Iran–Iraq football rivalry

The Iran and Iraq national football teams are sporting rivals[1][2][3] who have played each other since 1962.

Iran–Iraq rivalry
Other namesIran vs Iraq
LocaleAsia
Teams Iran
 Iraq
First meeting1 June 1962
(59 years ago)
Latest meetingIraq 2–1 Iran
2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
(14 November 2019)
Next meetingTBD
Statistics
Meetings total28
Most winsIran (15)
Top scorer Ali Daei (4)
Largest victoryIran 4–0 Iraq
1964 Olympic qualification
(22 March 1964)

According to The Malay Mail, "Emotions are always high when Iran and Iraq meet on the football pitch".[4]

The most recent matches between the two teams were the group stage match of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup where Iraq and Iran drew 0–0 and a World Cup qualifier in November 2019 hosted in Jordan, where Iraq won the game by 2–1.

Origins

The rivalry is not such a football-inspired ill-feeling between the two, but more of geography, religion and history.[1] Iran and Iraq are neighbouring countries, sharing a long history. In contemporary era, especially during the reign of Saddam Hussein, the two countries had bad relations and fought the Iran–Iraq War for 8 years.[2][3]

In 2001, for the first time in decades, an Iran-Iraq match was not held at a neutral venue.[3]

Major tournament matches

1972 AFC Asian Cup

Iran 3–0 Iraq
Kalani  34', 70', 78'
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Sivapalan Kathiravale (Malaysia)

1976 AFC Asian Cup

Iran 2–0 Iraq
Nouraei  45'
Roshan  58'
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Marijan Raus (Yugoslavia)

1994 FIFA World Cup qualification

Final round
Iraq 2–1 Iran
Radhi  20'
Kadhim  38'
Daei  21'

1996 AFC Asian Cup

Iran 1–2 Iraq
Daei  90' (pen.) Report Fawzi  37'
Sabbar  69'
Attendance: 15,000

2000 AFC Asian Cup

Iran 1–0 Iraq
Daei  77' Report

2002 FIFA World Cup qualification

Iraq 1–2 Iran
Mohammed  20' Report Karimi  30'
Daei  84'
Attendance: 40,000

2002 FIFA World Cup qualification

Iran 2–1 Iraq
Mahdavikia  27'
Karimi  71'
Report Chathir  52'
Attendance: 100,000
Referee: Kim Young-Joo (KOR)

2011 AFC Asian Cup

Iraq 1–2 Iran
Mahmoud  13' Rezaei  42'
Mobali  84'

2015 AFC Asian Cup


2019 AFC Asian Cup

Iran 0–0 Iraq
Report
Attendance: 15,038

2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Iraq 2–1 Iran
Report (FIFA)
Report (AFC)

2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Iran v Iraq

Matches

Source:[5][6]
# Date Competition Home team Score Away team Goals (home) Goals (away) Venue
1 1 June 1962 Friendly Iran  1–1  Iraq Kouzehkanani  90' Abbas  47' (pen) Amjadieh Stadium, Tehran
2 3 June 1962 Friendly Iran  1–2  Iraq Kouzehkanani Ismail  47'; Hameed  60' Amjadieh Stadium, Tehran
3 2 January 1964 1964 Olympic qualification[lower-alpha 1] Iran  4–0  Iraq Shirzadegan ; Arab ; Amjadieh Stadium, Tehran
4 22 March 1964 1964 Olympic qualification[lower-alpha 1] Iraq  0–0  Iran Sahat Al Kashafa Stadium, Baghdad
5 7 March 1969 1969 Friendship Cup Iran  2–1  Iraq Ghelichkhani ; Eftekhari Dhiab  16' Amjadieh Stadium, Tehran
6 9 May 1972 1972 Asian Cup Iran  3–0  Iraq Kalani  34', 70', 78' National Stadium, Bangkok
7 13 September 1974 1974 Asian Games Iran  1–0  Iraq Roshan  76' Aryamehr Stadium, Tehran
8 24 August 1975 1976 Olympic qualification[lower-alpha 1] Iran  1–0  Iraq Khorshidi  66' Aryamehr Stadium, Tehran
9 4 June 1976 1976 Asian Cup Iran  2–0  Iraq Nouraei  45'; Roshan  58' Aryamehr Stadium, Tehran
10 5 November 1989 1989 Peace and Friendship Cup Iran  0–0  Iraq Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City
11 22 October 1993 1994 World Cup qualification Iran  1–2  Iraq Daei  21' Radhi  20'; Kadhim  37' Khalifa Stadium, Doha
12 5 December 1996 1996 Asian Cup Iran  1–2  Iraq Daei  90' (pen) Fawzi  37'; Sabbar  67' Al-Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
13 18 October 2000 2000 Asian Cup Iran  1–0  Iraq Daei  77' Saida Stadium, Sidon
14 7 September 2001 2002 World Cup qualification Iraq  1–2  Iran Emad Reza  20' Karimi  29'; Daei  83' Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad
15 12 October 2001 2002 World Cup qualification Iran  2–1  Iraq Mahdavikia  27'; Karimi  70' Chathir  51' Azadi Stadium, Tehran
16 5 September 2002 2002 WAFF Championship Iraq  0–0 (a.e.t.)[lower-alpha 2]  Iran Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus
17 13 August 2003 2003 LG Cup Iran  0–1  Iraq Swadi  52' Azadi Stadium, Tehran
18 23 June 2004 2004 WAFF Championship Iran  2–1  Iraq Nekounam  4'; Borhani  54' Mnajed  30' Azadi Stadium, Tehran
19 4 October 2006 2006 LG Cup Iran  2–0  Iraq Rezaei  25'; Rajabzadeh  70' International Stadium, Amman
20 16 June 2007 2007 WAFF Championship[lower-alpha 3] Iran  0–0  Iraq International Stadium, Amman
21 24 June 2007 2007 WAFF Championship[lower-alpha 3] Iran  2–1  Iraq Badamaki  9'; Beikzadeh  21' Sadir  86' (pen) International Stadium, Amman
22 1 October 2010 2010 WAFF Championship Iran  2–1  Iraq Hosseini  57'; Gholami  82' Karim  69' King Abdullah Stadium, Amman
23 11 January 2011 2011 Asian Cup Iraq  1–2  Iran Mahmoud  13' Rezaei  42'; Mobali  84' Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Doha
24 4 January 2015 Friendly Iraq  0–1  Iran Azmoun  57' Wollongong Showground, New South Wales
25 23 January 2015 2015 Asian Cup Iran  3–3 (a.e.t.)[lower-alpha 2]  Iraq Azmoun  24'; Pouraliganji  103'; Ghoochannejhad  119' Yasin  56'; Mahmoud  93'; Ismail  116' Canberra Stadium, Canberra
26 18 March 2017 Friendly[lower-alpha 4] Iran  0–1  Iraq Abdul-Amir  72' (pen.) Azadi Stadium, Tehran
27 16 January 2019 2019 Asian Cup Iran  0–0  Iraq Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
28 14 November 2019 2022 World Cup qualification Iraq  2–1  Iran M. Ali  11'; Abbas  90+2' Nourollahi  25' Amman International Stadium, Amman
29 TBD 2021 2022 World Cup qualification Iran   Iraq Azadi Stadium, Tehran
  1. Not a full FIFA international
  2. Iraq won on penalties.
  3. Iran competed in the tournament with its B team squad.
  4. Played behind closed-doors.

Statistics

Overall


Iran 15 wins
Iraq 6 wins

Top scorers

RankPlayerGoals
1 Ali Daei4
2 Hamid Shirzadegan3
Hossein Kalani3
3Various players2

See also

References

  1. Duerden, John. "Asia awaits neighbourly rivalry". ESPN. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  2. Montague, James (January 13, 2011). "Pitch Warfare: Iran face Iraq in soccer grudge match". CNN. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  3. "Iran-Iraq classic rivalry". Iran Daily (4924). November 5, 2014. p. 11.
  4. Montague, James (January 22, 2015). "Iran vs Iraq: Quarter-final clash reignites decades-old rivalry". The Malay Mail. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
  5. Panahi, Majeed (7 August 2014). "Iran – International Matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
  6. Courtney, Barrie (21 January 2011). "Iraq – List of International Matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
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