Historically, the Islamic Republic feared the success of Iranian soccer players at major tournaments, like the World Cup. For decades, the regime maintained ignoble feelings that Iran's success could inspire the masses to pour into the streets in civil unrest. This threatened the security of a watertight Shiite government. As a result, Team Melli never […]

Iran's national soccer team is on a course of action with positive and negative effects. Qatar 2022 marks the nation's sixth time at the World Cup. However, Iran's government is strongly linked to the affairs of its soccer federation. As a result, Team Melli's competition at the upcoming tournament against England, Wales, and the United […]

Tehran (AFP) – The Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) said on Sunday that Dragan Skocic has been reinstated as coach less than a week after sacking the Croat. On Monday, the official IRNA news agency said 53-year-old Skocic had lost his job just five months before the start of the World Cup in Qatar. According to […]

Montreal (AFP) – Canadian football authorities cancelled an upcoming friendly against Iran on Thursday following a backlash against the game led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Canada's game against fellow World Cup qualifiers Iran in Vancouver on June 5 was seen by Canadian football authorities as pivotal preparation for this year's finals in Qatar in […]

Montreal (AFP) – Canada will play host to Iran in a June 5 football friendly at Vancouver between Qatar World Cup-bound teams ahead of matches against North American rivals. Canada Soccer announced Thursday plans for three international matches, with Iran followed by CONCACAF Nations League matches against Curacao and Honduras. Iran will face the Canadians […]

Tehran (AFP) – Iran announced Wednesday that it will waive visa fees for spectators of the 2022 World Cup finals, as it hopes to attract some of the football fans flocking to nearby Qatar. "The cabinet agreed to make visas free for spectators of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar who wish to visit Iran," […]

Doha (AFP) – Having fought to win the respect of Iran's football public, Dragan Skocic now has a World Cup showdown with England and a politically charged clash with the United States to cement his international standing. England manager Gareth Southgate admitted he knew little about the Iranian team his side will face on the […]

Doha (AFP) – The United States and Iran go into the World Cup with political and football grudges that their coaches, Gregg Berhalter and Dragan Skocic, are keen to defuse before the teams meet in November. They will meet in Group B at the World Cup in Qatar, and also play England and potentially Ukraine […]

Paris (AFP) – FIFA on Friday faced calls to sanction Iran and even throw its team out of the 2022 World Cup finals over the Islamic republic's renewed failure to allow women to attend an international football match. Iranian news agencies this week confirmed that 2,000 women who had bought tickets for Tuesday's World Cup […]

Tehran (AFP) – Iran has once again denied women entry to a football stadium to watch an international match, leaving hundreds of ticketed fans locked out, Iranian media said. The World Cup qualifier against Lebanon on Tuesday night, won 2-0 by Iran, was played at the Imam Reza stadium in the northeastern city of Mashhad. […]

The clock had just ticked a second or two past 10pm, and I was on my way back from the swimming pool as I would be on most Sunday nights. In a routine move, I reached into my pocket to check my phone for any missed calls or texts. I pulled it out, and as […]

Paroi (Malaysia) (AFP) – Asian heavyweights Iran splashed to a 0-0 draw against Syria in World Cup qualifying Tuesday on a swampy Malaysian pitch that will raise questions over why the match was allowed to proceed. Neither side mounted much sustained pressure in the dreary contest as their keepers easily picked off what few serious […]

Tehran (AFP) – Iranian football fans faced a tricky balancing act Tuesday as they watched their team win against South Korea during a religious holiday in which they were banned from expressing joy. Many took part in mourning processions as they gathered at the 75,000-capacity Azadi ("freedom") stadium in Tehran to mark the eve of […]

Abu Dhabi (AFP) – Tim Cahill came off the bench to score with only his second touch as Australia edged the United Arab Emirates 1-0 in 2018 World Cup qualifying on Tuesday. The 36-year-old, who replaced Tomi Juric in the 71st minute at the Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, took only four minutes […]

Shenyang (China) (AFP) – China held heavyweights Iran to a gritty 0-0 draw to lift their hopes of reaching just their second World Cup in Asian qualifying on Tuesday. Asia's sleeping giants lacked ambition in the first half but they went for broke in the second in a performance that was good enough to earn […]