Iran: Asia’s top-ranked team hoping for a good show at World Cup
Al JazeeraIran hopes to advance to the round of 16 for the first time despite some turmoil in the lead-up to the tournament. Previous World Cup appearances: 1978,1998, 2006, 2014, 2018 Titles: 0 Best finish: Group stage World Cup record: W2, D4, L9 Goals: 9 Biggest win: 2-1 vs USA Key player: Mehdi Taremi Ranking: 20 Fixtures: England, Wales, USA Iran’s World Cup hopes have been intertwined with political affairs as almost two months of protests, that began after death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in police custody have rocked the country. Iran’s national football team, Team Melli, meanwhile, faces tough matches at the World Cup. “I think Iran and Japan are most likely among Asian teams with the ability to pass the group stage of the World Cup,” Iran’s newly appointed head coach, the Portuguese Carlos Queiroz, told Iranian media in October. In that period, Iran scored 40 goals and conceded only eight, achieved their fastest-ever qualification to the World Cup, and the coach secured the longest winning streak among all head coaches in the history of Team Melli.
History of this topic
Iran World Cup showdown with U.S. overshadowed by protests against Islamic regime
LA Times
Iran’s coach angered over political pressure on World Cup squad
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FIFA World Cup: Iran focused only on playing football, not on events back home, says captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh
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Al Jazeera
Iran names World Cup 2022 squad
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The HinduWorld Cup Qualifiers Asia: Iran remains unbeaten as Skocic's side breaks Lebanese hearts
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AFC Asian Cup 2019: Iranian politician calls for national team to be punished after clashing with Japan in semi-final
FirstpostAsian Cup 2019 match report: China 0 Iran 3
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