The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI; , ''Fadrasion fotbal Jamehori Eslami Iran'') is the governing body for

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

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 nort ...

. It was founded in 1920. The federation has been a member of

FIFA The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (), more commonly known by its acronym FIFA ( ), is the international self-regulatory governing body of association football, beach soccer, and futsal. It was founded on 21 May 1904 to o ...

since 1948 and a member of the

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 ( ...

since 1958.

History

In 2001, Iran were founding members of the

West Asian Football Federation The West Asian Football Federation (WAFF; ) is a regional sub-confederation of association football, governed under the Asian Football Confederation. Founded in 2001, it governs football, futsal and beach football for nations in West Asia. The W ...

, along with

Iraq Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...

Jordan Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, is a country in the Southern Levant region of West Asia. Jordan is bordered by Syria to the north, Iraq to the east, Saudi Arabia to the south, and Israel and the occupied Palestinian ter ...

Lebanon Lebanon, officially the Republic of Lebanon, is a country in the Levant region of West Asia. Situated at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian Peninsula, it is bordered by Syria to the north and east, Israel to the south ...

Palestine Palestine, officially the State of Palestine, is a country in West Asia. Recognized by International recognition of Palestine, 147 of the UN's 193 member states, it encompasses the Israeli-occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and th ...

, and

Syria Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...

Controversies

On 23 November 2006, the federation was suspended by

, due to government interference in football matters. FIFA rules decree that a national football federation should remain autonomous from the national government. However, on 17 December 2006, the ban was lifted and a new Transitory Board was composed. During the

2009 Iranian election protests After incumbent president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared victory in the 2009 Iranian presidential election, protests broke out in major cities across Iran in support of opposition candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi. The protests con ...

, seven members of the

Iran national football team The Iran national football team (), recognised as IR Iran by FIFA since 2018, represents Iran in men's international senior Association football, football and is governed by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI). At the cont ...

were initially reported to have been banned for life by the federation for wearing green armbands in support of the

Iranian Green Movement The Iranian Green Movement () or Green Wave of Iran (), also referred to as the Persian Awakening or Persian Spring by the western media, refers to a political movement that arose after the 12 June, 2009 Iranian presidential election and lasted ...

Iran women's national football team The Iran women's national football team, nicknamed the Lionesses, represents Iran in international women's football (soccer), women's football around the world, and is controlled by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI). The I ...

was briefly suspended by FIFA from international competition in 2011 for being required by the federation to wear headscarves. In 2014, Iran joined the

Central Asian Football Association Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) is one of five regional bodies that govern association football in Asia. It governs association football, futsal, and beach football in Central Asia. Headquartered in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, CAFA consists ...

. In 2015, the federation banned players from the men's national team due to

conscription Conscription, also known as the draft in the United States and Israel, is the practice in which the compulsory enlistment in a national service, mainly a military service, is enforced by law. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it conti ...

problems. In August 2017, the federation banned

Masoud Shojaei Masoud Soleimani Shojaei (; born 9 June 1984) is an Iranian coach and former professional footballer. Shojaei played mainly as an attacking midfielder, he could also play as a winger or forward. After playing in his country for two clubs and ...

and Ehsan Hajsafi from the national team after they played against the Israeli club

Maccabi Tel Aviv Maccabi Tel Aviv () is one of the largest sports clubs in Israel, and a part of the Maccabi association. Many sports clubs and teams in Tel Aviv are in association with Maccabi and compete in a variety of sports, such as football, basketball, j ...

in the

UEFA Europa League The UEFA Europa League (UEL), usually known simply as the Europa League, is an annual association football, football club competition organised since 1971 by the UEFA, Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for eligible European footb ...

. On 9 November 2018

Fatma Samoura Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura (born 9 September 1962) is a Senegalese former diplomat and senior executive. She was appointed as the first female secretary general of FIFA by president Gianni Infantino and assumed her post on 20 June 2016. Previousl ...

, 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. On 7 August 2019, Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, prosecutor general of Iran, supporting the ban, said that it should not concern FIFA, if women in Iran can enter sports stadiums or not. However, after continuous pressure from FIFA,

IRNA The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA; , ''Xabargozâri-ye Jomhuri-ye Eslâmi'' or ), is the official news agency of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Founded in November 1934 as Pars News Agency during the time of Reza Shah, it is State media, g ...

deputy Sports Minister Jamshid Taghizadeh said, women would be allowed to enter

Azadi Stadium The Azadi Stadium (, ), opened as the Aryamehr Stadium (), is an all-seater football stadium in Tehran, Iran. The stadium was designed by Abdol Aziz Mirza Farman-Farmaian Architects and Associates (AFFA) with other parts of the sports comple ...

to watch the men's World Cup 2022 qualifier match between Iran and

Cambodia Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. It is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, and Vietnam to the east, and has a coastline ...

in October. However, in March 2022, Iranian women were again banned from entering the stadium for a World Cup qualifier. During the

2022 FIFA World Cup The 2022 FIFA World Cup was the 22nd FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for national football teams organized by FIFA. It took place in Qatar from 20 November to 18 December 2022, after the country was awarded the hosting ri ...

as well as the

2023 AFC Asian Cup The 2023 AFC Asian Cup was the 18th edition of the AFC Asian Cup, the quadrennial international Association football, football tournament organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). It involved 24 national teams after its expansion in 20 ...

, the Iranian government and federation reportedly sent paid members of the

Basij The Basij (, lit. ''The Mobilization'') or Sâzmân-e Basij-e Mostaz'afin (, lit. ''Organization for Mobilization of the Oppressed''), is a paramilitary volunteer militia within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and one of its five ...

and

IRGC The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also known as the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, is a multi-service primary branch of the Iranian Armed Forces. It was officially established by Ruhollah Khomeini as a military branch in May 1979 i ...

to cheer for the team in the stands and to counter protesters. In April 2024, goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini was summoned, suspended, and fined by the Iranian federation for hugging a female fan. In October 2024, Zahra Ghanbari was suspended and forced to apologize by the Iranian federation for "improper hijab" during a goal celebration at the

2024–25 AFC Women's Champions League The 2024–25 AFC Women's Champions League was the first edition of the AFC Women's Champions League, Asia's premier club women's association football, women's football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Wuhan Jiangha ...

. In December 2024, defender Ramin Rezaeian was summoned by the federation as well after hugging a female fan.https://www.iranintl.com/en/202412271105

Competitions

Men's

Persian Gulf Pro League The Persian Gulf Pro League (, ''Lig-e Bartar-e Xalij-e Fârs''), formerly known as the Iran Premier League (, ''Lig-e bartar-e Irân''), is a professional association football league in Iran and the highest level of the Iranian football league s ...

Azadegan League The Azadegan League (, ''Lig-e Âzâdegân''), also known as League 1 (, ''Lig-e Yek''), is the second highest division of professional football in Iran. It was the top-level football league in Iran from its foundation in 1991 until 2001, when t ...

League 2 (Iran) Iranian football's 2nd division () is the third-highest football (soccer), football division overall in the Iranian football league system. Before 2001, the 2nd division league was the second-highest division in the national football league system ...

League 3 (Iran) Iranian football's 3rd division () is the fourth-highest football division overall in the Iranian football league system. Before 2001, the 3rd division league was the third-highest division in Iranian football league system, however, it became ...

Hazfi Cup Hazfi Cup (, ) formerly known as Pahlavi Cup () is an Iranian knockout football competition held annually by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran. The Iranian Football League, Iranian football league was not held during the 1980s, h ...

Iranian Super Cup The Iranian Super Cup (Persian language, Persian: سوپر جام ایران, ''Super Jam-e 'Iran'') is an Iranian association football trophy awarded to the winner of a match between the Persian Gulf Pro League's season champion and the winner of ...

Women's

Kowsar Women Football League The Kowsar Women Football League (, ''Lig-e Kâuser-e Banuan-e Futbal-e Iran'') is a Women's association football, women's Association football, football league, run by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran. At the top of the Iranian ...

*Hazfi Cup (women) *Iranian Supercup (women)

Membership

Presidents

Board members

National teams

''Head coach:

Amir Ghalenoei Ardeshir "Amir" Ghalenoei (; born 22 November 1963) is an Iranian association football, football coach and former player who currently manages Iran national football team. He has been the most successful coach in the Iran Pro League and managed se ...

'' *

Iran national under-23 football team Iran national under-23 football team, also known as Iran U-23 or Iran Olympic Team; represents Iran in international football competitions in Olympic Games, Asian Games and AFC U-22 Asian Cup, as well as any other under-23 international footba ...

''Head coach: Reza Enayati'' *

Iran national under-20 football team Iran national under-20 football team (also known as Iran Under-20, Iran U-20 or Iran Youth Team) represents Iran in international Association football competitions in AFC U-20 Asian Cup and FIFA U-20 World Cup, as well as any other under-20 inte ...

''Head coach:

Samad Marfavi Abdolsamad Marfavi (; born May 18, 1964, in Khorramshahr), better known as Samad Marfavi (Persian: ), is an Iranian football coach and former player. Club career He played the majority of his playing career for IPL giants Esteghlal. Internat ...

'' *

Iran national under-17 football team The Iran national under-17 football team, more commonly known as ''Nojavanan'', is controlled by the Iran Football Federation and represents Iran in international under-17 football competitions. Tournament records FIFA U-17 World Cup AFC U-1 ...

''Head coach: Hossein Abdi'' * Iran national under-15 football team ''Head coach:

Ali Doustimehr Ali Doustimehr (, born 23 July 1965) is an Iranian football coach. He has been the head coach of Iran national under-19 football team participating in 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Nigeria and is the coach for the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship. In 201 ...

'' * Iran national futsal team ''Head coach:

Vahid Shamsaei Vahid Shamsaei (; born 21 September 1975) is an Iranian professional futsal coach and former player. He was a Pivot and he scored 392 goals in international matches. He is currently head coach of Iran national futsal team. Shamsaei has been named ...

'' * Iran national under-20 futsal team ''Head coach: Ali Sanei'' *

Iran national beach soccer team The Iran national beach soccer team () represents Iran in international beach soccer competitions and is controlled by the IFF, the governing body for football in Iran. Iran has won the AFC Beach Soccer Championship four times (2013, 2017, 2023 ...

''Head coach: Ali Naderi'' *

''Head coach: Maryam Azmoon'' * Iran women's national under-23 football team ''Head coach:

TBD TBD may refer to: Arts and media * TBD (TV network), an American broadcast television network for millennials * TBD TV (now ''WJLA 24/7 News''), a local cable news channel for Washington, D.C. * TBD Records, an American record label * TBD.com ...

'' * Iran women's national under-20 football team ''Head coach:

'' * Iran women's national under-17 football team ''Head coach: Shadi Mahini'' * Iran women's national futsal team ''Head coach:

References

External links

*
FIFA website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Football Federation Islamic Republic Of Iran Football federation

Federation A federation (also called a federal state) is an entity characterized by a political union, union of partially federated state, self-governing provinces, states, or other regions under a #Federal governments, federal government (federalism) ...

Sports organizations established in 1920 1920 establishments in Iran