |access-date=21 November 2014 |work=CNN}}</ref><ref name="Iran Daily">{{#invoke:cite|news|date=5 November 2014 |title=Iran-Iraq classic rivalry |page=11 |newspaper=Iran Daily |number=4924 |url=http://newspaper.iran-daily.com/newspaper/page/4924/11/21845/0 |url-status=live |access-date=5 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905002709/http://newspaper.iran-daily.com/newspaper/page/4924/11/21845/0 |archive-date=5 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|title=Iraq vs. Iran a 53 years old rivalry |url=http://www.teammelli.com/2015/01/21/iraq-vs-iran-a-53-years-old-rivalry/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905005210/http://www.teammelli.com/2015/01/21/iraq-vs-iran-a-53-years-old-rivalry/ |archive-date=5 September 2017 |access-date=20 May 2017 |work=Team Melli}}</ref><ref name="BBC">{{#invoke:cite|news|title=Trouble flares after Iran beat Iraq |work=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1595244.stm |url-status=live |access-date=20 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211119142641/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2002/1595244.stm |archive-date=19 November 2021}}</ref> In 2001, for the first time in decades, an Iran-Iraq match was not held at a neutral venue.<ref name="Iran Daily" /> The rivalry was escalated after Iraq knocked Iran out of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup in controversial circumstances.<ref name="ABC">{{#invoke:cite|news|date=25 January 2015 |title=Asian Cup: Iran claims Iraq's Alaa Abdul-Zahra tested positive, lodges complaint about quarter-final result |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-25/iran-lodges-complaint-over-asian-cup-quarter-final-result/6045114 |url-status=live |access-date=5 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703101908/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-25/iran-lodges-complaint-over-asian-cup-quarter-final-result/6045114 |archive-date=3 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|news|date=25 January 2015 |title=AFC rejects Iranian protest over Iraqi player ineligibility |url=http://www.iraqinews.com/sports/afc-rejects-iranian-protest-over-iraqi-player-ineligibility/ |url-status=live |access-date=5 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170905003911/http://www.iraqinews.com/sports/afc-rejects-iranian-protest-over-iraqi-player-ineligibility/ |archive-date=5 September 2017}}</ref> Iran leads the series with 17 wins, 7 draws and 6 losses.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are ideological rivals.<ref name="FIFA">{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/matches/qualifiers/match=2712/index.html%7Carchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130105035322/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/matches/qualifiers/match=2712/index.html%7Curl-status=dead%7Carchive-date=5 January 2013|title=Saudi Arabia VS Iran: Launch pad for Saudi reign|date=28 October 1993|access-date=21 November 2014|work=FIFA.com}}</ref> The game was ranked eighth in Goal.com's 2010 list of "Football's 10 Greatest International Rivalries".<ref name="Goal.com">{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/2377/top-10/2010/11/17/2216499/footballs-10-greatest-international-rivalries-argentina%7Cfirst=Peter%7Clast=Staunton%7Ctitle=Football's 10 Greatest International Rivalries; Argentina – Brazil, Portugal – Spain, Algeria – Egypt, Japan – South Korea And More|date=17 November 2010|access-date=21 November 2014|work=Goal.com|archive-date=22 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622153351/https://www.goal.com/en/news/2377/top-10/2010/11/17/2216499/footballs-10-greatest-international-rivalries-argentina%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> and ninth in Bleacher Report's 2014 list of "International Football's 10 Most Politically-Charged Football Rivalries"<ref name="Bleacher Report">{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://stag-br-app-s5.brenv.net/articles/2233242-international-footballs-10-most-politically-charged-football-rivalries/page/3%7Cfirst=Jerrad%7Clast=Peters%7Ctitle=International Football's 10 Most Politically-Charged Football Rivalries|date=15 October 2014|access-date=21 November 2014|work=Bleacher Report|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017205954/http://stag-br-app-s5.brenv.net/articles/2233242-international-footballs-10-most-politically-charged-football-rivalries/page/3%7Carchive-date=17 October 2015}}</ref> All of their matches have been competitive; none of them were friendlies. The first match was played on 24 August 1975, with Iran defeating Saudi Arabia 3–0. Iran leads the series with 5 wins, 6 draws and 4 losses.

Outside of the Middle East and Central Asia area, Team Melli has some fierce rivalries with East Asian powerhouses South Korea and Japan. Uniquely, Australia, despite also a major team in Asia, haven't met Iran since joining the AFC in 2006.

StadiumsEdit

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Since 1972, Iran's national stadium has been Tehran's Azadi Stadium with a nominal capacity of 78,116 spectators.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://www.varzesh3.com/news/1343153/%7Ctitle=Azadi Stadium Capacity|date=23 July 2016|work=Varzesh3|access-date=24 July 2016|archive-date=29 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729005246/http://www.varzesh3.com/news/1343153%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> Azadi Stadium is the 28th largest association football stadium in the world, seventh in Asia and first in West Asia. A record was set in Azadi for the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Australia with over 128,000 in attendance.<ref name="fifa97">{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/matches/qualifiers/match=8705/index.html%7Carchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425053310/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/matches/qualifiers/match=8705/index.html%7Curl-status=dead%7Carchive-date=25 April 2013|title=Classic Football|work=FIFA.com}}</ref> Since 1979, the government restricts Iranian women from entering the stadiums.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/10927470/World-Cup-ban-Irans-women-just-dont-care.html%7Ctitle=World Cup ban? Iran's women just don't care|date=26 June 2014|work=Telegraph.co.uk|access-date=3 April 2018|archive-date=19 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319161850/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/10927470/World-Cup-ban-Irans-women-just-dont-care.html%7Curl-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2782231-women-allowed-into-iran-football-stadium-for-the-first-time-since-1979 |title=Women Allowed into Iranian Football Stadium for the 1st Time Since 1979 |website=Bleacher Report |access-date=27 October 2022 |archive-date=27 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027182447/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2782231-women-allowed-into-iran-football-stadium-for-the-first-time-since-1979 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, FIFA condemned the move and wrote to Iranian Football Federation in June 2019. The federation in their letter gave deadline to uplift the restrictions and let women enter the stadiums. On 25 August 2019, deputy Sports Minister Jamshid Taghizadeh stated: "Women can go to Tehran's Azadi stadium to watch the match between Iran's national team and Cambodia in October for the Qatar World Cup qualifier.”<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://nnn.com.ng/2019/08/25/iranian-women-allowed-to-watch-world-cup-qualifier-in-stadium-official/%7Ctitle=Sport Iranian women allowed to watch World Cup qualifier in stadium – official|date=25 August 2019|access-date=25 August 2019|publisher=NNN|archive-date=29 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829141337/https://nnn.com.ng/2019/08/25/iranian-women-allowed-to-watch-world-cup-qualifier-in-stadium-official/%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> After the death of Sahar Khodayari, select Iranian women were allowed to attend the match against Cambodia in October 2019.<ref name=reuters-40-yrs/> However, in March 2022, Iranian women were again blocked from entering the stadium for a World Cup qualifier.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/03/31/iran-women-blocked-entering-stadium |title=Iran: Women Blocked from Entering Stadium |date=31 March 2022 |access-date=27 October 2022 |archive-date=26 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221026010926/https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/03/31/iran-women-blocked-entering-stadium |url-status=live }}</ref>

From 1942 to 1972, Amjadieh Stadium was Iran's national stadium. The other stadiums that Iran has been played international games are Bagh Shomal and Yadegar Emam Stadium (Tabriz), Takhti Stadium (Tehran), Enghelab Stadium (Karaj), Hafezieh Stadium (Shiraz), Takhti Stadium and Imam Reza Stadium (Mashhad).

The Iran National Football Camp is the team's training ground.

Results and fixturesEdit

File:Iran national football team opponents.png
All opponents that the Iran football team has played at least once

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Further The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

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2024Edit

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2025Edit

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Coaching staffEdit

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<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.hamshahrionline.ir/news/749094/%D8%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%82%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%87-%D9%86%D9%88%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%85-%D9%85%D9%84%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A8%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%B2%DB%8C%D9%84%DB%8C-%D9%88-%DB%8C%DA%A9-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%BE%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D8%B1%D9%88%DB%8C |title=همشهری آنلاین: دستیاران قلعه نویی در تیم ملی؛ مربی برزیلی و یک پرسپولیسی روی نیمکت ایران |date=15 March 2023 |access-date=15 March 2023 |archive-date= |archive-url= |url-status= }}</ref>

Position Name
Head Coach icon|IRN}} Amir Ghalenoei
Assistant Coach(es) icon|ITA}} Antonio Manicone
icon|IRN}} Rahman Rezaei
icon|IRN}} Andranik Teymourian
icon|IRN}} Saeed Alhoei
icon|IRN}} Human Afazeli
Goalkeeping Coach icon|ROM}} Alin Dinca
Fitness Coach icon|IRN}} Ali Asghar Ghorbanalipour
Physiotherapist icon|IRN}} Alireza Shahab
Team Doctor icon|IRN}} Parhan Khanlari
Masseurs icon|IRN}} Amir Esmaeili
icon|IRN}} Hadi Nejatpour
Team Supervisor icon|IRN}} Mehdi Kharati
Team Management icon|IRN}} Mahdi Mohammadnabi

PlayersEdit

Current squadEdit

The following players have been called up to training camp for preparation of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification against Template:Fb and Template:Fb in June 2025.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Caps and goals updated as of 25 March 2025, after the match against Template:Fb.

Template:Nat fs g start Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs g player Template:Nat fs end

Recent call-upsEdit

The following players have been called up to the team in the last 12 months. Template:Nat fs r start Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs r player Template:Nat fs break INJ Withdrew due to injury
PRE Preliminary squad / standby
RET Retired from the national team
SUS Serving suspension
WD Player withdrew from the squad due to a non-injury issue.
COV Injured because of COVID-19 Template:Nat fs end

Player recordsEdit

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Template:Updated<ref name="RSSSF">{{#invoke:cite|web|last1=Mamrud |first1=Roberto |title=Iran – Record International Players |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iran-recintlp.html |website=RSSSF |access-date=31 May 2004 |archive-date=20 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180720140046/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/iran-recintlp.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
Statistics include official FIFA-recognised matches only.
Players in bold are still active with Iran.

Most appearancesEdit

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File:Iran vs. Montenegro 2014-05-26 (040).jpg
Javad Nekounam is the most capped player in the history of Iran with 149 appearances.
Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Javad NekounamTemplate:Efn 149 38 2000–2015
2 Ali DaeiTemplate:Efn 148 108 1993–2006
3 Ehsan Hajsafi 142 7 2008–2024
4 Ali Karimi 127 38 1998–2012
5 Jalal Hosseini 115 8 2007–2018
6 Mehdi Mahdavikia 110 13 1996–2009
7 Karim Ansarifard 104 30 2009–2024
8 Andranik Teymourian 101 9 2005–2016
9 Mehdi Taremi 92 54 2015–present
10 Sardar Azmoun 91 57 2014–present
Alireza Jahanbakhsh 91 17 2013–present

Top goalscorersEdit

Template:See also Template:See also

File:Ali Daei, Saipa vs. Al-Rayyan pre-match conference.jpg
Ali Daei is the world's third all-time leading goalscorer in international matches, having scored 108 goals in 148 matches.
Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Ali DaeiTemplate:Efn (list) 108 148 {{#expr:108/148 round 2}} 1993–2006
2 Sardar Azmoun 57 91 {{#expr:57/91 round 2}} 2014–present
3 Mehdi Taremi 54 92 {{#expr:54/92 round 2}} 2015–present
4 Karim Bagheri 50 87 {{#expr:50/87 round 2}} 1993–2010
5 Ali Karimi 38 127 {{#expr:38/127 round 2}} 1998–2012
Javad Nekounam 38 149 {{#expr:38/149 round 2}} 2000–2015
7 Karim Ansarifard 30 104 {{#expr:30/104 round 2}} 2009–2024
8 Gholam Hossein Mazloumi 19 40 {{#expr:19/40 round 2}} 1969–1977
9 Farshad Pious<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=http://www.teammelli.com/matchdata/details/player.php?id=420%7Ctitle=Statistics: Iran [ Team Melli]|access-date=8 June 2016|archive-date=13 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913091727/http://www.teammelli.com/matchdata/details/player.php?id=420%7Curl-status=live}}</ref> 18 34 {{#expr:18/34 round 2}} 1984–1994
10 Reza Ghoochannejhad 17 44 {{#expr:17/44 round 2}} 2012–2018
Alireza Jahanbakhsh 17 91 {{#expr:17/91 round 2}} 2013–present

Notes Template:Notelist

Most capped goalkeepersEdit

File:Ahmadreza Abedzadeh 20170303 04.jpg
Ahmadreza Abedzadeh, an iconic goalkeeper known for his outstanding performances with the national team, is regarded as one of the finest in the nation's history.
Rank Player Caps Career
1 Alireza Beiranvand 79 2015–present
2 Mehdi Rahmati 76 2004–2012
3 Ahmad Reza Abedzadeh 73 1987–1998
4 Ebrahim Mirzapour 70 2001–2011
5 Nasser Hejazi<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/144/149/5/index.html%7Carchive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213041951/http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/144/149/5/index.html%7Curl-status=dead%7Carchive-date=13 December 2014|title=Iran says farewell to 'The Legend'|website=FIFA.com|date=26 May 2011}}</ref> 62 1968–1980
6 Behzad Gholampour 27 1990–1999
7 Aziz Asli 24 1962–1968
8 Alireza Haghighi 23 2012–2018
9 Mansour Rashidi 20 1972–1985
Parviz Boroumand 1998–2001

CaptainsEdit

# Template:Tooltip Player Template:Tooltip Total As Captain Tournaments
Caps Goals Caps Goals
1 1965–1967 Mohammad Ranjbar 1959–1967 23 0 9 0
2 1967–1970 Hassan Habibi 1958–1970 31 0 10 0 1968 AFC Asian Cup
3 1970–1972 Mostafa Arab 1959–1972 48 2 13 0 1972 AFC Asian Cup
4 1972–1977 Parviz Ghelichkhani 1964–1977 64 12 26 7 1976 AFC Asian Cup
5 1977–1980 Ali Parvin 1970–1980 76 13 31 2 1978 FIFA World Cup
6 1980 Nasser Hejazi 1968–1980 62 0 7 0 1980 AFC Asian Cup
7 1980–1984 Mehdi Dinvarzadeh 1977–1984 26 0 9 0
8 1984–87
1989–91
Mohammad Panjali 1978–1991 45 0 27 0 1984 AFC Asian Cup
9 1987–89
1991–93
Sirous Ghayeghran 1986–1993 43 6 22 3 1988 AFC Asian Cup
1992 AFC Asian Cup
10 1993 Hamid Derakhshan 1980–1993 41 9 12 3
11 1993–1994 Farshad Pious 1984–1994 35 19 4 1
12 1996 Mojtaba Moharrami 1988–1996 37 5 2 0 1996 AFC Asian Cup
13 1996–1998 Ahmad Reza Abedzadeh 1988–1998 78 0 38 0 1998 FIFA World Cup
14 1998–1999 Nader Mohammadkhani 1988–1999 64 4 9 1 1998 FIFA World Cup
15 1999–2000 Javad Zarincheh 1987–2000 80 1 8 0
16 2000–2006 Ali Daei 1993–2006 148 108 80 44 2000 AFC Asian Cup
2004 AFC Asian Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
17 2006–2009 Mehdi Mahdavikia 1996–2009 111 13 17 1 2007 AFC Asian Cup
18 2009–2015 Javad Nekounam 2000–2015 149 38 56 18 2011 AFC Asian Cup
2014 FIFA World Cup
2015 AFC Asian Cup
19 2015–2016 Andranik Teymourian 2005–2016 101 9 9 1
20 2016–2019 Masoud Shojaei 2004–2019 87 8 11 0 2018 FIFA World Cup
2019 AFC Asian Cup
21 2019–2024 Ehsan Hajsafi 2008–2024 142 7 43 3 2022 FIFA World Cup
2023 AFC Asian Cup
22 2024– Alireza Jahanbakhsh 2013– 91 17 6 0

Competitive recordEdit

FIFA World CupEdit

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FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Squad Manager(s) Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip
icon|Uruguay}} 1930 Not a FIFA member No qualification
icon|Italy|1861}} 1934 Not a FIFA member
icon|France|1794}} 1938
icon|Brazil|1889}} 1950 Did not enter Did not enter
icon|Switzerland}} 1954
icon|Sweden}} 1958
icon|Chile}} 1962
icon|England}} 1966
icon|Mexico}} 1970
icon|West Germany}} 1974 Did not qualify 8 5 1 2 9 6
icon|Argentina}} 1978 First group stage 14th 3 0 1 2 2 8 Squad Mohajerani 12 10 2 0 20 3
icon|Spain}} 1982 Withdrew Withdrew
icon|Mexico}} 1986 Disqualified Disqualified
{{#invoke:flag|icon|Italy}} 1990 Did not qualify 6 5 0 1 12 5
{{#invoke:flag|icon|USA}} 1994 11 5 3 3 23 13
icon|France|1974}} 1998 Group stage 20th 3 1 0 2 2 4 Squad Talebi 17 8 6 3 57 17
icon|Korea Republic}} {{#invoke:flag|icon|Japan}} 2002 Did not qualify 14 9 3 2 36 9
icon|Germany}} 2006 Group stage 25th 3 0 1 2 2 6 Squad Ivanković 12 9 1 2 29 7
icon|South Africa}} 2010 Did not qualify 14 5 8 1 15 9
icon|Brazil}} 2014 Group stage 28th 3 0 1 2 1 4 Squad Queiroz 16 10 4 2 30 7
icon|Russia}} 2018 18th 3 1 1 1 2 2 Squad Queiroz 18 12 6 0 36 5
icon|Qatar}} 2022 26th 3 1 0 2 4 7 Squad Queiroz 18 14 1 3 49 8
icon|Canada}} {{#invoke:flag|icon|Mexico}} {{#invoke:flag|icon|USA}} 2026 Qualified 14 10 4 0 32 11
icon|Morocco}} {{#invoke:flag|icon|Portugal}} {{#invoke:flag|icon|Spain}} 2030Template:Efn To be determined To be determined
icon|Saudi Arabia}} 2034
Total Group stage 7/23 18 3 4 11 13 31 160 102 39 19 348 100

AFC Asian CupEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:See also

AFC Asian Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Squad Manager(s) Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip
icon|Hong Kong|1910}} 1956 Withdrew Withdrew
icon|Korea Republic}} 1960 Did not qualify 6 3 1 2 12 10
icon|Israel}} 1964 Withdrew Withdrew
{{#invoke:flag|icon|Iran|1964}} 1968 Champions 1st 4 4 0 0 11 2 Squad Bayati Qualified as hosts
icon|Thailand}} 1972 Champions 1st 5 5 0 0 12 4 Squad Ranjbar Qualified as champions
{{#invoke:flag|icon|Iran|1964}} 1976 Champions 1st 4 4 0 0 13 0 Squad Mohajerani Qualified as hosts
icon|Kuwait}} 1980 Third place 3rd 6 3 2 1 16 6 Squad Habibi Qualified as champions
icon|Singapore}} 1984 Fourth place 4th 6 2 4 0 8 3 Squad Ebrahimi 6 6 0 0 22 2
icon|Qatar}} 1988 Third place 3rd 6 2 2 2 3 4 Squad Dehdari 4 2 2 0 6 1
icon|Japan}} 1992 Group stage 5th 3 1 1 1 2 1 Squad Parvin 2 2 0 0 10 0
icon|UAE}} 1996 Third place 3rd 6 3 2 1 14 6 Squad Mayelikohan 6 6 0 0 27 1
icon|Lebanon}} 2000 Quarter-finals 6th 4 2 1 1 7 3 Squad Talebi 6 4 1 1 16 2
icon|China}} 2004 Third place 3rd 6 3 3 0 14 8 Squad Ivanković 6 5 0 1 16 5
icon|Indonesia}} {{#invoke:flag|icon|Malaysia}} {{#invoke:flag|icon|Thailand}} {{#invoke:flag|icon|Vietnam}} 2007 Quarter-finals 6th 4 2 2 0 6 3 Squad Ghalenoei 6 4 2 0 12 2
icon|Qatar}} 2011 7th 4 3 0 1 6 2 Squad Ghotbi 6 4 1 1 11 2
icon|AUS}} 2015 6th 4 3 1 0 7 3 Squad Queiroz 6 5 1 0 18 5
icon|UAE}} 2019 Semi-finals 3rd 6 4 1 1 12 3 Squad Queiroz 8 6 2 0 26 3
icon|QAT}} 2023 3rd 6 4 1 1 12 7 Squad Ghalenoei 8 6 0 2 34 4
icon|Saudi Arabia}} 2027 Qualified 6 4 2 0 16 4
Total 3 titles 16/19 74 45 20 9 143 55 76 57 12 7 226 41

Olympic GamesEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

Summer Olympics record Qualification record
Year Round Position Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Squad Manager(s) Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip
icon|FRA}} 1900 Not an IOC member No qualification
icon|USA}} 1904
icon|GBR}} 1908
icon|SWE}} 1912
icon|BEL}} 1920
icon|FRA|1794}} 1924
icon|NED}} 1928
icon|DEU|1935}} 1936
icon|GBR}} 1948 Did not enter
icon|FIN}} 1952
icon|AUS}} 1956 Withdrew Withdrew
icon|ITA}} 1960 Did not enter Did not enter
icon|Japan}} 1964 First round 12th 3 0 1 2 1 6 Squad Fekri 6 4 1 1 14 3
icon|Mexico}} 1968 Withdrew Withdrew
icon|West Germany}} 1972 First round 12th 3 1 0 2 1 9 Squad Bayati 5 3 2 0 6 0
icon|Canada}} 1976 Quarter-finals 7th 3 1 0 2 4 5 Squad Mohajerani 4 3 1 0 8 1
icon|USSR}} 1980 Qualified but later boycotted the event 6 4 2 0 22 2
icon|USA}} 1984 Boycotted the event Did not enter
{{#invoke:flag|icon|South Korea}} 1988 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 2 2
1992–present See Iran national under-23 team See Iran national under-23 team
Total Quarter-finals 4/17 9 2 1 6 6 20 23 15 6 2 52 8

Asian GamesEdit

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Asian Games record
Year Round Position Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Squad Manager(s)
icon|IND}} 1951 Runners-up 2nd 3 2 0 1 5 3 Squad Sadaghiani
icon|PHL|1936}} 1954 Did not enter
icon|JPN}} 1958 Preliminary round 14th 2 0 0 2 0 9 Squad Mészáros
icon|IDN}} 1962 Did not enter
icon|THA}} 1966 Runners-up 2nd 7 4 0 3 9 6 Squad Szűcs
icon|THA}} 1970 Preliminary round 8th 2 0 1 1 2 3 Squad Netto
{{#invoke:flag|icon|IRN|1964}} 1974 Champions 1st 7 7 0 0 20 1 Squad O'Farrell
icon|THA}} 1978 Did not enter
icon|IND}} 1982 Quarter-finals 8th 4 2 0 2 3 2 Squad Cheraghpour
icon|KOR}} 1986 6th 5 3 1 1 13 2 Squad Dehdari
icon|CHN}} 1990 Champions 1st 5 4 1 0 7 1 Squad Parvin
icon|JPN}} 1994 Preliminary round 9th 4 1 2 1 5 2 Squad Poklepović
icon|THA}} 1998 Champions 1st 8 7 0 1 25 7 Squad Pourheidari
2002–present See Iran national under-23 team
Total 3 titles 10/13 47 30 5 12 89 36

WAFF ChampionshipEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

WAFF Championship record
Year Round Position Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Squad Manager(s)
icon|Jordan}} 2000 Champions 1st 5 4 1 0 7 1 Squad Talebi
icon|Syria|1980}} 2002 Third place 3rd 4 1 2 1 4 3 Squad Ivanković
{{#invoke:flag|icon|Iran}} 2004 Champions 1st 4 4 0 0 17 3 Squad Ivanković
icon|Jordan}} 2007 1st 4Template:Efn 3 1 0 5 1 Squad Mazloumi
{{#invoke:flag|icon|Iran}} 2008 1st 4 4 0 0 13 2 Squad Daei
icon|Jordan}} 2010 Runners-up 2nd 4 2 1 1 8 5 Squad Ghotbi
icon|Kuwait}} 2012 Group stage 6th 3 1 2 0 2 1 Squad Queiroz
icon|Qatar}} 2014 Did not enter
2019–onwards Not a WAFF member
Total 4 titles 7/9 28 19 7 2 56 16

CAFA Nations CupEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

CAFA Nations Cup record
Year Round Position Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Squad Manager(s)
icon|KGZ|1992}} {{#invoke:flag|icon|UZB}} 2023 Champions 1st 3 3 0 0 12 2 Squad Ghalenoei
Total 1 title 1/1 3 3 0 0 12 2

RCD Cup/ECO CupEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

RCD Cup/ECO Cup record (Defunct)
Year Round Position Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Squad Manager(s)
Template:Flagicon 1965 Champions 1st 2 1 1 0 4 1 Squad Fekri
Template:Flagicon 1967 Runners-up 2nd 2 1 0 1 2 1 Squad Fekri
Template:Flagicon 1969 2nd 2 1 0 1 4 6 Squad Rajkov
Template:Flagicon 1970 Champions 1st 2Template:Efn 1 1 0 8 1 Squad Bayati
Template:Flagicon 1974 Runners-up 2nd 2Template:Efn 1 0 1 2 2 Squad Salehnia
Template:Flagicon 1993 Champions 1st 4 4 0 0 10 2 Squad Parvin
Total 3 titles 6/6 14 9 2 3 30 13
Only "A" matches 3 titles 5/6 11 8 1 2 27 10

Afro-Asian Cup of NationsEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

Afro-Asian Cup of Nations record (Defunct)
Year Round Position Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Squad Manager(s)
{{#invoke:flag|icon|GHA}} {{#invoke:flag|icon|IRN|1964}} 1978 Not completedTemplate:Efn 1 1 0 0 3 0 Squad Yavari
icon|CMR}} {{#invoke:flag|icon|KSA}} 1985 Did not qualify
icon|QAT}} 1987
{{#invoke:flag|icon|ALG}} {{#invoke:flag|icon|IRN}} 1991 Runners-up 2nd 2 1 0 1 2 2 Squad/Squad Parvin
icon|JPN}} 1993 Did not qualify
icon|NGA}} {{#invoke:flag|icon|UZB}} 1995
icon|KSA}} {{#invoke:flag|icon|SAF}} 1997
icon|JPN}} 2007
Total Runners-up 2/8 3 2 0 1 5 2

AFC–OFC Challenge CupEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

AFC–OFC Challenge Cup record (Defunct)
Year Round Position Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Template:Tooltip Squad Manager(s)
icon|JPN}} 2001 Did not qualify
{{#invoke:flag|icon|IRN}} 2003 Champions 1st 1 1 0 0 3 0 Squad Ivanković
Total 1 title 1/2 1 1 0 0 3 0

Head-to-head recordEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

Last match updated: Template:Fb on 25 March 2025.
Team M W D L GF GA GD Win percentage Confederation Best win Worst loss
Template:Fb 3 2 1 0 10 1 +9 66.67% AFC 6–1 Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 {{#expr: 0/1 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 4 2 0 2 5 5 0 {{#expr: 2/4 * 100 round 2}}% CAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 4 2 2 0 7 2 +5 {{#expr: 2/4 * 100 round 2}}% CAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 0 1 1 1 2 −1 {{#expr: 0/2 * 100 round 2}}% CONMEBOL Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 1 0 0 3 1 +2 {{#expr: 1/1 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:FbTemplate:Efn 6 3 2 1 7 6 +1 {{#expr: 3/6 * 100 round 2}}% AFC / OFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 0 0 1 1 5 −4 {{#expr: 0/1 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 3 2 1 0 4 2 +2 {{#expr: 2/3 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 18 8 5 5 32 13 +19 {{#expr: 8/18 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 6 6 0 0 28 1 +27 {{#expr: 6/6 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 3 0 2 1 3 4 −1 {{#expr: 0/3 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 {{#expr: 1/1 * 100 round 2}}% CONMEBOL Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 7 5 1 1 19 10 +9 {{#expr: 5/7 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 {{#expr: 0/1 * 100 round 2}}% CAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 1 0 1 1 3 −2 {{#expr: 1/2 * 100 round 2}}% CONMEBOL Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 {{#expr: 1/2 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 {{#expr: 1/1 * 100 round 2}}% CAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 4 4 0 0 28 1 +27 {{#expr: 4/4 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 0 2 0 1 1 0 {{#expr: 0/2 * 100 round 2}}% CAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 3 2 0 1 2 1 +1 {{#expr: 2/3 * 100 round 2}}% CONCACAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 3 1 1 1 4 3 +1 {{#expr: 1/3 * 100 round 2}}% CONMEBOL Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 23 13 6 4 39 18 +21 {{#expr: 13/23 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 5 5 0 0 22 0 +22 {{#expr: 5/5 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 1 1 0 3 2 +1 {{#expr: 1/2 * 100 round 2}}% CONCACAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 0 1 1 2 4 −2 {{#expr: 0/2 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 {{#expr: 0/1 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 {{#expr: 0/1 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 {{#expr: 0/1 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 3 0 2 1 2 3 −1 {{#expr: 0/3 * 100 round 2}}% CONMEBOL Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 {{#expr: 0/1 * 100 round 2}}% CAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 0 0 1 2 6 −4 {{#expr: 0/1 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1 {{#expr: 0/1 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 1 0 0 2 1 +1 {{#expr: 1/1 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 0 0 2 0 4 −4 {{#expr: 0/2 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 2 0 0 5 0 +5 {{#expr: 2/2 * 100 round 2}}% CAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 3 3 0 0 31 0 +31 {{#expr: 3/3 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 0 1 0 2 2 0 {{#expr: 0/1 * 100 round 2}}% CONCACAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 0 1 1 2 3 −1 {{#expr: 0/2 * 100 round 2}}% CAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 9 9 0 0 23 3 +20 {{#expr: 9/9 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 3 0 0 3 0 9 −9 {{#expr: 0/3 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 {{#expr: 1/1 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 8 5 1 2 17 6 +11 {{#expr: 5/8 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 6 5 1 0 16 3 +13 {{#expr: 5/6 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 28 16 6 6 37 21 +16 {{#expr: 16/28 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 3 1 0 2 2 4 −2 {{#expr: 1/3 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 5 3 1 1 7 6 +1 {{#expr: 3/5 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA / AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 2 0 0 9 1 +8 {{#expr: 2/2 * 100 round 2}}% CONCACAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 19 7 6 6 21 22 −1 {{#expr: 7/19 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 14 7 3 4 18 11 +7 {{#expr: 7/14 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 2 0 0 5 0 +5 {{#expr: 2/2 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA / AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 3 3 0 0 6 1 +5 {{#expr: 2/2 * 100 round 2}}% CAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 19 15 4 0 31 9 +22 {{#expr: 15/19 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 33 13 10 10 34 36 −2 {{#expr: 13/33 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 30 13 10 7 39 31 +8 {{#expr: 13/30 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 6 6 0 0 25 4 +21 {{#expr: 5/5 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 3 3 0 0 20 1 +19 {{#expr: 3/3 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 12 10 1 1 31 3 +28 {{#expr: 10/12 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 1 0 0 4 0 +4 {{#expr: 1/1 * 100 round 2}}% CAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 {{#expr: 1/1 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 3 2 1 0 7 3 +4 {{#expr: 2/3 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 {{#expr: 1/1 * 100 round 2}}% CAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 4 4 0 0 8 0 +8 {{#expr: 4/4 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 6 6 0 0 42 0 +42 {{#expr: 6/6 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 0 0 1 1 2 −1 {{#expr: 0/1 * 100 round 2}}% CAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 3 0 0 3 2 9 −7 {{#expr: 0/3 * 100 round 2}}% CONCACAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 {{#expr: 1/2 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 {{#expr: 1/1 * 100 round 2}}% CAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 5 3 0 2 7 4 +3 {{#expr: 3/5 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 5 5 0 0 25 0 +25 {{#expr: 5/5 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 0 0 1 0 3 −3 {{#expr: 0/1 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 1 1 0 3 0 +3 {{#expr: 1/2 * 100 round 2}}% OFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 {{#expr: 1/1 * 100 round 2}}% CONCACAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 0 1 1 0 1 −1 {{#expr: 0/2 * 100 round 2}}% CAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 13 7 4 2 26 15 +11 {{#expr: 7/13 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 14 12 1 1 58 10 +48 {{#expr: 12/14 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 6 4 2 0 18 3 +15 {{#expr: 4/6 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 2 0 0 3 1 +2 {{#expr: 2/2 * 100 round 2}}% CONCACAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 1 0 0 8 1 +7 {{#expr: 1/1 * 100 round 2}}% OFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 {{#expr: 0/1 * 100 round 2}}% CONMEBOL Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 0 0 1 1 4 −3 {{#expr: 0/1 * 100 round 2}}% CONMEBOL Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 1 0 0 7 1 +6 {{#expr: 1/1 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 0 0 2 0 3 −3 {{#expr: 0/2 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 3 0 1 2 1 6 −5 {{#expr: 0/3 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 26 17 5 4 47 20 +27 {{#expr: 17/26 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 0 2 0 2 2 0 {{#expr: 0/2 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 5 1 2 2 3 5 −2 {{#expr: 1/5 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 15 5 6 4 19 13 +6 {{#expr: 5/15 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 {{#expr: 0/1 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 0 2 0 2 2 0 {{#expr: 0/1 * 100 round 2}}% CAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 3 0 1 2 1 4 −3 {{#expr: 0/3 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 1 0 0 4 0 +4 {{#expr: 1/1 * 100 round 2}}% CAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 3 2 1 0 10 2 +8 {{#expr: 2/3 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 1 0 1 6 6 0 {{#expr: 1/2 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 0 0 1 0 1 −1 {{#expr: 0/1 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 2 0 0 11 0 +11 {{#expr: 2/2 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 0 0 1 1 3 −2 {{#expr: 0/1 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 31 18 12 1 53 16 +37 {{#expr: 18/31 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 4 4 0 0 14 1 +13 {{#expr: 4/4 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 14 11 3 0 32 5 +27 {{#expr: 11/14 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 2 0 0 4 0 +4 {{#expr: 2/2 * 100 round 2}}% CAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 2 0 0 3 0 +3 {{#expr: 2/2 * 100 round 2}}% CONCACAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 0 1 1 2 3 −1 {{#expr: 0/2 * 100 round 2}}% CAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 6 0 2 4 2 13 −11 {{#expr: 0/6 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 10 5 3 2 16 8 +8 {{#expr: 5/10 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 0 1 0 2 2 0 {{#expr: 0/1 * 100 round 2}}% CAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 {{#expr: 1/1 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 21 17 3 1 31 5 +26 {{#expr: 17/21 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 3 1 1 1 3 3 0 {{#expr: 1/3 * 100 round 2}}% CONCACAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 {{#expr: 1/2 * 100 round 2}}% CONMEBOL Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 16 10 5 1 20 7 +13 {{#expr: 10/16 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 3 2 1 0 3 1 +2 {{#expr: 2/3 * 100 round 2}}% CONMEBOL Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 1 0 0 2 0 +2 {{#expr: 1/1 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 2 1 0 1 2 1 +1 {{#expr: 1/2 * 100 round 2}}% UEFA Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 3 3 0 0 11 1 +10 {{#expr: 3/3 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 3 3 0 0 12 0 +12 {{#expr: 3/3 * 100 round 2}}% AFC Template:Sort Template:Sort
Template:Fb 1 1 0 0 3 2 +1 {{#expr: 1/1 * 100 round 2}}% CAF Template:Sort Template:Sort
Total (117) 609 352 144 113 1172 477 +695 {{#expr: 352/609 * 100 round 2}}%

FIFA World rankingsEdit

Template:See also Main: AFC National Team of the Year

9 Template:Gold1 , 9 Template:Silver2 , 2 Template:Bronze3 , 5 (Fourth Place) (25/31) (1993–2023)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:Iran FIFA Ranking.png
FIFA World Rankings for Iran, August 1993 – March 2018<ref name="fifatoo">FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking fifa.com</ref>

Between December 2014 until May 2018, Iran was the highest-ranked team in Asia, the longest continuous period of time that a team has held that distinction.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|url=https://www.fifa.com/associations/association=irn/ranking/gender=m/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070604211258/http://fifa.com/associations/association=irn/ranking/gender=m/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 June 2007 |title=Iran: FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking |publisher=FIFA.com |access-date=23 December 2016}}</ref>

Highest FIFA ranking
15 (July 2005)<ref name="fifa">{{#invoke:cite|news|date=17 June 2013 |title=Asia's finale sees three spots up for grabs |publisher=FIFA.com |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2111172/ |url-status=dead |access-date=19 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130621052549/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2111172/ |archive-date=21 June 2013}}</ref>
Lowest FIFA ranking
122 (May 1996)<ref name="fifa"/>
Best mover
+65 (July 1996)<ref name="fifa"/>
Worst mover
–43 (October 1995)<ref name="fifa"/>

Last update was on 01 January 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:cite|web|title=Iran Mens ranking|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/IRN%7Caccess-date=21 December 2020|archive-date=10 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710004402/https://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/IRN%7Curl-status=live}}</ref>Template:Update section

Template:Color box Best Ranking  Template:Color box Worst Ranking  Template:Color box Best Mover  Template:Color box Worst Mover  

Template:Ifsubst style="color:red">{{#invoke:flag|icon|IRN}} Iran's [[FIFA World Rankings|Template:Ifsubst style="color:red">FIFA World Ranking]] History
Rank Year Games
Played
Won Drawn Lost Best Worst
Rank Move Rank Move
24 2022 11 6 1 4 20 Template:Increase 2 24 Template:Decrease 4
21 2021 11 10 1 0 21 Template:Increase 5 31 Template:Decrease 2
29 2020 2 2 0 0 29 Template:Increase 3 33 Template:Decrease 0
33 2019 12 7 2 3 20 Template:Increase 7 33 Template:Decrease 6
29 2018 15 9 3 3 28 Template:Increase 5 37 Template:Decrease 3
32 2017 11 7 3 1 23 Template:Increase 7 43 Template:Decrease 9
29 2016 10 8 2 0 27 Template:Increase 10 44 Template:Decrease 3
45 2015 15 10 4 1 38 Template:Increase 10 51 Template:Decrease 4
51 2014 10 3 4 3 34 Template:Increase 5 56 Template:Decrease 7
33 2013 9 7 1 1 33 Template:Increase 15 67 Template:Decrease 10
59 2012 14 4 7 3 44 Template:Increase 14 59 Template:Decrease 15
45 2011 15 12 2 1 42 Template:Increase 21 65 Template:Decrease 4
66 2010 12 8 2 2 57 Template:Increase 8 67 Template:Decrease 4
64 2009 21 7 8 6 42 Template:Increase 2 64 Template:Decrease 11
43 2008 21 12 7 2 37 Template:Increase 11 51 Template:Decrease 10
41 2007 13 8 4 1 32 Template:Increase 5 47 Template:Decrease 8
38 2006 15 8 5 2 19 Template:Increase 5 47 Template:Decrease 24
19 2005 11 8 1 2 15 Template:Increase 2 21 Template:Decrease 3
20 2004 18 13 3 2 17 Template:Increase 7 31 Template:Decrease 3
28 2003 11 6 1 4 28 Template:Increase 7 47 Template:Decrease 7
33 2002 10 4 4 2 29 Template:Increase 2 34 Template:Decrease 3
29 2001 20 11 4 5 29 Template:Increase 8 51 Template:Decrease 7
37 2000 26 15 7 4 37 Template:Increase 7 53 Template:Decrease 6
49 1999 6 2 4 0 44 Template:Increase 3 51 Template:Decrease 20
27 1998 18 9 2 7 27 Template:Increase 17 47 Template:Decrease 6
46 1997 22 11 7 4 46 Template:Increase 17 87 Template:Decrease 6
83 1996 21 13 5 3 57 Template:Increase 65 122 Template:Decrease 7
108 1995 0 0 0 0 63 Template:Increase 26 108 Template:Decrease 43
75 1994 4 1 2 1 57 Template:Increase 2 75 Template:Decrease 9
59 1993 15 9 3 3 54 Template:Increase 7 59 Template:Decrease 4

HonoursEdit

IntercontinentalEdit

ContinentalEdit

RegionalEdit

FriendlyEdit

** as Malavan

AwardsEdit

SummaryEdit

Only official senior honours are included, according to FIFA statutes (competitions organized/recognized by FIFA or an affiliated confederation).

Competition Template:Gold1 Template:Silver2 Template:Bronze3 Total
AFC Asian Cup 3 0 6 9
Afro-Asian Cup of Nations 0 1 0 1
AFC–OFC Challenge Cup 1 0 0 1
Total 4 1 6 11
Notes
  1. Competition organized by the OCA, officially not recognized by FIFA.

See alsoEdit

NotesEdit

Template:Notelist <references group="note" /><references group="lower-alpha" />

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

Template:Sister project

Template:S-start-collapsible Template:Succession box Template:Succession box Template:Succession box Template:Succession box Template:Succession box Template:Succession box Template:S-end Template:AFC Asian Cup winners Template:Asian Games football men's tournament winners Template:Iran national football team {{#invoke:navboxes|top |title = World Cup Finalists |state = collapsed}} Template:1978 FIFA World Cup finalists Template:1998 FIFA World Cup finalists Template:2006 FIFA World Cup finalists Template:2014 FIFA World Cup finalists Template:2018 FIFA World Cup finalists Template:2022 FIFA World Cup finalists {{#invoke:navboxes|bottom}} {{#invoke:navboxes|top |title = Asian Cup Finalists |state = collapsed}} Template:1968 AFC Asian Cup finalists Template:1972 AFC Asian Cup finalists Template:1976 AFC Asian Cup finalists Template:1980 AFC Asian Cup finalists Template:1984 AFC Asian Cup finalists Template:1988 AFC Asian Cup finalists Template:1992 AFC Asian Cup finalists Template:1996 AFC Asian Cup finalists Template:2000 AFC Asian Cup finalists Template:2004 AFC Asian Cup finalists Template:2007 AFC Asian Cup finalists Template:2011 AFC Asian Cup finalists Template:2015 AFC Asian Cup finalists Template:2019 AFC Asian Cup finalists Template:2023 AFC Asian Cup finalists {{#invoke:navboxes|bottom}} Template:Navboxes top Template:Iran football squad 1964 Summer Olympics Template:Iran football squad 1972 Summer Olympics Template:Iran football squad 1976 Summer Olympics Template:Navboxes bottom Template:Navboxes top Template:Iran squad 1978 FIFA World Cup Template:Iran squad 1998 FIFA World Cup Template:Iran squad 2006 FIFA World Cup Template:Iran squad 2014 FIFA World Cup Template:Iran squad 2018 FIFA World Cup Template:Iran squad 2022 FIFA World Cup Template:Navboxes bottom Template:Navboxes top Template:Iran squad 1968 AFC Asian Cup Template:Iran squad 1972 AFC Asian Cup Template:Iran squad 1976 AFC Asian Cup Template:Iran squad 1980 AFC Asian Cup Template:Iran squad 1984 AFC Asian Cup Template:Iran squad 1988 AFC Asian Cup Template:Iran squad 1992 AFC Asian Cup Template:Iran squad 1996 AFC Asian Cup Template:Iran squad 2000 AFC Asian Cup Template:Iran squad 2004 AFC Asian Cup Template:Iran squad 2007 AFC Asian Cup Template:Iran squad 2011 AFC Asian Cup Template:Iran squad 2015 AFC Asian Cup Template:Iran squad 2019 AFC Asian Cup Template:Iran squad 2023 AFC Asian Cup Template:Navboxes bottom Template:Football in Iran {{#invoke:navbox|navbox | name = AFC teams | title = National men's football teams of Asia (AFC) |listclass = hlist |above = AFC Asian Cup

|group1 = West Asia (WAFF) |list1 =

|group2 = Central Asia (CAFA) |list2 =

|group3 = South Asia (SAFF) |list3 =

|group4 = East Asia (EAFF) |list4 =

|group5 = Southeast Asia (AFF) |list5 =

|group6 = Defunct |list6 =

|group7 = Former |list7 =

|belowclass = hlist |belowstyle = font-size:90%; |below =

}} Template:National sports teams of Iran