Iran national football team
The Iran national football team (Persian: تیم ملی فوتبال مردان ایران, romanized: Team Mellie Futbâle Mardâne Irân), recognised by FIFA as IR Iran, represents Iran in international senior football and is controlled by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI).
| Nickname(s) |
| ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran | ||
| Confederation | AFC (Asia) | ||
| Sub-confederation | CAFA (Central Asia) | ||
| Head coach | Amir Ghalenoei | ||
| Captain | Alireza Jahanbakhsh | ||
| Most caps | Javad Nekounam (149) | ||
| Top scorer | Ali Daei (108) | ||
| Home stadium | Azadi Stadium | ||
| FIFA code | IRN | ||
| |||
| FIFA ranking | |||
| Current | 20 (4 April 2024) | ||
| Highest | 15 (August 2005) | ||
| Lowest | 122 (May 1996) | ||
| First international | |||
| Afghanistan 0–0 Iran (Kabul, Afghanistan; 25 August 1941) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
| Iran 19–0 Guam (Tabriz, Iran; 24 November 2000) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
| Turkey 6–1 Iran (Istanbul, Turkey; 28 May 1950) South Korea 5–0 Iran (Tokyo, Japan; 28 May 1958) | |||
| World Cup | |||
| Appearances | 6 (first in 1978) | ||
| Best result | Group stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022) | ||
| Asian Cup | |||
| Appearances | 16 (first in 1968) | ||
| Best result | Champions (1968, 1972, 1976) | ||
| Olympic Games | |||
| Appearances | 3 (first in 1964) | ||
| Best result | Quarter-finals (1976) | ||
| Asian Games | |||
| Appearances | 10 (first in 1951) | ||
| Best result | Champions (1974, 1990, 1998) | ||
| WAFF Championship | |||
| Appearances | 7 (first in 2000) | ||
| Best result | Champions (2000, 2004, 2007, 2008) | ||
Medal record | |||
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.