Football

AFC’s decision non-sports, baseless action: FM Zarif

TEHRAN, Jan. 20 (MNA) – Referring to AFC’s initial decision to ban Iranian teams from hosting 2020 ACL in Iran, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called the decision a non-sports and groundless action.
2020-01-20 17:05
AFC caught in a political trap: MP

TEHRAN, Jan. 18 (MNA) – Referring to AFC’s letter to the Iranian Football Federation, chairman of sport faction of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Reza Tabesh said that the unilateral action of the AFC shows that it is caught in a political trap.
2020-01-18 19:40
Iranian teams will not give in to AFC’s ‘political’ decision

TEHRAN, Jan. 18 (MNA) – Four teams that represent Iran in this year’s AFC Champions League announced that they will participate in the event only if they can host their rivals in Iran.
2020-01-18 12:21
VIDEO: Liverpool win FIFA Club World Cup

TEHRAN, Dec. 22 (MNA) – European champions Liverpool have capped off a successful football year in dramatic style by lifting their first FIFA Club World Cup trophy, with a nail-biting 1-0 victory in extra time against Brazilian side Flamengo in Qatar's capital, Doha.
2019-12-22 10:12
By: Masoud Hossein

Mohammadreza Fahimi, the world’s most loyal fan

TEHRAN, Dec. 14 (MNA) – Football is much more than just a game for Mohammadreza Fahimi; a football fan who has been hospitalized for 18 years.
2019-12-14 18:09
VIDEO: Ajax and Heracles players voice protest against racist fans

TEHRAN, Nov. 25 (MNA) – Ajax and Heracles players stood still for the first minute after kick-off, as part of an anti-racism protest across the Netherlands' top two divisions.
2019-11-25 11:37
By: Reza Khosravi

A bitter shock after a sweet victory

TEHRAN, Oct. 16 (MNA) – Tuesday’s defeat of Team Melli against Bahrain warned Marc Wilmots and his men of the difficult path ahead of the team to reach its third consecutive FIFA World Cup finals.
2019-10-16 16:05
Iran too strong for Cambodia at World Cup qualifier

TEHRAN, Oct. 10 (MNA) – Iran earned an impressive 14-0 win over minnow Cambodia at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup China 2023.
2019-10-10 19:36
Faghani now full-time referee at Hyundai A-league

TEHRAN, Sep. 20 (MNA) – Football Federation Australia (FFA) today confirmed that Iranian top referee, Alireza Faghani, will become a full-time, contracted referee for the upcoming Hyundai A-League 2019/20 Season.
2019-09-20 11:11
By: Iman Hamikhah

Iran 13-0 Maldives in 2020 AFC U-16 C’ship

HAMEDAN, Sep. 19 (MNA) – Iran beat Maldives 13-0 in Group C of the 2020 AFC U-16 Championship Qualifiers at the Hajibabaei Stadium in Hamadan, Iran on Wednesday.
2019-09-19 18:38
By: Mehdi Hossein Nejadi

Playing football at border with Azerbaijan

ASTARA, Aug. 26 (MNA) – Different teams from different age categories of a rural area near Astara regularly play football in a venue just near the Iranian border with the Republic Azerbaijan.
2019-08-26 19:18
VIDEO: Iranian players lifting up CAFA U19 trophy

TEHRAN, Aug. 16 (MNA) – Collecting a total of 10 points, Iran U19 football team was crowned in the Central Asian Football Association’s (CAFA) U19 Championship on Thursday. Here is footage when the team is awarded with the trophy.
2019-08-16 15:30
Rubin Kazan forward Shekari signs for Iran's Tractor Sazi

TEHRAN, Jul. 10 (MNA) – Iranian football club has completed the signing of Rubin Kazan striker Reza Shekari.
2019-07-10 11:49
Gabriel Calderon signs as new head coach of Persepolis

TEHRAN, Jul. 01 (MNA) – Argentine coach Gabriel Calderon officially signed a one-year contract with Iran’s Persepolis on Monday to head the Tehran-based football club in the next Pro League season.
2019-07-01 17:31
Branko Ivankovic to stay in Persepolis for another season

TEHRAN, Jun. 12 (MNA) – Persepolis coach Branko Ivankovic will stay in the Tehran-based football club for another season, Persepolis General Manager Iraj Arab said.
2019-06-12 11:51
VIEDO: S. Korea scores own goal in friendly match with Iran

TEHRAN, Jun. 11 (MNA) – Iran national football team shared the spoils with South Korea in a friendly match on Tuesday, where Hwang Ui-jo was on the target for the hosts but Kim Young-gwon scored an own goal five minutes later.
2019-06-11 18:21
VIDEO: Taremi stars in Iran-Syria friendly

TEHRAN, Jun. 07 (MNA) – Iran’s national team thrashed Syria 5-0 in a friendly match at Azadi Stadium on Thursday, where the Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi scored a hat-trick.
2019-06-07 12:05
By: Mohammadreza Abbasi

Iran vs Syria friendly football match in Tehran

TEHRAN, Jun. 07 (MNA) – Iran national football team beat Syria 5-0 in a friendly match at the Azadi Stadium on Thursday. Both teams are preparing for the second round of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 Joint Qualification which kicks off in September.
2019-06-07 11:07
Iran beat Syria 5-0 in friendly football match

TEHRAN, Jun. 07 (MNA) – Iran national football team beat Syria 5-0 in a friendly match at the Azadi Stadium on Thursday night.
2019-06-07 10:21
Marc Wilmots names team for two friendly matches

TEHRAN, May 30 (MNA) – Belgian manager of Team Melli, Marc Wilmots has invited 25 players for two friendly matches against Syria and South Korea.
2019-05-30 13:42
Esteghlal confirms negotiations with Stramaccioni in Turkey

TEHRAN, May 29 (MNA) – Esteghlal managers have held a four-hour-long negotiation with the Italian coach Andrea Stramaccioni on Tuesday in Turkey.
2019-05-29 11:37
Rouzbeh Cheshmi linked with Qatar’s Al-Ahli: report

TEHRAN, May 25 (MNA) – Iranian national defender Rouzbeh Cheshmi has been reportedly linked with a move to Qatar’s Al Ahli SC.
2019-05-25 13:55
VIDEO: Persepolis, Al-Sadd ACL match highlights

TEHRAN, May 21 (MNA) – Persepolis football club of Iran beat Qatar’s Al-Sadd 2-0 in the sixth matchday of 2019 AFC Champions League Group D on Monday. However, Persepolis was already eliminated and sat at the bottom of the group with four points.
2019-05-21 11:59
Iranian reps finish 2019 ACL on high note

TEHRAN, May 21 (MNA) – Iran’s Esteghlal and Persepolis earned wins on the final matchday of the 2019 AFC Champions League while they had already lost hope to advance to the Round of 16.
2019-05-21 10:17
VIDEO: Soccer referee dies after collapsing at match in Bolivia

TEHRAN, May 20 (MNA) – A referee, Victor Hugo Hurtado, 31, died after suffering a heart attack during a Bolivian first division football match on Sunday.
2019-05-20 14:00
Esteghlal’s Khosro Heidari hangs boots at 35

TEHRAN, May 17 (MNA) – Team Melli and Esteghlal’s long-serving right-back Khosro Heidari announced his retirement on Thursday.
2019-05-17 12:40
Persepolis FC secures a hat-trick of Iran Pro League title

TEHRAN, May 17 (MNA) – Persepolis have won their third successive title in Iran’s top football league, known as the Persian Gulf Pro League, after defeating their host Pars Jonoubi Jam, 1-0, on the final day of the Season.
2019-05-17 10:06
Iran dismisses Zlatko Kranjcar as U23 football team coach

TEHRAN, May 05 (MNA) – President of the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) Mahdi Taj said that Zlatko Kranjcar will no longer coach Iranian men’s U23 football team.
2019-05-05 12:25
Japanese referee to officiate Esteghlal vs. Al Hilal in 2nd leg of AFC group stage

TEHRAN, Apr. 20 (MNA) – Japanese referee Ryuji Sato has been chosen to officiate the match between Iran’s Esteghlal and Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in the second leg of the AFC Champions League group stage, which will be held Doha on Tuesday (April 23).
2019-04-20 13:40
By: Majid Haghdoust

Iran 3-1 Turkmenistan at AFC U23 C’ship qualifiers

TEHRAN, Mar. 23 (MNA) – Iranian men’s U23 football team gained a 3-1 victory over Turkmenistan on Friday at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium. Iran, in group C, will meet Yemen on Sunday, before taking on Iraq on Tuesday. These are qualification games for 2020 AFC U-23 Championship which is going to take place in Thailand.
2019-03-23 10:23