Iran–Iraq football rivalry
The Iran and Iraq national football teams are sporting rivals[1][2][3] who have played each other since 1962.
 | |
| Other names | Iran vs Iraq |
|---|---|
| Locale | Asia |
| Teams |  Iran Iraq |
| First meeting | 1 June 1962 (59 years ago) |
| Latest meeting | Iraq 2–1 Iran 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification (14 November 2019) |
| Next meeting | TBD |
| Statistics | |
| Meetings total | 28 |
| Most wins | Iran (15) |
| Top scorer | Ali Daei (4) |
| Largest victory | Iran 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
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1994 FIFA World Cup qualification
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2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
| Iran | 3–3 (a.e.t.) | Iraq |
|---|---|---|
Azmoun  24'Pouraliganji 103'Ghoochannejhad 119' |
Report | Yasin 56' Mahmoud 93'Ismail 116' (pen.) |
| Penalties | ||
Hajsafi  Pouraliganji  Nekounam Hosseini Ghafouri Jahanbakhsh Teymourian Amiri |
6–7 | Abdul-Amir Salem Ismail Adnan Mahmoud Kasim Hussein Shaker |
2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
| Iraq | 2–1 | Iran |
|---|---|---|
| Report (FIFA) Report (AFC) |
|
Matches
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- Not a full FIFA international
- Iraq won on penalties.
- Iran competed in the tournament with its B team squad.
- Played behind closed-doors.
Statistics
Overall
| Iran | 15 wins |
| Iraq | 6 wins |
Top scorers
| Rank | Player | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ali Daei | 4 |
| 2 | Hamid Shirzadegan | 3 |
.svg.png.webp){kind=small} Hossein Kalani | 3 | |
| 3 | Various players | 2 |
References
- Duerden, John. "Asia awaits neighbourly rivalry". ESPN. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
- Montague, James (January 13, 2011). "Pitch Warfare: Iran face Iraq in soccer grudge match". CNN. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
- "Iran-Iraq classic rivalry". Iran Daily (4924). November 5, 2014. p. 11.
- Montague, James (January 22, 2015). "Iran vs Iraq: Quarter-final clash reignites decades-old rivalry". The Malay Mail. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
- Panahi, Majeed (7 August 2014). "Iran – International Matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved November 21, 2014.
- Courtney, Barrie (21 January 2011). "Iraq – List of International Matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved November 21, 2014.