Wikipedia

Iran women's national football team

This article is about the women's team. For the men's team, see Iran national football team.

The Iran women's national football team, nicknamed the Lionesses, represents Iran in international women's football around the world, and is controlled by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI). The Iran women's team played its first international match in September 2005 against Syria.

Iran
Nickname(s)Iranian lionesses
("Shirzanan")
Persian ladies
AssociationFootball Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI)
ConfederationAFC (Asia)
Sub-confederationCAFA (Central Asia)
Head coachMaryam Azmoon
CaptainZahra Ghanbari
Most capsSara Ghomi (34)
Top scorerZahra Ghanbari (13)[1]
Home stadiumArarat Stadium
FIFA codeIRN
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 61 Decrease 2 (15 March 2024)[2]
Highest48 (September 2008 – March 2009)
Lowest72 (June – August 2021)
First international
 Iran 5–0 Syria 
(Amman, Jordan; 23 September 2005)
Biggest win
 Iran 13–0 Syria 
(Amman, Jordan; 3 September 2007)
Biggest defeat
 Thailand 8–1 Iran 
(Bangkok, Thailand; 8 July 2009)
 China 7–0 Iran 
(Mumbai, India; 23 January 2022)
Asian Cup
Appearances1 (first in 2022)
Best resultGroup stage (2022)
CAFA Championship
Appearances2 (first in 2018)
Best resultRunners-up (2018, 2022)
Medal record
Women's football
CAFA Women's Championship
Silver medal – second place 2018 Uzbekistan Team
Silver medal – second place 2022 Tajikistan Team
WAFF Women's Championship
Silver medal – second place 2005 Jordan Team
Silver medal – second place 2007 Jordan Team
Silver medal – second place 2011 UAE Team

History edit

Early years edit

The first Iranian women's national team was established by Taj Tehran Football Club.[3][4][5] The Iranian women's national team has a long history, with a women's Perspolis FC team dating back to 1976.[6][7]

Refounded in 2005, Trying to start over edit

Refounded in 2005, the team reached second place at the 2005 West Asian Football Federation Women's Championship in Amman, Jordan held in September and October 2005.

In May 2006, the women's team hosted their first foreign visitors when a club from Berlin, Germany called BSV Al-Dersimspor played out a 2–2 draw in Ararat Stadium, Tehran.

The team won second place again at the 2007 and 2011 West Asian Football Federation Women's Championship.[8]

2010s edit

See also: Women's rights in Iran and Zahra Khajavi

Iran were briefly banned by FIFA from international competition in 2011 for wearing hijabs. This caused Iran to forfeit its bid to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics.[9][10] The ban was lifted in 2012.[11]

In 2015 there were reports that eight players on the team were males awaiting sex change operations.[12][13]

 
Zahra Khajavi, considered as an important goalkeeper in the Iranian national football team history
 
Iran vs Belarus friendly in 2019

On 27 December 2019, Zahra Khajavi broke the clean sheet record of Iranian football by not conceding any goal for 953 minutes.[14][15][16] Also, she, along with Alireza Biranvand, are known as the record holders of the longest hand throws in Iranian football.[17] As one of the best goalkeepers in the history of Iranian football, Khajavi was able to once again draw the attention of the domestic media to the Iranian women's national football team. Her achievements played a key role in the progress of the women's national football team in these years.[17]

2020s edit

In the 2020s, women's football became more popular among young Iranians, both boys and girls.[18]

Iran qualified for their first ever AFC Women's Asian Cup when they won against Jordan on penalties in the qualifiers for the 2022 edition to be hosted in India.[19] In Iran's historic debut, Iran impressed by holding India goalless, but following India's withdrawal due to COVID-19 pandemic, Iran's only point was lost, and thus Iran was left vulnerable to China and Chinese Taipei, losing 0–7 and 0–5 in process and was eliminated as the worst third-placed team.

In 2023, a report on BBC Persian reported the lack of facilities and friendly matches for the team. This report mentioned the "unwillingness" of the Iranian Football Federation to have a women's team.[20] In the 2024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Maryam Azmoun's team had one draw and two defeats (in second round of the tournament), although their slight loss against powerful Australia was predictable for the fans.[21][22][23]

Team image edit

Nicknames edit

 
Artwork referring to the team's nickname "Lionesses"

The Iran women's national football team have been known or nicknamed as the "Iranian Lionesses" (in Persian: Shirzanan).[24] The Iran women's national football team is widely nicknamed the Persian stars since 2010. "Parsi women" or Persian ladies are another nicknames of the team in Asian football.[24]

Media coverage and promotion edit

In the decades after 1979, the media coverage of women's football in Iran had problems, but the matches of the women's national team are usually followed by Iranian men and women in the national and foreign media.[18]

Persian-language documentaries and sports programs are made about the team's winning potential and history.[18]

Kits and crest edit

Kit suppliers edit

The table below shows the history of kit supplier for the Iranian national football team.

Kit supplier Period Notes
  Uhlsport 2019–2022
  Merooj 2022–present [25]

Home stadium edit

Iran plays their home matches on the Ararat Stadium.

Attendance of women in football matches edit

[relevant?]

On 9 November 2018 Fatma Samoura, Secretary General of International Federation of Football Association FIFA said she would ask Iranian government to end ban on women’s entry to sport stadiums.[26]

In September 2019 it was reported that Iranian female football star Sahar Khodayari, dubbed the "blue girl", died after self-immolating in front of a court in Tehran when she found out she could face a two year sentence for attempting to enter a football stadium to watch her team play.[27]

Results and fixtures edit

Main article: Iran women's national football team results
See also: 2024 in association football, 2024 in sports, and FIFA International Match Calendar

The following is a list of matches in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

  Win   Draw   Lose   Fixture

2022 edit

12 November Friendly Iran   1–0   Belarus Tehran, Iran
--:-- UTC+3:30 Motevalli   45' Report Stadium: Ararat Stadium
15 November Friendly Iran   1–1   Belarus Tehran, Iran
15:30 UTC+3:30 Ghanbari   45' Report Olkhovik   76' Stadium: Ararat Stadium

2023 edit

5 April 2024 AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 1 Iran   1–0   Myanmar Yangon, Myanmar
16:00 UTC+6:30
Report Stadium: Thuwunna Stadium
Attendance: 880
Referee: Yang Shu-ting (Chinese Taipei)
8 April 2024 AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 1 Myanmar   1–1   Iran Yangon, Myanmar
16:00 UTC+6:30
Report
Stadium: Thuwunna Stadium
14 July Unofficial Friendly Russia   4–0   Iran Kazan, Russia
16:30 UTC+3
Report Stadium: Central Stadium
18 July Friendly Russia   2–0   Iran Russia
Report
26 October 2024 AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 2 Australia   2–0   Iran Perth, Australia
19:00 UTC+8 Stadium: Perth Rectangular Stadium
29 October 2024 AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 2 Iran   0–0   Chinese Taipei Perth, Australia
18:10 UTC+8 Stadium: Perth Stadium
1 November 2024 AFC Olympic Qualifiers Round 2 Philippines   1–0   Iran Perth, Australia
15:50 UTC+8 Annis   19' Report Stadium: Perth Rectangular Stadium
Attendance: 3,111
Referee: Yu Hong (China)

Head-to-head record edit

As of 26 July 2023, after the match against   Russia.
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Confederation
  Australia 1 0 0 1 0 2 -2 AFC
  Bangladesh 2 2 0 0 12 0 +12 AFC
  Bahrain 2 2 0 0 9 0 +9 AFC
  Bangladesh 2 2 0 0 12 0 +12 AFC
  Belarus 5 1 1 3 3 10 −7 UEFA
  China 1 0 0 1 0 7 −7 AFC
  Chinese Taipei 4 1 0 3 4 12 −8 AFC
  Hong Kong 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 AFC
  India 3 1 0 2 5 5 0 AFC
  Jordan 10 5 2 3 16 15 +1 AFC
  Kyrgyzstan 1 1 0 0 1 0 +1 AFC
  Laos 1 1 0 0 5 1 +4 AFC
  Lebanon 3 3 0 0 19 1 +18 AFC
  Myanmar 5 1 1 3 3 7 −4 AFC
  Nepal 1 0 0 1 0 3 −3 AFC
  Palestine 3 3 0 0 20 0 +20 AFC
  Philippines 2 0 0 2 0 8 −8 AFC
  Russia 2 0 0 2 0 6 −6 UEFA
  Singapore 1 1 0 0 6 0 +6 AFC
  Syria 4 4 0 0 34 1 +33 AFC
  Thailand 3 0 0 3 2 16 −14 AFC
  Tajikistan 1 1 0 0 5 0 +5 AFC
  Turkmenistan 1 1 0 0 4 0 +4 AFC
  United Arab Emirates 2 1 1 0 6 3 +3 AFC
  Ukraine 2 0 1 1 1 2 −1 UEFA
  Uzbekistan 8 0 2 6 2 17 −15 AFC
  Vietnam 3 0 0 3 2 13 −11 AFC
Total 71 29 9 33 160 128 +32

Coaching staff edit

Current coaching staff edit

As of 14 June 2022
Position Name Ref.
Head coach   Maryam Azmoon
Assistant coach
Technical manager   Akbar Mohammadi
Supervisor   Fatemeh Alipour

Manager history edit

Players edit

Main article: List of Iran women's international footballers
See also: Category:Iran women's international footballers

Current squad edit

The following 22 players were called up for the 2024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament#Second round.[31]

Caps correct as of 12 January 2022.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Zahra Khajavi (1999-02-08) 8 February 1999 (age 25) 12 0   Bam Khatoon F.C.
1GK Mina Nafeei (1999-02-28) 28 February 1999 (age 25) ? ?   Sepahan Isfahan
1GK Raha Yazdani (1987-06-22) 22 June 1987 (age 36) 2 0   Shahrdari Sirjan
2DF Zeinab Abbaspour (2003-06-24) 24 June 2003 (age 20) 3 0   Shahrdari Sirjan
2DF Fatemeh Amineh Borazjani (1997-06-03) 3 June 1997 (age 26) 19 0   Shahrdari Sirjan
2DF Hadis Basat Shir (1997-09-13) 13 September 1997 (age 26) 6 0   Shahrdari Sirjan
2DF Fatemeh Shaban (2002-11-04) 4 November 2002 (age 21) 11 2   Zare Batri Sanandaj
2DF Behnaz Taherkhani (1995-05-22) 22 May 1995 (age 28) 20 3   Bam Khatoon F.C
2DF Sepideh Nozhati (1998-11-28) 28 November 1998 (age 25) 0 0   Malavan Anzali
19 3MF Fatemeh Adeli (1995-07-16) 16 July 1995 (age 28) 22 0   Sepahan
3MF Shabnam Behesht (1998-12-30) 30 December 1998 (age 25) 12 1   Shahrdari Sirjan
3MF Hasti Foroozandeh (1999-04-04) 4 April 1999 (age 25) ? ?   Shahrdari Sirjan
3MF Zahra Ghanbari (captain) (1992-03-04) 4 March 1992 (age 32) 21 16   Bam Khatoon F.C
3MF Mona Hamoudi (1993-11-11) 11 November 1993 (age 30) 5 2   Bam Khatoon F.C
3MF Golnoosh Khosravi (2001-05-12) 12 May 2001 (age 22) 5 1   Vachan Kurdistan
3MF Fatemeh Makhdoumi (2001-02-14) 14 February 2001 (age 23) 9 1   Shahrdari Sirjan
3MF Melika Mohammadi (2000-03-28) 28 March 2000 (age 24) 9 0   Bam Khatoon F.C
3MF Zahra Sarbali (1993-08-13) 13 August 1993 (age 30) 8 0   Bam Khatoon F.C
3MF Mohadeseh Zolfi (2005-01-16) 16 January 2005 (age 19) 5 1   Peykan Alborz
4FW Samaneh Chahkandi (1989-03-28) 28 March 1989 (age 35) 20 4   Bam Khatoon F.C
4FW Afsaneh Chatrenoor (1998-04-14) 14 April 1998 (age 26) 18 4   Shahrdari Sirjan
4FW Negin Zandi (2004-01-20) 20 January 2004 (age 20) 7 1   Bam Khatoon F.C

Recent call-ups edit

The following players have been called up to the squad in the past year.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Samira Mohammadi (1992-06-14) 14 June 1992 (age 31) 0 0   Malavan Anzali v.   Myanmar, 8 April 2023
MF Asma Nazari Pakdel (2000-10-28) 28 October 2000 (age 23) 0 0   Badrood Tehran v.   Myanmar, 8 April 2023
MF Sahar Ramezani (1993-02-24) 24 February 1993 (age 31) 0 0   Palayesh Gaz Ilam v.   Myanmar, 8 April 2023
MF Shaghayegh Rouzbahan (1994-12-06) 6 December 1994 (age 29) 11 1   Sepahan v.   Myanmar, 8 April 2023
MF Sana Sadeghi (2000-06-12) 12 June 2000 (age 23) 13 0   Sepahan v.   Myanmar, 8 April 2023
FW Hajar Dabbaghi (1999-03-22) 22 March 1999 (age 25) 20 6   Gokulam Kerala v.   Myanmar, 8 April 2023

Current foreign-based players available for selection for national team edit

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Parisa Geravandi[32] (1996-01-26) 26 January 1996 (age 28) 0 0   Ataşehir Belediyespor
1GK Maryam Yektaei[33] (1993-06-19) 19 June 1993 (age 30) 6 0   Vavacars Fatih Karagumruk
2DF Faezeh Esfahanian[34] (1998-12-18) 18 December 1998 (age 25) 0 0   Ataşehir Belediyespor
2DF Sara Valad Khani[35] (1999-08-14) 14 August 1999 (age 24) 0 0   FC Bergedorf 85
3MF Hananeh Aminghashghay[36] (2003-07-14) 14 July 2003 (age 20) 0 0   Altay
3MF Masha Mehri[37] (1986-01-01) 1 January 1986 (age 38) 0 0   Union Kleinmünchen 1c
3MF Yasaman Farmani (1995-02-12) 12 February 1995 (age 29) 6 0   Free Agent
3MF Kimya Raietparvar Taloukie[38] (1998-11-28) 28 November 1998 (age 25) 0 0   Dallas Texans
3MF Vida Raietparvar Taloukie[39] 0 0   Dallas Texans
3MF Annahita Zamanian (1998-02-19) 19 February 1998 (age 26) 0 0   Sassuolo
4FW Hajar Dabbaghi (1999-03-22) 22 March 1999 (age 25) 20 6   Gokulam Kerala
4FW Shiva Alicia Fannipour[40] (1998-10-28) 28 October 1998 (age 25) 0 0   FC Bergedorf 85
4FW Fatemeh Ghasemi[41] (2001-02-14) 14 February 2001 (age 23) 3 2   Ataşehir Belediyespor
4FW Hadis Roustareh[42] (2003-08-13) 13 August 2003 (age 20) 0 0   ?
4FW Dajan Hashemi[43] (2000-11-21) 21 November 2000 (age 23) 4 0   Brøndby IF

Players of Iranian heritage in other national teams edit

  • Unfortunately, due to strict FIFA rules, Iran women's team is unable to acquire experienced footballers who have many caps for other national teams. Two players of Iranian heritage are Sara Doorsoun who is a current player for   Germany and unfortunately ineligible for selection for Iran, and Natasha Shirazi who is a current player for   Uganda and might be able to switch nationality to Iran, be available for selection for Iran depending on the number of caps for Uganda.
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
2DF Sara Doorsoun (1991-11-17) 17 November 1991 (age 32) - -   Eintracht Frankfurt
4FW Natasha Shirazi[44] (1996-02-08) 8 February 1996 (age 28) - -   KF Tirana

Captains edit

Honours edit

Regional edit

  Runners-up: 2005, 2007, 2011
  Runners-up: 2018, 2022

Competitive record edit

FIFA Women's World Cup edit

FIFA Women's World Cup record
Year Result Position GP W D* L GF GA GD
  1991 to
  2007		 did not enter
  2011 did not qualify
  2015
  2019
   2023
2027 to be determined
Total 0/9 – – – – – – – –
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Olympic Games edit

Summer Olympics record
Year Round GP W D L GF GA GD
  1996 to   2008 did not enter
  2012 did not qualify
  2016
  2020
  2024
  2028 To be determined
  2032
Total 0/7 – – – – – – –

AFC Women's Asian Cup edit

AFC Women's Asian Cup record
Year Result GP W D* L GF GA GD
  1975 to
  2008		 did not enter
  2010 did not qualify
  2014
  2018
  2022 Group stage 2 0 0 2 0 12 −12
Total 1/19 2 0 0 2 0 12 −12
*Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

Asian Games edit

Asian Games record
Year Result GP W D* L GF GA GD
  1990 to
  2022		 did not enter
  2026 to be determined
  2030
  2034
Total 0/8 – – – – – – –

WAFF Women's Championship edit

WAFF Women's Championship record
Year Round Pld W D L GS GA
  2005 Runners-up 4 3 0 1 20 2
  2007 Runners-up 3 2 0 1 17 2
  2010 Group stage 2 0 0 2 0 5
  2011 Runners-up 5 4 1 0 21 7
  2014 did not enter
2019–onward Not WAFF member
Total 4/7 14 9 1 4 58 16

Malavan F.C. participated at the 2010.

CAFA Women's Championship edit

CAFA Women's Championship record
Year Round Pld W D L GS GA
  2018 Runners-up 4 3 0 1 16 3
  2022 Runners-up 4 3 0 1 10 1
Total 2/2 8 6 0 2 26 4

Iran U-23 team participated at the 2018.

FIFA World Ranking edit

As of 26 January 2022, after the match against   Chinese Taipei.

  Best Ranking    Best Mover    Worst Ranking    Worst Mover  

Iran's FIFA World Ranking History
Rank Year Games
Played 		Won Lost Drawn Best Worst
Rank Move Rank Move
61   2 (15 March 2024)[2] 2022 2 0 0 2 70   0 70   0
70 2021 0 0 0 0 70   0 70   0

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ @afcasiancup (26 December 2021). "1️⃣3️⃣ x ⚽️ Zahra Ghanbari is 🇮🇷 Team Melli Baanovaan's highest goal-scorer 🔥" – via Instagram.
  2. ^ a b "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  3. ^ "تاریخچه فوتبال زنان در ایران". Archived from the original on 2018-11-09. Retrieved 2016-11-05.
  4. ^ "آشنایی با تاریخچه فوتبال زنان در ایران". 12 July 2011.
  5. ^ "تاریخچه فوتبال زنان در ایران | سابقه بازی فوتبال در بین زنان".
  6. ^ "Best of IR football federation... – Page 9". October 2013.
  7. ^ تیم دخترای پرسپولیس
  8. ^ "UAE triumph in West Asian Women's Championship". 13 October 2011.
  9. ^ "Iran women's soccer team thwarted by hijab ban". CBS News. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
  10. ^ "Iran's women soccer team banned from Olympics, because of headscarves". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2012-09-19.
  11. ^ "Lifting of hijab ban in world soccer welcomed". CBC News. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  12. ^ News.com.au (2015-10-01). "Most players on Iran's women's team are men: official". New York Post. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  13. ^ "Eight of Iran women's football team are men, official claims". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2015-10-02. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  14. ^ "دروازه‌بان کردستانی رکورد کلین‌شیت فوتبال ایران را شکست / ‌زهرا خواجوی‌ 20 ساله ‌940 دقیقه گل نخورد‌- اخبار کردستان - اخبار استانها تسنیم | Tasnim". خبرگزاری تسنیم | Tasnim (in Persian). Retrieved 2023-09-19.
  15. ^ "زهرا خواجوی رکورد دار شد/ ۹۵۳ دقیقه بدون گل خورده". خبرگزاری مهر | اخبار ایران و جهان | Mehr News Agency (in Persian). 2019-12-27. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
  16. ^ "زهرا خواجوی رکورد کلین شیت فوتبال ایران را شکست". روزنامه دنیای اقتصاد (in Persian). 2023-09-19. Retrieved 2023-09-19.
  17. ^ a b تاریخ و آمار فوتبال زنان ایران - چاپ دوم (in Persian). p. 55, 56.
  18. ^ a b c فوتبال زنان در ایران - چاپ دوم (in Persian). pp. 37, 39, 45.
  19. ^ "Iran's Women's Football Team Makes History – Sports news". Tasnim News Agency. 25 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  20. ^ "فوتبال زنان ایران در انتخابی المپیک ۲۰۲۴؛ ماموریت غیرممکن با امکاناتی در حد صفر". BBC News فارسی (in Persian). 2023-10-25. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  21. ^ "فیلیپین ۱-۰ ایران؛ پایان کار تیم ملی فوتبال زنان ایران در انتخابی المپیک". ایران اینترنشنال (in Persian). 2023-11-05. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  22. ^ Lynch, Joey (2023-10-26). "Matildas 2-0 Iran: Australia secure first win of Olympic qualifying campaign – as it happened". the Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  23. ^ "Iran defeated by Philippines in Olympics qualifier". Mehr News Agency. 2023-11-01. Retrieved 2023-11-05.
  24. ^ a b Khabarvarzeshi newspaper, ۹ شهریور ۱۴۰۱, First.
  25. ^ نیوز, اخبار روز ایران و جهان | آفتاب. "مقایسه برند لباس تیم ملی با رقبا در جام جهانی". fa (in Persian). Retrieved 2023-09-19.
  26. ^ FIFA To Engage With Iran To Lift Ban On Women In Stadiums
  27. ^ "'Blue girl': Iran's football fan, denied stadium entry, dies". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  28. ^ "تاریخچه فوتبال زنان در ایران + عکس". footballdokht. 24 Mar 2020.
  29. ^ a b "Maryam Irandoost takes charge of Iran's women's football team". Tehran Times. 4 May 2021.
  30. ^ "Helena Costa has 'no fear' of coaching men's team". BBC Sport. 22 May 2014. took charge of their Iranian counterparts side in 2012. She left Iran in September last year.
  31. ^ "Iran 🇮🇷 Final squad list for the AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Group A tournament to be held ín Perth Australia". X. 20 October 2023.
  32. ^ "PARISA GERAVANDI - Player Details TFF".
  33. ^ "MARYAM YEKTAEI - Player Details TFF".
  34. ^ "FAEZEH ESFAHANIAN - Player Details TFF".
  35. ^ "Sara Valad Khani".
  36. ^ "HANANEH AMINGHASHGHAY - Player Details TFF".
  37. ^ "Masha Mehri".
  38. ^ "Kimya Raietparvar". 4 May 2019.
  39. ^ "Vida Raietparvar".
  40. ^ "Shiva Alicia Fannipour".
  41. ^ "FATEMEH GHASEMI - Player Details TFF".
  42. ^ "HADIS ROUSTAREH - Player Details TFF".
  43. ^ "Instagram".
  44. ^ "Instagram".

External links edit

 
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