Iran at the AFC Asian Cup

The Iran men's national football team has participated in 14 editions of the AFC Asian Cup, first appearing in the 1968 Asian Cup after automatically qualifying as hosts. Overall, Iran is one of the most successful teams in Asia, having won three titles from 1968 to 1976. However, after the 1976 Asian Cup, Iran's best performance is just third place.

Overall results

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AFC Asian Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
  1956 Withdrew Withdrew
  1960 Did not qualify 6 3 1 2 12 10
  1964 Withdrew Withdrew
  1968 Champions 1st 4 4 0 0 11 2 Squad Qualified as host
  1972 Champions 1st 5 5 0 0 12 4 Squad Qualified as champion
  1976 Champions 1st 4 4 0 0 13 0 Squad Qualified as host
  1980 Third place 3rd 6 3 2 1 16 6 Squad Qualified as champion
  1984 Fourth place 4th 6 2 4 0 8 3 Squad 6 6 0 0 22 2
  1988 Third place 3rd 6 2 2 2 3 4 Squad 4 2 2 0 6 1
  1992 Group stage 5th 3 1 1 1 2 1 Squad 2 2 0 0 10 0
  1996 Third place 3rd 6 3 2 1 14 6 Squad 6 6 0 0 27 1
  2000 Quarter-finals 6th 4 2 1 1 7 3 Squad 6 4 1 1 16 2
  2004 Third place 3rd 6 3 3 0 14 8 Squad 6 5 0 1 16 5
        2007 Quarter-finals 6th 4 2 2 0 6 3 Squad 6 4 2 0 12 2
  2011 Quarter-finals 7th 4 3 0 1 6 2 Squad 6 4 1 1 11 2
  2015 Quarter-finals 5th 4 3 1 0 7 3 Squad 6 5 1 0 18 5
  2019 Semi-finals 3rd 6 4 1 1 12 3 Squad 8 6 2 0 26 3
  2023 Semi-finals 3rd 6 4 1 1 12 7 Squad 8 6 0 2 34 4
  2027 Qualified 6 4 2 0 16 4
Total 3 titles 16/19 74 45 20 9 143 55 76 57 12 7 226 41

Head-to-head record

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It was Iran's first ever Asian Cup debut, as they were awarded as host. Iran lifted the trophy for the first time.[1]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Iran (H) 4 4 0 0 11 2 +9 8 Champions
2   Burma 4 2 1 1 5 4 +1 5 Runners-up
3   Israel 4 2 0 2 11 5 +6 4 Third place
4   Republic of China 4 0 2 2 3 10 −7 2 Fourth place
5   Hong Kong 4 0 1 3 2 11 −9 1 Fifth place
Source: RSSSF
(H) Hosts
Iran  2–0  Hong Kong
Behzadi   70'
Jabbari   88'
Attendance: 28,000
Referee: Norman Boswell (Malaysia)

Iran  4–0  Republic of China
Behzadi   31'
Kalani   34'
Eftekhari   51'
Farzami   56'
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Alex Joseph Vaz (India)

Burma  1–3  Iran
Aung Khi   50' Kalani   2'
Eftekhari   60'
Behzadi   71'
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Natrajan (India)

Iran  2–1  Israel
Behzadi   75'
Ghelichkhani   86'
Spiegel   56'
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Alex Joseph Vaz (India)

Group allocation match

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Iran  2–0  Khmer Republic
Kalani   45'
Iranpak   51'
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Kim Jo-Wong (South Korea)

Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Iran 2 2 0 0 6 2 +4 4 Advance to Knockout stage
2   Thailand (H) 2 0 1 1 3 4 −1 1
3   Iraq 2 0 1 1 1 4 −3 1
Source: RSSSF
(H) Hosts
Iran  3–0  Iraq
Kalani   34', 70', 78'
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Sivapalan Kathiravale (Malaysia)

Thailand  2–3  Iran
Tantariyanond   69', 70' Jabbari   80', 86', 88'
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Matolzi (Malaysia)

Semi-finals

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Iran  2–1  Khmer Republic
Iranpak   13'
Ghelichkhani   47'
Doeur Sokhom   18'
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Matolozi (Malaysia)

Final

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Iran  2–1 (a.e.t.)  South Korea
Jabbari   48'
Kalani   108'
Park Lee-Chun   65'
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Sivapalan Kathiravale (Malaysia)

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Iran (H) 2 2 0 0 10 0 +10 4 Advance to knockout stage
2   Iraq 2 1 0 1 1 2 −1 2
3   South Yemen 2 0 0 2 0 9 −9 0
Source: RSSSF
(H) Hosts
Iran  2–0  Iraq
Nouraei   45'
Roshan   58'
Attendance: 50,000

Iran  8–0  South Yemen
Azizi   17', 73'
Nouraei   40', 42'
Khorshidi   45'
Mazloumi   63', 74', 80'
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Akram Ul Haq (India)

Semi-finals

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Iran  2–0 (a.e.t.)  China
Khorshidi   100'
Roshan   119'
Attendance: 60,000
Referee: Asami (Japan)

Final

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Iran  1–0  Kuwait
Parvin   71'

It would have been the last time Iran has ever won the title, as for 2019. However, Iran holds record as the most consecutive champion, having won three strait titles comparing to Japan, Saudi Arabia and South Korea, bot have two strait titles.

Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Iran 4 2 2 0 12 4 +8 6 Advance to knockout stage
2   North Korea 4 3 0 1 9 7 +2 6
3   Syria 4 2 1 1 3 2 +1 5
4   China 4 1 1 2 9 5 +4 3
5   Bangladesh 4 0 0 4 2 17 −15 0
Source: RSSSF


Iran  0–0  Syria

China  2–2  Iran
Chen Jingang   74'
Xu Yonglai   89'
Alidousti   35'
Fariba   70'

Bangladesh  0–7  Iran
Fariba   11', 34', 80', 82'
Roshan   21'
Barzegari   27', 87'

Iran  3–2  North Korea
Alidousti   27'
Danaeifard   57'
Fariba   60'
Hwang Sang-hoi   68'
Pak Jong-hun   90'

Semi-finals

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Iran  1–2  Kuwait
Faraki   90' Yaqoub   63'
Al-Dakhil   85'

Third place match

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Iran  3–0  North Korea
Fariba   49'
Faraki   66', 76'

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   China 4 3 0 1 10 2 +8 6 Advance to knockout stage
2   Iran 4 2 2 0 6 1 +5 6
3   United Arab Emirates 4 2 0 2 3 8 −5 4
4   Singapore (H) 4 1 1 2 3 4 −1 3
5   India 4 0 1 3 0 7 −7 1
Source: RSSSF
(H) Hosts
Iran  3–0  United Arab Emirates
Alidousti   27'
Shahrokh Bayani   85' (pen.)
Mohammadkhani   87'
Attendance: 8,000

Iran  2–0  China
Mohammadkhani   57'
Arabshahi   69'
Attendance: 19,000

Iran  0–0  India
Attendance: 10,000

Singapore  1–1  Iran
Saad   61' Shahrokh Bayani   55' (pen.)
Attendance: 2,000

Semi-finals

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Third place match

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Iran  1 – 1  Kuwait
Mohammadkhani   80' Al-Haddad   26'
Penalties
Hajiloo  
Derakhshan  
Ahadi  
Mokhtarifar  
3 – 5   Al-Dakhil
  Al-Suwayed
  Juma'a
  Al-Jasem
  Al-Qabendi
Attendance: 26,000

Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   South Korea 4 4 0 0 9 2 +7 8 Advance to knockout stage
2   Iran 4 2 1 1 3 3 0 5
3   Qatar (H) 4 2 0 2 7 6 +1 4
4   United Arab Emirates 4 1 0 3 2 4 −2 2
5   Japan 4 0 1 3 0 6 −6 1
Source: RSSSF
(H) Hosts
Iran  2–0  Qatar
Bavi   6'
Pious   89'
Report
Attendance: 20,000

Japan  0–0  Iran
Report
Attendance: 4,000

Iran  1–0  United Arab Emirates
Pious   27' Report
Attendance: 4,000

South Korea  3–0  Iran
Byun Byung-Joo   26', 57'
Hwang Sun-Hong   42'
Report
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Neji Jouini (Tunisia)

Semi-finals

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Saudi Arabia  1–0  Iran
Abdullah   16' Report
Attendance: 17,000

Third place match

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China  0–0  Iran
Report
Penalties
Duan Ju  
Wang Baoshan  
Wu Wenbing  
0–3   Moharrami
  Ansarifard
  Ghayeghran
Attendance: 2,000
Referee: Ahmad Bash (Jordan)

The 1992 tournament was considered as the most disappointing tournament for Iran, after ended up in group stage and got eliminated for the first time in the history. It remains as the only time Iran failed to qualify from the group stage.

The last match between Japan and Iran has been a significant subject on the criticism. Iran came to the match with four points, an advantage comparing to its Japanese rival which was forced to gain a win after two draws. However, the match was marred with three red cards for the Iranian team, the first red card in early second half for Jamshid Shahmohammadi in 54' caused drain for the Iranian side when they played only with ten men. In 86', Kazuyoshi Miura scored the decisive goal for Japan that Iranian side had protested to be offside, but instead Nader Mohammadkhani and Farshad Pious were issued red card as well, thus Iran had to play entire of the last minutes with eight players, and eventually, lost 0–1 and eliminated from the competition; Japan went on to win its first Asian title, and marked the rise of Japan as an Asian football power.[2] Many Iranian supporters have continued to hold the match as the biggest robbery in their football history.[3]

Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Japan (H) 3 1 2 0 2 1 +1 4 Advance to knockout stage
2   United Arab Emirates 3 1 2 0 2 1 +1 4
3   Iran 3 1 1 1 2 1 +1 3
4   North Korea 3 0 1 2 2 5 −3 1
Source: WorldFootball.net
(H) Hosts
North Korea  0–2  Iran
Report Pious   30'
Ghayeghran   80'

Iran  0–0  United Arab Emirates
Report
Attendance: 25,000

Japan  1–0  Iran
Miura   87' Report

Group B

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Iran 3 2 0 1 7 3 +4 6 Advance to knockout stage
2   Saudi Arabia 3 2 0 1 7 3 +4 6
3   Iraq 3 2 0 1 6 3 +3 6
4   Thailand 3 0 0 3 2 13 −11 0
Source: RSSSF


Iran  1–2  Iraq
Daei   90' (pen.) Report Fawzi   37'
Sabbar   69'
Attendance: 15,000

Thailand  1–3  Iran
Senamuang   80' Report Saadavi   38'
Minavand   54'
Daei   70'
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Lu Jun (China)

Saudi Arabia  0–3  Iran
Report Daei   12'
Bagheri   37'
Azizi   47'
Attendance: 12,000

Quarter-finals

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South Korea  2–6  Iran
Kim Do-Hoon   11'
Shin Tae-Yong   35'
Report Bagheri   31'
Azizi   52'
Daei   66', 76', 83', 89' (pen.)
Attendance: 19,000

Semi-finals

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Third place match

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Iran  1–1  Kuwait
Daei   40' Report Al-Huwaidi   15'
Penalties
Moharrami  
Estili  
Peyrovani  
Bagheri  
3–2   Badr Haji
  Bashar Abdullah
  Al-Lenqawi
  Abdulrahman
  Al-Huwaidi

Group A

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Iran 3 2 1 0 6 1 +5 7 Advance to knockout stage
2   Iraq 3 1 1 1 4 3 +1 4
3   Thailand 3 0 2 1 2 4 −2 2
4   Lebanon (H) 3 0 2 1 3 7 −4 2
Source: RSSSF
(H) Hosts
Lebanon  0–4  Iran
Report Bagheri   19'
Estili   75', 87'
Daei   90+1'
Attendance: 52,418
Referee: Lu Jun (China)

Iran  1–1  Thailand
Daei   73' Report Pituratana   12'

Iran  1–0  Iraq
Daei   77' Report

Quarter-finals

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Iran  1–2 (a.e.t.)  South Korea
Bagheri   71' Report Kim Sang-Sik   90'
Lee Dong-Gook   99'

Group D

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Japan 3 2 1 0 5 1 +4 7 Advance to knockout stage
2   Iran 3 1 2 0 5 2 +3 5
3   Oman 3 1 1 1 4 3 +1 4
4   Thailand 3 0 0 3 1 9 −8 0
Source: RSSSF
Iran  3–0  Thailand
Enayati   71'
Nekounam   80'
Daei   86' (pen.)
Report

Oman  2–2  Iran
Al-Hosni   31', 40' Report Karimi   61'
Nosrati   90+4'

Japan  0–0  Iran
Report

Quarter-finals

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South Korea  3–4  Iran
Seol Ki-Hyeon   16'
Lee Dong-Gook   25'
Kim Nam-Il   68'
Report Karimi   10', 20', 77'
Park Jin-Seop   51' (o.g.)

Semi-finals

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China  1–1 (a.e.t.)  Iran
Shao Jiayi   18' Report Alavi   38'
Penalties
Zheng Zhi  
Zhao Junzhe  
Li Xiaopeng  
Sun Xiang  
Shao Jiayi  
4–3   Daei
  Mahdavikia
  Nekounam
  Mobali
  Golmohammadi
Attendance: 55,000
Referee: Talaat Najm (Lebanon)

Third place match

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Iran  4–2  Bahrain
Nekounam   9'
Karimi   52'
Daei   80' (pen.), 90'
Report Yousef   48'
Farhan   57'
Attendance: 10,000

Group C

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Iran 3 2 1 0 6 3 +3 7 Advance to knockout stage
2   Uzbekistan 3 2 0 1 9 2 +7 6
3   China 3 1 1 1 7 6 +1 4
4   Malaysia (H) 3 0 0 3 1 12 −11 0
Source: Asian Cup 2007
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Iran  2–1  Uzbekistan
Hosseini   55'
Kazemian   78'
Report Rezaei   16' (o.g.)

China  2–2  Iran
Shao Jiayi   7'
Mao Jianqing   33'
Report Zandi   45+1'
Nekounam   74'

Malaysia  0–2  Iran
Report Nekounam   29' (pen.)
Teymourian   77'

Quarter-finals

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Group D

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Iran 3 3 0 0 6 1 +5 9 Advance to knockout stage
2   Iraq 3 2 0 1 3 2 +1 6
3   North Korea 3 0 1 2 0 2 −2 1
4   United Arab Emirates 3 0 1 2 0 4 −4 1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
11 January 2011
Iraq   1–2   Iran
15 January 2011
Iran   1–0   North Korea
19 January 2011
United Arab Emirates   0–3   Iran

Quarter-finals

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Iran  0–1 (a.e.t.)  South Korea
Report Yoon Bit-Garam   105'
Attendance: 7,111

Group C

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Iran 3 3 0 0 4 0 +4 9 Advance to knockout stage
2   United Arab Emirates 3 2 0 1 6 3 +3 6
3   Bahrain 3 1 0 2 3 5 −2 3
4   Qatar 3 0 0 3 2 7 −5 0
Source: Asian Cup Australia 2015
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
11 January 2015
Iran   2–0   Bahrain AAMI Park, Melbourne
15 January 2015
Qatar   0–1   Iran Stadium Australia, Sydney
19 January 2015
Iran   1–0   United Arab Emirates Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane

Quarter-finals

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Iran  3–3 (a.e.t.)  Iraq
Azmoun   24'
Pouraliganji   103'
Ghoochannejhad   119'
Report Yasin   56'
Mahmoud   93'
Ismail   116' (pen.)
Penalties
Hajsafi  
Pouraliganji  
Nekounam  
Hosseini  
Ghafouri  
Jahanbakhsh  
Teymourian  
Amiri  
6–7   Abdul-Amir
  Salem
  Ismail
  Adnan
  Mahmoud
  Kasim
  Hussein
  Shaker
Attendance: 18,921[5]

With a third straight defeat in the quarter-finals, Iran had failed to pass through the quarter-finals for three consecutive Asian Cup. Adding with the last time Iran crowned as champion in 1976, Iran had not won the Asian Cup for 43 years.

Ali Daei, former Iran's international, stated Iran would have to be more confident to win the Asian Cup and ended their 47 years in drought of the title, citing their 2018 World Cup participation as useful to help Iran.[6]

Group D

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Iran 3 2 1 0 7 0 +7 7 Advance to knockout stage
2   Iraq 3 2 1 0 6 2 +4 7
3   Vietnam 3 1 0 2 4 5 −1 3
4   Yemen 3 0 0 3 0 10 −10 0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Iran  5–0  Yemen
Report

Vietnam  0–2  Iran
Report
Attendance: 10,841

Iran  0–0  Iraq
Report
Attendance: 15,038

Round of 16

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Iran  2–0  Oman
Report

Quarter-finals

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China  0–3  Iran
Report

Semi-finals

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Iran  0–3  Japan
Report

Group C

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Iran 3 3 0 0 7 2 +5 9 Advance to knockout stage
2   United Arab Emirates 3 1 1 1 5 4 +1 4
3   Palestine 3 1 1 1 5 5 0 4
4   Hong Kong 3 0 0 3 1 7 −6 0
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
Iran  4–1  Palestine
Report

Hong Kong  0–1  Iran
Report

Iran  2–1  United Arab Emirates
Report

Knockout stage

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Round of 16

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Iran  1–1 (a.e.t.)  Syria
Report
Penalties
5–3

Quarter-finals

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Iran  2–1  Japan
Report
Attendance: 35,640
Referee: Ma Ning (China)

Semi-finals

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Iran  2–3  Qatar
Report
Attendance: 40,342
Referee: Ahmad Al-Ali (Kuwait)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Asian Cup 1968 Iran - Final round".
  2. ^ "How the 1992 Asian Cup awoke Japanese football, the continent's sleeping giant". 4 January 2019. Archived from the original on 4 May 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  3. ^ "1992 Asian Championship Campaign".
  4. ^ "BetExplorer soccer stats - results, tables, soccer stats & odds".
  5. ^ "Iraq beat Iran on penalties to settle classic Asian Cup encounter". TheGuardian.com. 23 January 2015.
  6. ^ "Daei Confident Iran Will Win AFC Asian Cup Title". 4 May 2018.