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Iranian soccer federation

Iran's Alireza Jahanbakhsh passes the ball during the Asian Cup Group C soccer match between Hong Kong and Iran at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis, File)
May 9, 2026, 4:24 pm
Iran says will play in World Cup, but demands soccer officials linked to IRGC be allowed
Both US and Canada have indicated that officials linked to Guard Corps, which is a designated terror organization, will be barred
By AFP
In this photo supplied by Australia's Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke's office, the Minister Tony Burke, center, poses in an undisclosed location with five Iranian soccer players who were granted asylum in Australia on March 10, 2026. (Australia Ministry of Home Affairs via AP)
April 17, 2026, 8:23 am
‘Safe haven’: Iranian soccer players who sought asylum in Australia thank supporters
Fatemeh Pasandideh and Atefeh Ramezanisadeh, the only two members of the team who ultimately remained behind, say they hope to continue their sporting careers in new home
By Agencies
Iranian players salute during the national anthem before the AFC Women's Asian Cup Australia 2026 soccer match between Iran and Philippines in Queensland's Gold Coast, March 8, 2026. (AFP)
March 27, 2026, 6:54 am
Iran bars its sports teams from traveling to ‘hostile’ countries
Announcement cites Iranian club soccer team’s upcoming match in Saudi Arabia against an Emirati squad, also comes as Tehran seeks to move its World Cup matches from US to Mexico
By Agencies
Members of Iran's women's soccer team stand at Turkey's Igdir airport, waiting to reach Dogubeyazit, in Igdir on March 18, 2026 (Ali IHSAN OZTURK / AFP)
March 18, 2026, 8:08 pm
With two exceptions, Iran women’s soccer team returns home after players sought asylum
Athletes greeted by officials at border after silence during national anthem prompted calls for punishment by regime-linked media; 2 players stay in Australia on humanitarian visas
By AP
Iran is illuminated on the screen during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images/AFP)
March 10, 2026, 9:55 pm
Iran suggests men’s soccer team will skip World Cup after several in women’s team defect
Mehdi Taj, head of the Iranian Football Federation, claims members of women’s team in Australia were ‘taken hostage’ after they applied for asylum in Australia
By AFP
Iranian players pose for a photo ahead of a friendly soccer match between Russia and Iran at Volgograd Arena in Volgograd, Russia, October 10, 2025. (AP)
December 9, 2025, 2:12 pm
Iran objects to ‘Pride Match’ branding of World Cup soccer game against Egypt
Iranian Football Federation chief denounces as ‘irrational’ plan by host city Seattle to dedicate June 2026 match in support of the LGBTQ community; Egyptians also unhappy
By AFP
Illustrative: Drinking beer at a party (Robert Pavsic; iStock by Getty Images)
January 2, 2023, 2:54 am
Iran arrests prominent soccer players at mixed-gender party with alcohol
News agency says event was a birthday, and that most of those detained have been released
By AFP and ToI Staff
Illustrative: Iranian players, in white, during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, on March 24, 2022. (AP Photo/ Ahn Young-joon)
March 29, 2022, 11:15 pm
Iran blocks women from attending World Cup qualifier soccer game — report
Hundreds of female fans protest outside stadium in city of Mashhad; FIFA has demanded Iranian authorities allow women into the games
By AP
This file photo taken on November 28, 2013, shows former former Persepolis player Mehdi Mahdavikia (R) and former AC Milan player Gennaro Gattuso vying for the ball during an exhibition soccer match at the Azadi stadium in Tehran. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP)
December 29, 2021, 10:52 pm
Iran soccer federation defends player who wore jersey with Israeli flag
Mehdi Mahdavikia, who scored a goal during famous victory over US at 1998 World Cup, upsets ultraconservatives by wearing a kit that had flags of all FIFA members, including Israel
By AFP
Illustrative: Supporters of the Iranian national soccer team cheer during the 2018 World Cup qualifying match between Iran and Uzbekistan at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran on June 12, 2017. (AFP Photo/Atta Kenare)
January 17, 2020, 9:31 pm
Iran says it’s been banned from hosting international soccer
Iranian soccer federation doesn’t specify whether ban, handed down by Asian Football Confederation, is linked to shoot down of passenger plane
By Agencies and ToI Staff
In this photo from October 16, 2018, Iranian women cheer as they wave their country's flag after authorities in a rare move allowed a select group of women into Azadi stadium to watch a friendly soccer match between Iran and Bolivia, in Tehran, Iran. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File)
September 20, 2019, 4:33 pm
As fan kills herself over soccer ban, Iran said to tell FIFA things will change
Under pressure to let female fans attend World Cup qualifiers, Tehran reported to tell delegation from world soccer body it will allow women at national game next month
By AFP
A poster to support Iranian women is displayed in the stands during the group B match between Morocco and Iran at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the St. Petersburg Stadium in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday, June 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)
September 15, 2019, 2:24 am
Iran says soccer fan who lit herself on fire confessed to her ‘mistake’
Sahar Khodayari, now memorialized as ‘blue girl,’ died from injuries after she was detained for trying to enter stadium dressed as a man
By AFP
FIFA President Gianni Infantino after the final match between Ukraine and South Korea at the U20 soccer World Cup in Lodz, Poland, June 15, 2019. (AP/Darko Vojinovic)
June 21, 2019, 12:31 pm
FIFA president tells Iran to let women watch World Cup qualifiers
Gianni Infantino says Tehran has reneged on previous commitments to allow females into games, demands steps to ensure they are able to attend matches
By AP
Iran supporters pose for picture in a restaurant in St. Petersburg on June 14, 2018, on the eve of the Russia 2018 World Cup football match between Morocco and Iran. (AFP/Giuseppe Cacace)
June 15, 2018, 5:28 pm
Ahead of its opening game, Iran cancels public World Cup screenings
Islamic Republic is only country in world that refuses to allow fans to gather in open spaces to watch the tournament
By AFP
Iranian soccer players (white) react after a FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifying match between South Korea and Iran in Seoul on August 31, 2017. (AFP Photo/Jung Yeon-Je)
June 1, 2018, 10:22 am
Iran suspends soccer ties with Greece after friendly nixed
Match in Istanbul abruptly cancelled amid ongoing Greece-Turkey tensions
By AP
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