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Iran–Iraq football rivalry

{{short description|Football rivalry between Iran and Iraq}}

{{Infobox sports rivalry

| name = Iran–Iraq rivalry

| other names = Iran vs Iraq

| image = File:IRN-IRQ 20190116 Asian Cup 22.jpg

| caption =

| city or region = Asia (AFC)

| first contested = 1 June 1962
({{Time ago|1962|06|1}})

| teams involved = {{fb|Iran}}
{{fb|Iraq}}

| most wins = Iran (18)

| most player appearances =

| mostrecent = Iran 1–0 Iraq
{{small|2022 FIFA World Cup qualification}}
{{small|(27 January 2022)}}

| top scorer = {{flagicon|Iran}} Ali Daei (4)

| nextmeeting =

| total = 31

| largestvictory = Iran 4–0 Iraq
{{small|1964 Olympic qualification}}
{{small|(22 March 1964)}}

}}

The Iran and Iraq national football teams are sporting rivals since 1962.{{Cite web |date=2015-01-22 |title=Iran and Iraq set for QF showdown |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37411958/iran-iraq-set-high-profile-asian-cup-quarterfinal-showdown |access-date=2024-04-20 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{cite web|first= James |last=Montague|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SPORT/01/11/football.asian.iraq.iran/|title=Pitch Warfare: Iran face Iraq in soccer grudge match|work=CNN| date = January 13, 2011 | access-date = November 21, 2014}}{{cite news |date=November 5, 2014|title=Iran-Iraq classic rivalry|url=http://newspaper.iran-daily.com/newspaper/page/4924/11/21845/0 |newspaper=Iran Daily|page=11|number=4924}}

According to The Malay Mail, "Emotions are always high when Iran and Iraq meet on the football pitch".{{cite web |last=Montague |first=James |date=January 22, 2015 |title=Iran vs Iraq: Quarter-final clash reignites decades-old rivalry |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/sports/2015/01/22/iran-vs-iraq-quarter-final-clash-reignites-decades-old-rivalry/825191 |access-date=January 22, 2015 |work=The Malay Mail}}

The most recent match between the two teams was in World Cup qualifier on 27 January 2022 hosted in Iran, where Iran won the game by 1–0.

Origins

The rivalry is not such a football-inspired ill-feeling between the two, but more of geography and history.{{cite web |last=Duerden |first=John |title=Asia awaits neighbourly rivalry |url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/863589 |access-date=November 22, 2014 |work=ESPN}}

Iran and Iraq are neighboring countries, that share a long history. In the contemporary era, especially during the reign of Saddam Hussein, the two countries had bad relations.

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

Major tournament matches

1972 AFC Asian Cup

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|1972|05|09|df=y}}

|time =

|round = Group stage

|team1 = {{fb-rt|Iran|1964}}

|score = 3–0

|report =

|team2 = {{fb|Iraq|1963}}

|goals1 = Kalani {{goal|34||70||78}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = National Stadium, Bangkok

|attendance = 5,000

|referee = Sivapalan Kathiravale (Malaysia)

}}

----

1976 AFC Asian Cup

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|1976|06|04|df=y}}

|time =

|round = Group stage

|team1 = {{fb-rt|Iran|1964}}

|score = 2–0

|report =

|team2 = {{fb|Iraq|1963}}

|goals1 = Nouraei {{goal|45}}
Roshan {{goal|58}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Azadi Stadium, Tehran

|attendance = 50,000

|referee = Marijan Raus (Yugoslavia)

}}

----

1994 FIFA World Cup qualification

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|1993|10|22|df=y}}

|time =

|round = Final round

|team1 = {{fb-rt|IRQ|1991}}

|score = 2–1

|report =

|team2 = {{fb|IRN}}

|goals1 = Radhi {{goal|20}}
Kadhim {{goal|38}}

|goals2 = Daei {{goal|21}}

|stadium = Khalifa International Stadium, Doha

|attendance = 30,000

|referee = Crăciunescu (Romania)

}}

----

1996 AFC Asian Cup

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|1996|12|05|df=y}}

|time = 19:00

|round = Group stage

|team1 = {{fb-rt|IRN}}

|score = 1–2

|report=[http://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-1996-in-den-va-emiraten-gruppe-b-iran-irak/ Report]

|team2 = {{fb|IRQ|1991}}

|goals1 = Daei {{goal|90|pen.}}

|goals2 = Fawzi {{goal|37}}
Sabbar {{goal|69}}

|stadium = Al-Maktoum Stadium, Dubai

|attendance = 15,000

|referee= Masayoshi Okada (Japan)

}}

----

2000 AFC Asian Cup

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2000|10|18|df=y}}

|time = 19:30

|round = Group stage

|team1 = {{fb-rt|Iran}}

|score = 1–0

|report=[http://www.weltfussball.de/spielbericht/asian-cup-2000-im-libanon-gruppe-a-iran-irak/ Report]

|team2 = {{fb|Iraq|1991}}

|goals1 = Daei {{goal|77}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Saida Municipal Stadium, Sidon

|attendance= 8,582

|referee=Omer Al-Mehannah (Saudi Arabia)

}}

----

2002 FIFA World Cup qualification

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2001|09|7|df=y}}

|time = 20:00 UTC+04

|round = Final round

|team1 = {{fb-rt|IRQ|1991}}

|score = 1–2

|report = [https://web.archive.org/web/20071116184942/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=4395/preliminaries/preliminary=3847/matches/match=23143/report.html Report]

|team2 = {{fb|IRN}}

|goals1 = Mohammed {{goal|20}}

|goals2 = Karimi {{goal|30}}
Daei {{goal|84}}

|stadium = Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad

|attendance = 40,000

|referee = Felipe Ramos Rizo (MEX)

}}

----

2002 FIFA World Cup qualification

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2001|10|12|df=y}}

|time = 16:00 UTC+04:30

|round = Final round

|team1 = {{fb-rt|IRN}}

|score = 2–1

|report = [https://web.archive.org/web/20071116183132/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/edition=4395/preliminaries/preliminary=3847/matches/match=23133/report.html Report]

|team2 = {{fb|IRQ|1991}}

|goals1 = Mahdavikia {{goal|27}}
Karimi {{goal|71}}

|goals2 = Chathir {{goal|52}}

|stadium = Azadi Stadium, Tehran

|attendance = 100,000

|referee = Kim Young-Joo (South Korea)

}}

----

2011 AFC Asian Cup

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2011|01|11|df=y}}

|time = 19:15

|round = Group stage

|team1 = {{fb-rt|IRQ}}

|score = 1–2

|report=

|team2 = {{fb|IRN}}

|goals1 = Mahmoud {{goal|13}}

|goals2 = Rezaei {{goal|42}}
Mobali {{goal|84}}

|stadium = Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan

|attendance = 10,478

|referee = Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)

}}

----

2015 AFC Asian Cup

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2015|01|23|df=y}}

|time=17:30 AEDT (UTC+11)

|round = Quarterfinals

|aet=yes

|team1 = {{fb-rt|IRN}}

|score = 3–3

|report=[http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8265&stageid=327&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary Report]

|team2 = {{fb|IRQ}}

|goals1 = Azmoun {{goal|24}}
Pouraliganji {{goal|103}}
Ghoochannejhad {{goal|119}}

|goals2 = Yasin {{goal|56}}
Mahmoud {{goal|93}}
Ismail {{goal|116|pen.}}

|stadium = Canberra Stadium, Canberra

|attendance = 18,921

|referee = Ben Williams (Australia)

|penalties1=Hajsafi {{penmiss}}
Pouraliganji {{pengoal}}
Nekounam {{pengoal}}
Hosseini {{pengoal}}
Ghafouri {{pengoal}}
Jahanbakhsh {{pengoal}}
Teymourian {{pengoal}}
Amiri {{penmiss}}

|penaltyscore=6–7

|penalties2={{penmiss}} Abdul-Amir
{{pengoal}} Salem
{{pengoal}} Ismail
{{pengoal}} Adnan
{{pengoal}} Mahmoud
{{pengoal}} Kasim
{{pengoal}} Hussein
{{pengoal}} Shaker

}}

----

2019 AFC Asian Cup

{{#lst:2019 AFC Asian Cup Group D|d6}}

----

2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

{{Football box

|id = IRQ v IRN

|date = {{Start date|2019|11|14|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|16:00|2}}

|round = Second Round

|team1 = {{fb-rt|IRQ}}

|score = 2–1

|team2 = {{fb|IRN}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = Amman International Stadium, Amman (Jordan)

|attendance = 13,752

|referee = Hettikamkanamge Perera (Sri Lanka)

|report = [https://web.archive.org/web/20190901181814/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/qatar2022/preliminaries/asia/matches/match/400080735/ Report (FIFA)]
[http://stats.the-afc.com/match_report/16194 Report (AFC)]

}}

----

2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

{{Football box

|date = {{Start date|2021|06|15|df=y}}

|time = 19:30 UTC+3

|round = Second Round

|team1 = {{fb-rt|IRN|}}

|score = 1–0

|report =

|team2 = {{fb|IRQ}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 =

|stadium = Al Muharraq Stadium, Arad

|attendance = 0

|referee = Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)

}}

----

2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

{{Football box

|id = IRQ v IRN

|date = {{Start date|2021|09|07|df=y}}

|time = {{UTZ|21:00|3}}

|round = Third Round

|team1 = {{fb-rt|IRQ}}

|score = 0–3

|team2 = {{fb|IRN}}

|goals1 =

|goals2 = *A. Jahanbakhsh {{goal|3}}

|stadium = Khalifa International Stadium, Doha

|attendance = 0

|referee = Ma Ning (China PR)

|report =

}}

----

2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

{{Football box

|id = IRN v IRQ

|date = {{Start date|2022|01|27|df=y}}

|time = 18:00 UTC+03:30

|round = Third Round

|team1 = {{fb-rt|IRN}}

|score = 1–0

|team2 = {{fb|IRQ}}

|goals1 = *Taremi {{goal|48}}

|goals2 =

|stadium = Azadi Stadium, Tehran

|attendance =

|referee = Chris Beath (Australia)

|report =

}}

Matches

:Source:{{cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iran-intres.html| title = Iran – International Matches| publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation | date = 7 August 2014| access-date = November 21, 2014| first = Majeed | last = Panahi }}{{cite web | url = https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iraq-intres.html| title = Iraq – List of International Matches| publisher = Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation | date = 21 January 2011| access-date = November 21, 2014| first = Barrie | last = Courtney }}

class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:0 left; font-size:85%"
style="width:1%;"|#

! style="width:4%;"|Date

! style="width:10%;"|Competition

! style="width:2%;"|Home team

! style="width:1%;"|Score

! style="width:2%;"|Away team

! style="width:9%;"|Goals (home)

! style="width:9%;"|Goals (away)

! style="width:10%;"|Venue

style="text-align:center;"

|1

|1 June 1962

|Friendly

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iran|1925}}

|bgcolor=grey align=center|1–1

|align=left|{{fb|Iraq|1959}}

Kouzehkanani {{goal|90}}Abbas {{goal|47|pen}}

|align=left|{{flagicon|Iran|1925}} Amjadieh Stadium, Tehran

style="text-align:center;"

|2

|3 June 1962

|Friendly

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iran|1925}}

|bgcolor=#008000 align=center|1–2

|align=left|{{fb|Iraq|1959}}

Kouzehkanani {{goal}}Ismail {{goal|47}}; Hameed {{goal|60}}

|align=left|{{flagicon|Iran|1925}} Amjadieh Stadium, Tehran

style="text-align:center;"

|3

|2 January 1964

| rowspan="2" |1964 Olympic qualificationNot a full FIFA international

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iran|1925}}

|bgcolor=white align=center|4–0

|align=left|{{fb|Iraq|1963}}

Shirzadegan {{goal}}{{goal}}{{goal}}; Arab {{goal}};|align=left|{{flagicon|Iran|1925}} Amjadieh Stadium, Tehran
style="text-align:center;"

|4

|22 March 1964

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iraq|1963}}

|bgcolor=#808080 align=center|0–0

|align=left|{{fb|Iran|1964}}

|align=left|{{flagicon|Iraq|1963}} Al-Kashafa Stadium, Baghdad
style="text-align:center;"

|5

|7 March 1969

|1969 Friendship Cup

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iran|1964}}

|bgcolor=white align=center|2–1

|align=left|{{fb|Iraq|1963}}

Ghelichkhani {{goal}}; Eftekhari {{goal}}Dhiab {{goal|16}}

|align=left|{{flagicon|Iran|1964}} Amjadieh Stadium, Tehran

style="text-align:center;"

|6

|9 May 1972

|1972 Asian Cup

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iran|1964}}

|bgcolor=white align=center|3–0

|align=left|{{fb|Iraq|1963}}

Kalani {{goal|347078}}|align=left|{{flagicon|Thailand}} National Stadium, Bangkok
style="text-align:center;"

|7

|13 September 1974

|1974 Asian Games

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iran|1964}}

|bgcolor=white align=center|1–0

|align=left|{{fb|Iraq|1963}}

Roshan {{goal|76}}|align=left|{{flagicon|Iran|1964}} Aryamehr Stadium, Tehran
style="text-align:center;"

|8

|24 August 1975

|1976 Olympic qualificationNot a full FIFA international

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iran|1964}}

|bgcolor=white align=center|1–0

|align=left|{{fb|Iraq|1963}}

Khorshidi {{goal|66}}|align=left|{{flagicon|Iran|1964}} Aryamehr Stadium, Tehran
style="text-align:center;"

|9

|4 June 1976

|1976 Asian Cup

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iran|1964}}

|bgcolor=white align=center|2–0

|align=left|{{fb|Iraq|1963}}

Nouraei {{goal|45}}; Roshan {{goal|58}}|align=left|{{flagicon|Iran|1964}} Aryamehr Stadium, Tehran
style="text-align:center;"

|10

|5 November 1989

|1989 Peace and Friendship Cup

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iran}}

|bgcolor=grey align=center|0–0

|align=left|{{fb|Iraq|1963}}

|align=left|{{flagicon|Kuwait}} Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City
style="text-align:center;"

|11

|22 October 1993

|1994 World Cup qualification

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iran}}

|bgcolor=#008000 align=center|1–2

|align=left|{{fb|Iraq|1991}}

Daei {{goal|21}}Radhi {{goal|20}}; Kadhim {{goal|37}}

|align=left|{{flagicon|Qatar}} Khalifa Stadium, Doha

style="text-align:center;"

|12

|5 December 1996

|1996 Asian Cup

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iran}}

|bgcolor=#008000 align=center|1–2

|align=left|{{fb|Iraq|1991}}

Daei {{goal|90|pen}}Fawzi {{goal|37}}; Sabbar {{goal|67}}

|align=left|{{flagicon|UAE}} Al-Maktoum Stadium, Dubai

style="text-align:center;"

|13

|18 October 2000

|2000 Asian Cup

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iran}}

|bgcolor=white align=center|1–0

|align=left|{{fb|Iraq|1991}}

Daei {{goal|77}}|align=left|{{flagicon|Lebanon}} Saida Stadium, Sidon
style="text-align:center;"

|14

|7 September 2001

| rowspan="2" |2002 World Cup qualification

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iraq|1991}}

|bgcolor=white align=center|1–2

|align=left|{{fb|Iran}}

Emad Reza {{goal|20}}Karimi {{goal|29}}; Daei {{goal|83}}

|align=left|{{flagicon|Iraq|1991}} Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad

style="text-align:center;"

|15

|12 October 2001

| align="right" |{{fb-rt|Iran}}

| bgcolor="white" align="center" |2–1

| align="left" |{{fb|Iraq|1991}}

Mahdavikia {{goal|27}}; Karimi {{goal|70}}Chathir {{goal|51}}

| align="left" |{{flagicon|Iran}} Azadi Stadium, Tehran

style="text-align:center;"

|16

|5 September 2002

|2002 WAFF Championship

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iraq|1991}}

|bgcolor=grey align=center|0–0 (Overtime (sports)#Association football)Iraq won on penalties.

|align=left|{{fb|Iran}}

|align=left|{{flagicon|Syria}} Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus
style="text-align:center;"

|17

|13 August 2003

|2003 LG Cup

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iran}}

|bgcolor=#008000 align=center|0–1

|align=left|{{fb|Iraq|1991}}

Swadi {{goal|52}}

|align=left|{{flagicon|Iran}} Azadi Stadium, Tehran

style="text-align:center;"

|18

|23 June 2004

|2004 WAFF Championship

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iran}}

|bgcolor=white align=center|2–1

|align=left|{{fb|Iraq|1991}}

Nekounam {{goal|4}}; Borhani {{goal|54}}Mnajed {{goal|30}}

|align=left|{{flagicon|Iran}} Azadi Stadium, Tehran

style="text-align:center;"

|19

|4 October 2006

|2006 LG Cup

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iran}}

|bgcolor=white align=center|2–0

|align=left|{{fb|Iraq|2004}}

Rezaei {{goal|25}}; Rajabzadeh {{goal|70}}|align=left|{{flagicon|Jordan}} International Stadium, Amman
style="text-align:center;"

|20

|16 June 2007

| rowspan="2" |2007 WAFF ChampionshipIran competed in the tournament with its B team squad.

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iran}}

|bgcolor=grey align=center|0–0

|align=left|{{fb|Iraq|2004}}

|align=left|{{flagicon|Jordan}} International Stadium, Amman
style="text-align:center;"

|21

|24 June 2007

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iran}}

|bgcolor=white align=center|2–1

|align=left|{{fb|Iraq|2004}}

Badamaki {{goal|9}}; Beikzadeh {{goal|21}}Sadir {{goal|86|pen}}

|align=left|{{flagicon|Jordan}} International Stadium, Amman

style="text-align:center;"

|22

|1 October 2010

|2010 WAFF Championship

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iran}}

|bgcolor=white align=center|2–1

|align=left|{{fb|Iraq}}

Hosseini {{goal|57}}; Gholami {{goal|82}}Karim {{goal|69}}

|align=left|{{flagicon|Jordan}} King Abdullah Stadium, Amman

style="text-align:center;"

|23

|11 January 2011

|2011 Asian Cup

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iraq}}

|bgcolor=white align=center|1–2

|align=left|{{fb|Iran}}

Mahmoud {{goal|13}}Rezaei {{goal|42}}; Mobali {{goal|84}}

|align=left|{{flagicon|Qatar}} Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Doha

style="text-align:center;"

|24

|4 January 2015

|Friendly Not a full FIFA international

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iraq}}

|bgcolor=white align=center|0–1

|align=left|{{fb|Iran}}

Azmoun {{goal|57}}

|align=left|{{flagicon|Australia}} Wollongong Showground, New South Wales

style="text-align:center;"
style="text-align:center;"

|25

|23 January 2015

|2015 Asian Cup

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iran}}

|bgcolor=grey align=center|3–3 (Overtime (sports)#Association football)Iraq won on penalties.

|align=left|{{fb|Iraq}}

Azmoun {{goal|24}}; Pouraliganji {{goal|103}}; Ghoochannejhad {{Goal|119}}Yasin {{goal|56}}; Mahmoud {{goal|93}}; Ismail {{goal|116|pen.}}

|align=left|{{flagicon|Australia}} Canberra Stadium, Canberra

style="text-align:center;"

|26

|18 March 2017

|FriendlyPlayed behind closed-doors.

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iran}}

|bgcolor=#008000 align=center|0–1

|align=left|{{fb|Iraq}}

Abdul-Amir {{goal|72|pen.}}

|align=left|{{flagicon|Iran}} Azadi Stadium, Tehran

style="text-align:center;"

|27

|16 January 2019

|2019 Asian Cup

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iran}}

|bgcolor=grey align=center|0–0

|align=left|{{fb|Iraq}}

|align=left|{{flagicon|UAE}} Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
style="text-align:center;"

|28

|14 November 2019

| rowspan="2" |2022 World Cup qualification

|align=right|{{fb-rt|Iraq}}

|bgcolor=#008000 align=center|2–1

|align=left|{{fb|Iran}}

M. Ali {{goal|11}}; Abbas {{goal|90+2}}Nourollahi {{goal|25}}

|align=left|{{flagicon|Jordan}} Amman International Stadium, Amman

style="text-align:center;"

|29

|15 June 2021

| align="right" |{{fb-rt|Iran}}

|bgcolor=white align=center|1–0

| align="left" |{{fb|Iraq}}

Azmoun {{goal|35}}| align="left" |{{flagicon|Bahrain }} Al Muharraq Stadium, Arad
style="text-align:center;"

|30

|7 September 2021

| rowspan="2" |2022 World Cup qualification

| align="right" |{{fb-rt|Iraq}}

|bgcolor=white align=center|0–3

| align="left" |{{fb|Iran}}

Jahanbakhsh {{goal|3}}; Taremi {{goal|69}}; Gholizadeh {{goal|90}}

| align="left" |{{flagicon|Qatar}} Khalifa International Stadium, Doha

style="text-align:center;"

|31

|27 January 2022

| align="right" |{{fb-rt|Iran}}

|bgcolor=white align=center|1–0

| align="left" |{{fb|Iraq}}

Taremi {{goal|48}}| align="left" |{{flagicon|Iran}} Azadi Stadium, Tehran

{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

Statistics

=Overall=

class="wikitable" style="text-align: left;"
style="background:white; text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|IRN}} Iran18 wins
style="background:#008000; text-align:left;"|{{flagicon|IRQ}} Iraq6 wins
style="text-align:left;"|Draws7 draws

Top scorers

class="wikitable" align="center"
align="center"

! Rank !! Player !! Goals

align=center|1{{flagicon|Iran}} Ali Daeialign=center|4
align=center rowspan="3"|2{{flagicon|Iran|1964}} Hamid Shirzadeganalign=center|3
{{flagicon|Iran|1964}} Hossein Kalanialign=center|3
{{flagicon|Iran|1995}} Sardar Azmounalign=center|3
align=center|3Various playersalign=center|2

See also

References

{{reflist}}

{{Iran national football team}}

{{Iraq national football team}}

{{Association football international rivalries in Asia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Iran-Iraq football rivalry}}

Category:International association football rivalries

Category:Iran national football team rivalries

Category:Iraq national football team

Category:Iran–Iraq relations

Category:1962 establishments in Asia

Category:Politics and sports