Iran national football team

Iran
Nickname(s)
AssociationFootball Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI)
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 21 1 (18 September 2025)[3]
Highest15 (August 2005[4])
Lowest122 (May 1996[5])
First international
 Afghanistan 0–0  
(Kabul, Afghanistan; 25 August 1941)
Biggest win
  19–0 Guam 
(Tabriz, Iran; 24 November 2000)[6]
Biggest defeat
 Turkey 6–1  
(Istanbul, Turkey; 28 May 1950)[7]
 South Korea 5–0  
(Tokyo, Japan; 28 May 1958)[8]
World Cup
Appearances7 (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
Appearances4 (first in 1964)
Best resultQuarter-finals (1976)
Afro-Asian Cup of Nations
Appearances2 (first in 1978)
Best resultRunners-up (1991)
AFC–OFC Challenge Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2003)
Best resultChampions (2003)
Medal record
Men's football
AFC Asian Cup
1968 Iran Team
1972 Thailand Team
1976 Iran Team
1980 Kuwait Team
1988 Qatar Team
1996 UAE Team
2004 China Team
2019 UAE Team
2023 Qatar Team
Asian Games
1974 Tehran Team
1990 Beijing Team
1998 Bangkok Team
1951 New Delhi Team
1966 Bangkok Team
WAFF Championship
2000 Jordan Team
2004 Iran Team
2007 Jordan Team
2008 Iran Team
2010 Jordan Team
2002 Syria Team
CAFA Nations Cup
2023 Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan Team
2025 Tajikistan and Uzbekistan Team
Afro-Asian Cup of Nations
1991 Iran and Algeria Team
AFC–OFC Challenge Cup
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 since 2018,[10] represents Iran in men's international senior football and is governed by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI).[11]

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.

  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. 18 September 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
  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. 9 September 2025. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  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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