Iran at the FIFA World Cup

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Iran national football team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia Iran vs morocco 15.jpg
Iran national football team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia

Iran have appeared in the FIFA World Cup on six occasions: in 1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018 and 2022. They are yet to have progressed from the group stages. [1] [2]

Contents

Record at the FIFA World Cup qualification

As of 10 June 2025
Rank
(unoff.)
TeamQualifying attemptsAppearances
in the finals
Overall qualification recordPointsConfederation
TotalSuccessfulPldWDLGFGAGDTotalAvg
1Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 1714181891214127453134+3194042.138CONCACAF
2Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 161011167105441833998+2413592.150AFC
3Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 16661751044427442131+3113562.034AFC
4Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 12661621033920351101+2503482.148AFC
5Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 1866191974747326185+1413381.769CONCACAF
6Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 151318169974428290144+1463351.982CONMEBOL
7Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 166715496292935994+2653172.058AFC
8Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 14132214389371730191+2103042.125CONMEBOL
9Flag of Uruguay.svg  Uruguay 181114188835253259198+613011.601CONMEBOL
10Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg  Saudi Arabia 1366150873726282112+1702981.986AFC

Record at the FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup finals record FIFA World Cup qualification record
YearRoundPositionPldWDLGFGASquadPldWDLGFGA
Flag of Uruguay.svg 1930 Not a FIFA memberNo qualification
Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg 1934 Not a FIFA member
Flag of France (1794-1815, 1830-1958).svg 1938
Flag of Brazil (1889-1960).svg 1950 Did not enterDid not enter
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg 1954
Flag of Sweden.svg 1958
Flag of Chile.svg 1962
Flag of England.svg 1966
Flag of Mexico.svg 1970
Flag of Germany.svg 1974 Did not qualify851296
Flag of Argentina.svg 1978 First round14th301228 Squad 121020203
Flag of Spain.svg 1982 WithdrewWithdrew
Flag of Mexico.svg 1986 DisqualifiedDisqualified
Flag of Italy.svg 1990 Did not qualify6501125
Flag of the United States.svg 1994 115332313
Flag of France (lighter variant).svg 1998 Group stage20th310224 Squad 178635717
Flag of South Korea (1997-2011).svg Flag of Japan.svg 2002 Did not qualify14932369
Flag of Germany.svg 2006 Group stage25th301226 Squad 12912297
Flag of South Africa.svg 2010 Did not qualify14581159
Flag of Brazil.svg 2014 Group stage28th301214 Squad 161042307
Flag of Russia.svg 2018 18th311122 Squad 181260365
Flag of Qatar.svg 2022 26th310247 Squad 181413498
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Flag of Mexico.svg Flag of the United States.svg 2026 qualified1611413512
Flag of Morocco.svg Flag of Portugal (official).svg Flag of Spain.svg Flag of Argentina.svg Flag of Paraguay.svg Flag of Uruguay.svg 2030 To be determined
Flag of Saudi Arabia.svg 2034
Flag of the United Nations.svg 2038
TotalFirst round6/2618341113311621033920351101

Argentina 1978

Group 4

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Peru (state).svg  Peru 321072+55Advance to second round
2Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 311153+23
3Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 31115613
4State Flag of Iran (1964).svg  Iran 30122861
Source: FIFA
Netherlands  Flag of the Netherlands.svg3–0State Flag of Iran (1964).svg  Iran
Rensenbrink Soccerball shade.svg40' (pen.), 62', 78' (pen.) Report

Scotland  Flag of Scotland.svg1–1State Flag of Iran (1964).svg  Iran
Eskandarian Soccerball shade.svg43' (o.g.) Report Danaeifard Soccerball shade.svg60'

Peru  Flag of Peru (state).svg4–1State Flag of Iran (1964).svg  Iran
Velásquez Soccerball shade.svg2'
Cubillas Soccerball shade.svg36' (pen.), 39' (pen.), 79'
Report Rowshan Soccerball shade.svg41'
Estadio Chateau Carreras, Córdoba
Attendance: 21,262
Referee: Alojzy Jarguz (Poland)

France 1998

Group F

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 321062+47Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (1992-2006).svg  FR Yugoslavia 321042+27
3Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 31022423
4Flag of the United States.svg  United States 30031540
Source: FIFA
FR Yugoslavia  Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (1992-2006).svg1–0Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
Mihajlović Soccerball shade.svg72' (Report)

United States  Flag of the United States.svg1–2Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
McBride Soccerball shade.svg87' (Report) Estili Soccerball shade.svg40'
Mahdavikia Soccerball shade.svg84'
Stade Gerland, Lyon
Attendance: 39,100
Referee: Urs Meier (Switzerland)

Germany  Flag of Germany.svg2–0Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
Bierhoff Soccerball shade.svg50'
Klinsmann Soccerball shade.svg57'
(Report)

Germany 2006

Group D

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal 330051+49Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 311143+14
3Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 30211212
4Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 30122641
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tie-breaking criteria
Mexico  Flag of Mexico.svg3–1Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
Bravo Soccerball shade.svg28', 76'
Zinha Soccerball shade.svg79'
(Report) Golmohammadi Soccerball shade.svg36'

Portugal  Flag of Portugal (official).svg2–0Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
Deco Soccerball shade.svg63'
Ronaldo Soccerball shade.svg80' (pen.)
(Report)

Iran  Flag of Iran.svg1–1Flag of Angola.svg  Angola
Bakhtiarizadeh Soccerball shade.svg75' (Report) Flávio Soccerball shade.svg60'
Zentralstadion, Leipzig
Attendance: 38,000
Referee: Mark Shield (Australia)

Brazil 2014

Group F

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 330063+39Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 31113304
3Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 31024403
4Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 30121431
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tie-breaking criteria
Iran  Flag of Iran.svg0–0Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria
Report
Arena da Baixada, Curitiba
Attendance: 39,081
Referee: Carlos Vera (Ecuador)

Argentina  Flag of Argentina.svg1–0Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
Messi Soccerball shade.svg90+1' Report

Russia 2018

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 312065+15Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal 312054+15
3Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 31112204
4Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 30122421
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Morocco  Flag of Morocco.svg0–1Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
Report Bouhaddouz Soccerball shade.svg90+5' (o.g.)

Iran  Flag of Iran.svg0–1Flag of Spain.svg  Spain
Report Costa Soccerball shade.svg54'
Kazan Arena, Kazan
Attendance: 42,718
Referee: Andrés Cunha (Uruguay)

Iran  Flag of Iran.svg1–1Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal
Ansarifard Soccerball shade.svg90+3' (pen.) Report Quaresma Soccerball shade.svg45'
Mordovia Arena, Saransk
Attendance: 41,685
Referee: Enrique Cáceres (Paraguay)

Qatar 2022

Simultaneous to the Mahsa Amini protests in Iran, the team declined to sing the national anthem prior to their match with England. [3] Prior to the match, captain Ehsan Hajsafi, said that the team support protestors. [3]

Group B

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of England.svg  England 321092+77Advanced to knockout stage
2Flag of the United States.svg  United States 312021+15
3Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 31024733
4Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 30121651
Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
England  Flag of England.svg 6–2 Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
Report

Wales  Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 0–2 Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
Report

Iran  Flag of Iran.svg 0–1 Flag of the United States.svg  United States
Report
Al Thumama Stadium, Doha
Attendance: 42,127
Referee: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (Spain)

United States/Mexico/Canada 2026

Group stage

By match

World CupRoundOpponentScoreResultIran scorer(s)
1978 Group 4 Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 0–3L
Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 1–1D Danaeifard Soccerball shade.svg60'
Flag of Peru (state).svg  Peru 1–4L Rowshan Soccerball shade.svg41'
1998 Group F Flag of Serbia and Montenegro (1992-2006).svg  FR Yugoslavia 0–1L
Flag of the United States (Web Colors).svg  United States 2–1W Estili Soccerball shade.svg40', Mahdavikia Soccerball shade.svg84'
Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 0–2L
2006 Group D Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 1–3L Golmohammadi Soccerball shade.svg36'
Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal 0–2L
Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 1–1D Bakhtiarizadeh Soccerball shade.svg75'
2014 Group F Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 0–0 D
Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 0–1 L
Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 1–3 L Ghoochannejhad Soccerball shade.svg82'
2018 Group B Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 1–0 W Bouhaddouz Soccerball shade.svg90+5' (o.g.)
Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 0–1 L
Flag of Portugal (official).svg  Portugal 1–1 D Ansarifard Soccerball shade.svg90+3' (pen.)
2022 Group B Flag of England.svg  England 2–6 L Taremi Soccerball shade.svg65', 90+13' (pen.)
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 2–0 W Cheshmi Soccerball shade.svg90+8', Rezaeian Soccerball shade.svg90+11'
Flag of the United States.svg  United States 0–1 L

Records

Most appearances

RankPlayerMatchesWorld Cups
1 Ehsan Hajsafi 92014 and 2018 and 2022
2 Alireza Jahanbakhsh 82014 and 2018 and 2022
3 Karim Ansarifard 62014 and 2018 and 2022
Mehdi Taremi 62018 and 2022
Sardar Azmoun 62018 and 2022
Morteza Pouraliganji 62018 and 2022
Majid Hosseini 62018 and 2022
Mehdi Mahdavikia 61998 and 2006
Andranik Teymourian 62006 and 2014
10 Ali Daei 51998 and 2006
Javad Nekounam 52006 and 2014
Masoud Shojaei 52006 and 2014 and 2018

Most goals

RankPlayerGoalsWorld Cups
1 Mehdi Taremi 22022
2 Iraj Danaeifard 11978
Hassan Rowshan 11978
Hamid Estili 11998
Mehdi Mahdavikia 11998
Yahya Golmohammadi 12006
Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh 12006
Reza Ghoochannejhad 12014
Flag of Morocco.svg Aziz Bouhaddouz (Own goals)12018
Karim Ansarifard 12018
Rouzbeh Cheshmi 12022
Ramin Rezaeian 12022

See also

References

  1. O'Callaghan, Eoin (20 June 2018). "Great Satan 1-2 Iran: the most politically charged match in World Cup history". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  2. "تاریخچه حضور ایران در جام جهانی" [History of Iran at the FIFA World Cup] (in Persian). 11 October 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Iran players decline to sing national anthem". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2022-11-22.