World Cup Appearance
Highest Finish:
First-round (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014)
Star Players:Javad Nekonam, Ashkan Dejagah, Reza Ghoochannejhad, Mojtaba Jabari, Ali Karimi
Titles:None
FIFA Ranking Position:43
Coach:Carlos Queiroz (Por/since 2011)
Population: 78 Million
Area: 1,648,000 sq km
Capital: Tehran
Currency: Rial
Federation: Iranian Football Federation founded in 1920 and affiliated to FIFA in 1945
Registered players: 450,000
Kit colours: All white
Team nickname: Team Melli (The National Team)
World Cup record: First-round (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014)
Population: 78 Million
Area: 1,648,000 sq km
Capital: Tehran
Currency: Rial
Federation: Iranian Football Federation founded in 1920 and affiliated to FIFA in 1945
Registered players: 450,000
Kit colours: All white
Team nickname: Team Melli (The National Team)
World Cup record: First-round (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014)
Asian Cup Record: winner (1968, 1972, 1976), 3rd (1980, 1988, 1996, 2004), 4th (1984), quarter-finals final (2000, 2007, 2011), 1st round (1992)
How they qualified for FIFA World Cup 2014: Asia zone: in round 2 they beat the Maldives 4-0, 1-0; 3rd round : Won Group E with 12pts ahead of Qatar (10), Bahraïn (9) and Indonesia (0), 3 wins, 3 draws, 0 defeats, 17 goals for, 5 against; 4th round: won Group A with 16pts ahead of South Korea (14), Uzbekistan (14), Qatar (7) and Lebanon (5). 8 games played, 5 wins, 1 draw, 2 defeats, 8 goals for and 2 against.
Top clubs: Esteghlal, Pirouzi (ex Persépolis), Sepahan
How they qualified for FIFA World Cup 2014: Asia zone: in round 2 they beat the Maldives 4-0, 1-0; 3rd round : Won Group E with 12pts ahead of Qatar (10), Bahraïn (9) and Indonesia (0), 3 wins, 3 draws, 0 defeats, 17 goals for, 5 against; 4th round: won Group A with 16pts ahead of South Korea (14), Uzbekistan (14), Qatar (7) and Lebanon (5). 8 games played, 5 wins, 1 draw, 2 defeats, 8 goals for and 2 against.
Top clubs: Esteghlal, Pirouzi (ex Persépolis), Sepahan