Iran

Team Melli is Asia's historic powerhouse, backed by one of the most passionate and demanding fanbases in world football. Iran plays a physically imposing, tactically organized brand of football that has made it a fixture at recent World Cups. The program's deep continental trophy haul and consistent qualification record place it among Asia's true footballing giants.

Iran's football federation dates to 1920, and the national team enjoyed a dominant run in the 1970s, winning three straight AFC Asian Cup titles in 1968, 1972 and 1976. Iran has qualified for six World Cups, including 2022, but has never advanced past the group stage. Ali Daei, one of international football's all-time leading goalscorers, became the face of the program's modern era and remains a national icon.