1998 FIFA World Cup Qualification (AFC–OFC Play-off)
The 1998 FIFA World Cup AFC– OFC qualification play-off was a two-legged home-and-away tie between the winners of the Oceania qualifying tournament, Australia, and the losing team in the AFC play-off from the Asian qualifying tournament, Iran. The games were played on 22 and 29 November 1997 in Tehran and Melbourne respectively. Australia was hoping to play in the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1974 and Iran in 1978. Background Play-off match First leg Prior to arrival in Tehran, Terry Venables and others involved in the Australian national team had made negative comments about Iran, stating it as being dangerous, and going so far as to bring their own drinking water for their stay. The first leg of the play-off, on 22 November 1997, took place in Tehran, Iran, with the result a 1–1 draw. Attendance for this match was extremely high, as 128,000 fans packed Azadi Stadium, despite it only having a capacity for 100,000 fans at the time. Second leg ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Asian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is the governing body of association football, beach soccer, and futsal in most countries and territories in Asia. The AFC was formed in 1954. It has 47 members. The Asian Ladies Football Confederation (ALFC) was the section of AFC that managed women's association football in Asia. The group was independently founded in April 1968 in a meeting involving Taiwan, British Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. In 1986, ALFC merged with AFC. Executive Committee Members 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualification Playoffs In June 2025, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) confirmed that Qatar and Saudi Arabia will host the Asian qualifying playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The playoffs will feature six teams, comprising the third- and fourth-placed teams from the recent third round of Asian qualifiers. These teams will be divided into two groups of three, with the winners of each group advancing to the intercontinental playoff round. The deci ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup was the 16th FIFA World Cup, the Association football, football world championship for List of men's national association football teams, men's national teams. The finals tournament was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. The country was chosen as the FIFA World Cup hosts#1998 FIFA World Cup, host nation by FIFA for the second time in the history of the tournament (the first was in 1938 FIFA World Cup, 1938), defeating Morocco in the bidding process. It was the ninth time that it was held in Europe. Spanning 32 days, it was the longest World Cup tournament ever held. 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification, Qualification for the finals began in March 1996 and concluded in November 1997. For the first time in the competition, the group stage was expanded from 24 teams to 32, with eight groups of four. 64 matches were played in 10 stadiums in 10 host cities, with the opening match and final staged at the newly built Stade de France in the Parisian comm ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Mehdi Mahdavikia
Mehdi Mahdavikia (; born 24 July 1977) is an Iranian professional association football, football coach and former player usually played as a winger (association football), right winger or right back. He was at Hamburger SV as a youth coach, and also managed his own youth academy, KIA Football Academy, FC KIA. He is currently head coach of Al Jazeera Al Hamra F.C. in UAE League 2. Mahdavikia currently represents Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in the Football Advisory Panel of International Football Association Board (IFAB), joining the body in 2019. On 15 May 2013, Mahdavikia was appointed as AFC Grassroots Ambassador. During his playing career, Mahdavikia internationally represented Iran national football team, Iranian national team, which he captained from 2006 to 2009, and currently is the fourth most capped player of all-time. He played for Iranian clubs Bank Melli F.C., Bank Melli, Persepolis F.C., Persepolis, Steel Azin F.C., Steel Azin and Damash Gilan F.C., Damash Gi ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Captain (association Football)
The captain of a association football, football/soccer team, sometimes known as the skipper, is a team member chosen to be the on-pitch leader of the team; they are often one of the older or more experienced members of the squad, or a player that can heavily influence a game or has good leadership qualities. The team captain is usually identified by the wearing of an armband. In the 2024/25 edition of the Laws of the Game (association football), Laws of the Game, it was made mandatory for each team to have a captain and for each captain to be identified by the previously traditional but non-mandatory captain's armband. Responsibilities The only official responsibility of a captain specified by the Laws of the Game (association football), Laws of the Game is to participate in the Coin flipping, coin toss prior to Kick-off (association football), kick-off (for choice of ends or to have kick-off) and prior to a penalty shoot-out (association football), penalty shoot-out. Captain ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Ahmad Reza Abedzadeh
Ahmadreza Abedzadeh (, born 25 May 1966) is an Iranian former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He played for Esteghlal, Sepahan, Persepolis and the Iranian national team. He made 73 appearances for Iran, and played for his country at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Club career Abedzadeh had an unbeaten record in the Tehran derby with 13 matches, seven wins and six draws. While playing for Persepolis, he went 802 consecutive minutes without conceding a goal. International career Abedzadeh was called up at 18 for the Iran national under-20 team in 1984. After his good shows, he was invited to the senior team in 1987 by then-manager Parviz Dehdari. Abedzadeh debuted in the match against Kuwait on 27 February 1987, in which he conceded a goal in a 2–1 victory. He started in the 1990 Asian Games, where they won the gold medal after defeating North Korea in the final and Abedzadeh saved two penalties. At the tournament, he conceded only two goals scored from penalty kicks. Ira ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Khodadad Azizi
Khodadad Azizi (; born 22 June 1971) is an Iranian football coach and former player who played as a striker. Early life He lived in the Piranshahr neighborhood of Mashhad. As a child, he played soccer with mismatched pair of shoes and at the age of 11, he worked as a construction worker with his brother to support himself. In high school, he was expelled from Haj Taqi Agha Bozorg High School for insulting the sports teacher. Then, with the help of his brother Jahangir Zendedel (the manager of the Abu Muslim club), he enrolled in Amir Kabir High School. Club career After playing for a few clubs in Iran and following his performance in Asia, he moved to Germany in 1997 to play for 1. FC Köln. Azizi, along with his Iranian national teammates Ali Daei and Karim Bagheri, were among the first Iranians to enter the Bundesliga. Having played for three seasons in 1. FC Köln, he signed a contract with California-based club San Jose Earthquakes, became the second Iranian player to p ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Iran Standard Time
Iran Standard Time (IRST) or Iran Time (IT) is the time zone used in Iran. Iran uses a UTC offset UTC+03:30. IRST is defined by the 52.5 degrees east meridian, the same meridian which defines the Iranian calendar and is the official meridian of Iran. Between 2005 and 2008, by decree of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran did not observe daylight saving time (DST) (called ''Iran Daylight Time'' or ''IRDT''). It was reintroduced from 21 March 2008. On 21 September 2022, Iran abolished DST and now observes standard time year-round. Daylight Saving Time transitions The dates of DST transitions in Iran were based on the Solar Hijri calendar, the official calendar of Iran, which is in turn based on the March equinox ( Nowruz) as determined by astronomical calculation at the meridian for Iran Standard Time (52.5°E or GMT+3.5h). This resulted in the unique situation wherein the dates of DST transitions didn't fall on the same weekday each year as they do in most other countries. ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the northeast, Afghanistan to the east, Pakistan to the southeast, and the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf to the south. With a Ethnicities in Iran, multi-ethnic population of over 92 million in an area of , Iran ranks 17th globally in both List of countries and dependencies by area, geographic size and List of countries and dependencies by population, population. It is the List of Asian countries by area, sixth-largest country entirely in Asia and one of the world's List of mountains in Iran, most mountainous countries. Officially an Islamic republic, Iran is divided into Regions of Iran, five regions with Provinces of Iran, 31 provinces. Tehran is the nation's Capital city, capital, List of cities in Iran by province, largest city and financial ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Terry Venables
Terence Frederick Venables (6 January 1943 – 25 November 2023), often referred to as El Tel, was an English football player and manager who played for clubs including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers and won two caps for England. As a manager, Venables won the Second Division championship with Crystal Palace in 1979. He reached the 1982 FA Cup Final with Queens Park Rangers and won the Second Division in 1983. With Barcelona, he won La Liga in 1985 and reached the 1986 European Cup Final. He guided Tottenham Hotspur to victory in the 1991 FA Cup Final. He also managed Middlesbrough and Leeds United. As the England national team manager from 1994 to 1996, he reached the semi-finals of the 1996 European Championships. His tactical style was modern and innovative, which was a contrast to the rigid tactical style that dominated English football at the time. Venables also had good personal relationships with the squad. He managed Australia from 1996 to 1 ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Tan Sri Dato Hj Hassan Yunos Stadium
Tan Sri Dato' Haji Hassan Yunos Stadium, also known as Larkin Stadium, is a multi-purpose stadium in Larkin, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium holds 30,000 people and opened in 1964. It is named after former Menteri Besar of Johor, Tan Sri Hassan Yunus. The stadium is located near Larkin Sentral. History When the stadium was built in 1964, it was only a minor venue that could accommodate 15,000 spectators. In 1991, a minor revamp doubled the capacity. Athletics track, floodlight masts and media infrastructure were also added, allowing the ground to host major events. One of the major events came in 1997 when the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship The 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship, known as the 1997 FIFA/Coca-Cola World Youth Championship for sponsorship purposes, was the 11th staging of the FIFA U-20 World Cup, FIFA World Youth Championship. It was held from 16 June to 5 July 1997 i ... was played at the venue ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup was the 11th edition of the FIFA World Cup, a Anniversary#Latin-derived numerical names, quadrennial international Association football, football world championship tournament among the men's senior national teams. It was held in Argentina between 1 and 25 June. The Cup was won by the host nation, Argentina national football team, Argentina, who defeated the Netherlands national football team, Netherlands 3–1 in the final, after extra time. The final was held at Club Atlético River Plate, River Plate's home stadium, Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, Estadio Monumental, in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth team (after Uruguay national football team, Uruguay, Italy national football team, Italy, England national football team, England, and Germany national football team, West Germany) to be both hosts and world champions and the third South American team to win a W ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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1974 FIFA World Cup
The 1974 FIFA World Cup was the 10th FIFA World Cup, a quadrennial Association football, football tournament for men's senior national teams, and was played in West Germany (and West Berlin) between 13 June and 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded. The previous trophy, the Jules Rimet Trophy, had been won for the third time by Brazil national football team, Brazil in 1970 FIFA World Cup, 1970 and awarded permanently to the Brazilians. West Germany won the title, beating the Netherlands national football team, Netherlands 2–1 in the final at the Olympiastadion (Munich), Olympiastadion in Munich. This was the second victory for West Germany, who had also won in 1954 FIFA World Cup, 1954. The teams of Australia men's national soccer team, Australia, East Germany national football team, East Germany, Haiti national football team, Haiti and DR Congo national foo ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |