Iran under-23
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Team Melli Omid (The Hope National Team)
AssociationFFIRI
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Head coachEurico Pinhal
CaptainHossein Hosseini
Home stadiumAzadi Stadium
FIFA codeIRN
First colours
Second colours
First international
 Iran 2–1 Kuwait 
(Kuwait City, Kuwait; 3 December 1977)[1]
Biggest win
 Iran 10–0 Afghanistan 
(Busan, South Korea; 28 September 2002)
Biggest defeat
 Iran 2–6 Japan Japan
(Tehran, Iran; 9 February 2001)
AFC U-23 Championship
Appearances4 (first in 2013)
Best resultQuarter-finals: 2016
Asian Games
Appearances6 (first in 2002)
Best result Gold Medal (2002)

Iran national under-23 football team, also known as Iran U-23 or Iran Olympic Team; represents Iran in international football competitions in Olympic Games, Asian Games and AFC U-22 Asian Cup, as well as any other under-23 international football tournaments. It is controlled by the Iran Football Federation.

History

The winner of the gold medal at the 2002 Asian Games, the team was prepared to defend its championship title at the football tournament of the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar. Despite a suspension by FIFA, preventing Iran to enter any international football competition,[2] the Iran under-23 team was given special permission to participate in the Asian Games,[3] where they won the bronze medal.

Wild cards

Football at the Asian Games has required that under-23 players enter the competitions, but they have allowed three over-age players can be included in the squad. Iran used three players, known as the "Wild cards", in three versions of the games in 2002, 2006, 2010 And 2022:

Competition Wild card 1 Wild card 2 Wild card 3
2002 Asian Games Ali Daei (C) Yahya Golmohammadi Ebrahim Mirzapour (GK)
2006 Asian Games Hassan Roudbarian (C/GK) Arash Borhani Jalal Hosseini
2010 Asian Games Mehdi Rahmati (C/GK) Gholamreza Rezaei
2022 Asian Games Hossein Hosseini (C/GK) Amir Arsalan Motahari

Results and fixtures

Legend

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2021

25 October 2021 (2021-10-25) 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification Iran  4–0    Nepal Dushanbe, Tajikistan
16:00 UTC+5
Report Stadium: Pamir Stadium
Attendance: 250
Referee: Suhaizi Shukri
28 October 2021 (2021-10-28) 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification Lebanon  0–2  Iran Dushanbe, Tajikistan
16:00 UTC+5
  • Limouchi 5'
  • Kor 90+4'
Report Stadium: Pamir Stadium
Attendance: 450
Referee: Tejas Nagvenkar
31 October 2021 (2021-10-31) 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification Iran  3–2  Tajikistan Dushanbe, Tajikistan
16:00 UTC+5
Report
Stadium: Pamir Stadium
Attendance: 7,200
Referee: Kim Woo-sung

2022

1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup Iran  1–1  Qatar Tashkent, Uzbekistan
18:00 UTC+5 Report Stadium: Pakhtakor Stadium
Referee: Yusuke Araki (Japan)
4 June 2022 (2022-06-04) 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup Turkmenistan  2–1  Iran Tashkent, Uzbekistan
18:00 UTC+5
  • Sapargulýyew 28' (pen.)
  • Çaryýew 80'
Report
Stadium: Milliy Stadium
Attendance: 539
Referee: Alex King (Australia)
7 June 2022 (2022-06-07) 2022 AFC U-23 Asian Cup Uzbekistan  1–1  Iran Qarshi, Uzbekistan
22:00 UTC+5
  • Jurakuziyev 22'
Report
  • Yousefi 62'
Stadium: Markaziy Stadium
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)

2023

14 June 2023 (2023-06-14) 2023 WAFF U-23 Championship Iran  3–1  Syria Karbala, Iraq
19:45 UTC+3
  • Al-Aswad 15'
Stadium: Karbala Stadium
16 June 2023 (2023-06-16) 2023 WAFF U-23 Championship Palestine  1–1  Iran Karbala, Iraq
19:45 UTC+3
  • Qunbor 62'
Stadium: Karbala Stadium
18 June 2023 (2023-06-18) 2023 WAFF U-23 Championship Semi-finals Iran  0–0 (4–3 pen.)  Jordan Baghdad, Iraq
18:00 UTC+3 Stadium: Al-Madina Stadium
Penalties
Y. Salmani soccer ball with check mark
Hazbavi soccer ball with red X
A. Bavieh soccer ball with check mark
M. Ghorbani soccer ball with check mark
Hashemnejad soccer ball with check mark
soccer ball with check mark Al-Diabat
soccer ball with red X Abualnadi
soccer ball with red X Al-Haj
soccer ball with check markAl-Shanaineh
soccer ball with check mark Abu Taha
20 June 2023 (2023-06-20) 2023 WAFF U-23 Championship Finals Iran  1–1 (4–5 pen.)  Iraq Baghdad, Iraq
20:00 UTC+3 Goudarzi 31' Abdullah 45+3' Stadium: Al-Madina Stadium
Penalties
Y. Salmani soccer ball with check mark
Fallah soccer ball with red X
Irankhah soccer ball with check mark
M. Ghorbani soccer ball with check mark
Hashemnejad soccer ball with check mark
soccer ball with check mark K. Mohammed
soccer ball with check mark Tahseen
soccer ball with check mark Abdullah
soccer ball with check mark M. Mohammed
soccer ball with check mark Maknzi
9 September 2023 (2023-09-09) 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification Afghanistan  0–4  Iran Tashkent, Uzbekistan
17:00 UTC+5
Stadium: Lokomotiv Stadium (Tashkent)
12 September 2023 (2023-09-12) 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification Uzbekistan  1–0  Iran Tashkent, Uzbekistan
19:00 UTC+5 Stadium: JAR Stadium (Tashkent)
19 September 2023 (2023-09-19) 2022 Asian Games Iran  0–0  Saudi Arabia Hangzhou, China
19:30 UTC+8 Stadium: Linping Sports Centre Stadium(Hangzhou)
21 September 2023 (2023-09-21) 2022 Asian Games Vietnam  0–4  Iran Hangzhou, China
19:30 UTC+8
Stadium: Linping Sports Centre Stadium(Hangzhou)
Referee: Mohammed Ahmed Al-Shammari (Qatar)
24 September 2023 (2023-09-24) 2022 Asian Games Mongolia  0–3  Iran Hangzhou, China
19:30 UTC+8
Stadium: Linping Sports Centre Stadium(Hangzhou)
Attendance: 8,692
Referee: Thoriq Alkatiri (Indonesia)
27 September 2023 (2023-09-27) 2022 Asian Games Thailand  0–2  Iran Hangzhou, China
19:30 UTC+8
Stadium: Shencheng
Attendance: 9,410
Referee: Nazmi Nasaruddin (Malaysia)
1 October 2023 (2023-10-01) 2022 Asian Games Iran  0–1  Hong Kong Hangzhou, China
19:30 UTC+8 Stadium: Shencheng
Attendance: 10,198
Referee: Kim Hee-gon (South Korea)

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

As of 05 September 2023
PositionName
Head coachPortugal Eurico Pinhal
Assistant coachesIran Javad Manafi
Iran Mohammad Hassan Rajabzadeh
Iran Meisam Rezapour
Brazil Milton Mendes
Goalkeeping coachIran Mohammad Amin Sanayaei
Fitness coachIran Salar Amini
analyzerIran Majid Karimi
Team SupervisorIran Mehran Farghani
Physiotherapist
Team doctor
Team managerIran Habib Kashani

Manager history

Players

Current squad

2022 Asian Games squad

The following 22 players were called up for the 2022 Asian Games.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Club
1 1GK Hossein Hosseini* (1992-06-30) 30 June 1992 Iran Esteghlal
1GK Alireza Rezaei (1999-12-11) 11 December 1999 Iran Esteghlal
1GK Sina Saeidifar (2001-04-12) 12 April 2001 Iran Esteghlal

2 2DF Saman Touranian (2001-12-12) 12 December 2001 Iran Esteghlal
3 2DF Hossein Goudarzi (2001-05-04) 4 May 2001 Iran Shams Azar
4 2DF Saman Fallah (2001-05-12) 12 May 2001 Iran Gol Gohar
14 2DF Amir Jafari (2002-01-18) 18 January 2002 Iran Gol Gohar
2DF Sina Shahabbasi (2001-04-14) 14 April 2001 Iran Foolad
2DF Majid Nasiri (2000-05-14) 14 May 2000 Iran Mes
2DF Mohammad Reza Bordbar (2004-08-26) 26 August 2004 Iran Malavan

3MF Mohammad Hossein Eslami (2001-04-13) 13 April 2001 Iran Zob Ahan
3MF Omid Hamedifar (2000-08-19) 19 August 2000 Iran Esteghlal
3MF Mohammad Khodabandelou (1999-09-07) 7 September 1999 Iran Gol Gohar
3MF Mohammad Omri (2000-03-11) 11 March 2000 Iran Persepolis
3MF Yasin Salmani (2002-02-27) 27 February 2002 Iran Persepolis
3MF Gholamreza Sabet Imani (2000-04-06) 6 April 2000 Iran Paykan
3MF Fardin Yousefi (2000-10-13) 13 October 2000 Iran Zob Ahan
3MF Mehdi Mamizadeh (2000-04-15) 15 April 2000 Iran Gol Gohar
3MF Mohammad Reza Ghobeishavi (2000-01-24) 24 January 2000 Iran Foolad

4FW Amir Arsalan Motahari* (1993-03-10) 10 March 1993 Iran Esteghlal
11 4FW Aria Barzegar (2002-10-10) 10 October 2002 Iran Nassaji

* Over-aged player

2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification squad

The following 24 players were called up for the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualification.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Club
1 1GK Mohammad Reza Khaledabadi (2001-04-30)30 April 2001 (aged 22) Iran Esteghlal
12 1GK Sina Saeidifar (2001-04-12)12 April 2001 (aged 22) Iran Shams Azar
22 1GK Payam Parsa (2002-07-22)22 July 2002 (aged 20) Iran Sanat Naft

2 2DF Saman Touranian (2001-12-12)12 December 2001 (aged 21) Iran Esteghlal
3 2DF Hossein Goudarzi (2001-05-04)4 May 2001 (aged 22) Iran Shams Azar
4 2DF Daniel Airy (2003-10-26)26 October 2003 (aged 19) Iran Zob Ahan
5 2DF Amin Hazbavi (2003-05-06)6 May 2003 (aged 20) Qatar Al Sadd
13 2DF Aria Yousefi (2002-04-22)22 April 2002 (aged 21) Iran Sepahan
14 2DF Amir Jafari (2002-01-18)18 January 2002 (aged 21) Iran Gol Gohar
17 2DF Mohammad Mehdi Ahmadi (2001-01-10)10 January 2001 (aged 22) Iran Persepolis
21 2DF Sina Ghasemi (2004-03-17)17 March 2004 (aged 19) Iran KIA
23 2DF Mohammadreza Bordbar (2004-08-26)26 August 2004 (aged 18) Iran Malavan
2DF Saman Fallah (2001-05-12)12 May 2001 (aged 22) Iran Gol Gohar

6 3MF Alireza Bavieh (2002-08-21)21 August 2002 (aged 20) Iran Foolad
8 3MF Mohammad Javad Hosseinnejad (2003-10-26)26 October 2003 (aged 19) Iran Sepahan
10 3MF Yasin Salmani (captain) (2001-12-20)20 December 2001 (aged 21) Iran Persepolis
11 3MF Aria Barzegar (2002-11-10)10 November 2002 (aged 20) Iran Nassaji
16 3MF Mohammad Ghorbani (2001-05-21)21 May 2001 (aged 22) Iran Sepahan
18 3MF Ali Asghar Sadeghi (2001-02-01)1 February 2001 (aged 22) Iran Mes Rafsanjan
19 3MF Ali Pourdara (2001-11-21)21 November 2001 (aged 21) Kuwait Kuwait

7 4FW Mohammadhossein Eslami (2001-04-13)13 April 2001 (aged 22) Iran Zob Ahan
9 4FW Allahyar Sayyadmanesh (2001-06-20)20 June 2001 (aged 21) England Hull City
15 4FW Mohammad Taha Tabatabaei (2002-05-02)2 May 2002 (aged 21) Iran Saipa
20 4FW Mehdi Hashemnejad (2001-10-27)27 October 2001 (aged 21) Iran Tractor

Previous squads

AFC U-23 Asian Cup
Asian Games

Honours

Continental

1st place, gold medalist(s) Gold Medal (1): 2002
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) Bronze Medal (1): 2006
4th place (1): 2010

U-23 teams were favoured by AFC and the IOC since 2002 Asian Games.The Senior team competed in the games before 2002.

Regional

1st place, gold medalist(s) Winners (1): 2015
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runners-up (1): 2023
1st place, gold medalist(s) Champions (1): 1997.
2nd place, silver medalist(s) Runners-up (1): 2002.
3rd place, bronze medalist(s) 3rd place (1): 2005.

Other

Competitive record

Olympic Games

Summer Olympic Games Record Qualification record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
19081988 See Iran national team See Iran national team
Spain 1992Did not qualify 8521196
United States 1996 421194
Australia 2000 411236
Greece 2004 6303229
China 2008 612367
United Kingdom 2012 411215
Brazil 2016 8503219
Japan 2020 632194
France 2024 3 2 0 1 7 1
United States 2028 To be determined To be determined
Australia 2032
Total0/7 46219169050

AFC U-23 Asian Cup

AFC U-23 Asian Cup record Qualification record
Year Result GP W D* L GS GA Squad GP W D L GS GA
Oman 2014Group Stage311165Squad5410132
Qatar 2016Quarter-finals420267Squad4301152
China 2018Did not qualify210123
Thailand 2020Group stage311133Squad321061
Uzbekistan 2022302134Squad330092
Qatar 2024Did not qualify320171
Saudi Arabia 2026To be determined
Total4/51344518192015235211
*Denotes draws which include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Asian Games

Asian Games record
Year Round PLD W D L GS GA Squad
1951 to 1998 See Iran national team
South Korea 2002Champions6420162Squad
Qatar 2006Third Place6411106Squad
China 2010Fourth Place7502148Squad
South Korea 2014Group Stage201125Squad
Indonesia 2018Round of 16411234Squad
China 2022Quarter-finals531191Squad
Japan 2026To be determined
Qatar 2030
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total5/53017675426

WAFF U-23 Championship

WAFF U-23 Championship record
Year Result GP W D L GS GA
Qatar 2015Champions431083
Saudi Arabia 2021Not a WAFF member
Saudi Arabia 2022
Iraq 2023Runners-up[lower-alpha 1]413053
Total2/48440136
  1. Not a WAFF member, participated as invitee.

West Asian Games

West Asian Games record
Year Round PLD W D L GS GA
Iran 1997 Champions 4 3 1 0 8 4
Kuwait 2002 Runners-up 4 1 3 0 5 4
Qatar 2005 Third place 4 3 1 0 10 2
Total3/3127502310

Islamic Solidarity Games

Islamic Solidarity Games record
Year Round PLD W D L GS GA
Saudi Arabia 2005See Iran B national team
Iran 2010Cancelled
Indonesia 2013Did not enter
Azerbaijan 2017
Turkey 2021Group Stage[lower-alpha 1]300309
Cameroon 2025To be determined
Total1/4300309
  1. Iran withdrew before the start of the tournament. However, all results were announced as 3–0 in favor of Iran's opponents.

See also

References

  1. "اولین تیم امید تاریخ (عکس) :: ورزش سه" (in Persian). Varzesh3. Retrieved 13 August 2018.
  2. "FIFA suspends Iran Football Federation". FIFA. Archived from the original on 2 January 2007. Retrieved 27 November 2006.
  3. "FIFA President announces temporary lifting of Iran ban". the-AFC.com. Archived from the original on 23 June 2007. Retrieved 27 November 2006.
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