Iran national football team

This article is about the men's senior team. For the women's senior team, see Iran women's national football team.

Iran
Nickname(s)
AssociationFootball Federation Islamic Republic of Iran
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Sub-confederationCAFA (Central Asia)
Head coachAmir Ghalenoei
CaptainAlireza Jahanbakhsh
Most capsJavad Nekounam (149)[a]
Top scorerAli Daei (108)[b]
Home stadiumAzadi Stadium
FIFA codeIRN
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 19 Steady (24 October 2024)[3]
Highest15 (August 2005[4])
Lowest122 (May 1996[5])
First international
 Afghanistan 0–0 Iran 
(Kabul, Afghanistan; 25 August 1941)
Biggest win
 Iran 19–0 Guam 
(Tabriz, Iran; 24 November 2000)[6]
Biggest defeat
 Turkey 6–1 Iran 
(Istanbul, Turkey; 28 May 1950)[7]
 South Korea 5–0 Iran 
(Tokyo, Japan; 28 May 1958)[8]
World Cup
Appearances6 (first in 1978)
Best resultGroup stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022)
Asian Cup
Appearances16 (first in 1968)
Best resultChampions (1968, 1972, 1976)
Olympic Games
Appearances3 (first in 1964)
Best resultQuarter-finals (1976)
Asian Games
Appearances10 (first in 1951)
Best resultChampions (1974, 1990, 1998)
Medal record
Men's football
AFC Asian Cup
Gold medal – first place 1968 Iran Team
Gold medal – first place 1972 Thailand Team
Gold medal – first place 1976 Iran Team
Bronze medal – third place 1980 Kuwait Team
Bronze medal – third place 1988 Qatar Team
Bronze medal – third place 1996 UAE Team
Bronze medal – third place 2004 China Team
Bronze medal – third place 2019 UAE Team
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Qatar Team
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1974 Tehran Team
Gold medal – first place 1990 Beijing Team
Gold medal – first place 1998 Bangkok Team
Silver medal – second place 1951 New Delhi Team
Silver medal – second place 1966 Bangkok Team
WAFF Championship
Gold medal – first place 2000 Jordan Team
Gold medal – first place 2004 Iran Team
Gold medal – first place 2007 Jordan Team
Gold medal – first place 2008 Iran Team
Silver medal – second place 2010 Jordan Team
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Syria Team
CAFA Nations Cup
Gold medal – first place 2023 Kyrgyzstan/Uzbekistan Team
RCD Cup/ECO Cup
Gold medal – first place 1965 Iran Team
Gold medal – first place 1970 Iran Team
Gold medal – first place 1993 Iran Team
Silver medal – second place 1967 Pakistan Team
Silver medal – second place 1969 Turkey Team
Afro-Asian Cup of Nations
Silver medal – second place 1991 Algeria/Iran Team
AFC–OFC Challenge Cup
Gold medal – first place 2003 Iran Team

The Iran national football team (Persian: تیم ملی فوتبال مردان ایران, romanized: Team Mellie Futbâle Mardâne Irân), recognised as IR Iran by FIFA,[10] represents Iran in international senior football and is governed by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran[11] (IRI).[citation needed]

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 quarterfinals at the 1976 Summer Olympics. At the FIFA World Cup, Iran have qualified six times (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022) 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.

  1. ^ Javad Nekounam – Century of International Appearances; at RSSSF
  2. ^ Ali Daei – Century of International Appearances; at RSSSF
  3. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  4. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking – Ranking Table". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 11 July 2015.
  5. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking – Ranking Table". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 22 June 2016.
  6. ^ "Biggest margin victories/losses (Fifa fact-Sheet)" (PDF). FIFA.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Iran: Fixtures and Results was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "Asian Games 1958 (Tokyo, Japan)". rsssf. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2010.
  9. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
  10. ^ "Member Association – IR Iran". FIFA. Archived from the original on 4 May 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Football Federation Islamic Federation of Iran".


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