Iran–Iraq football rivalry

The Iran and Iraq national football teams are sporting rivals since 1962.

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

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. 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 reached the lowest of relations which led to a brutal, costly and devastating war between 1980 and 1988.

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

1976 AFC Asian Cup

1994 FIFA World Cup qualification

1996 AFC Asian Cup

2000 AFC Asian Cup

2002 FIFA World Cup qualification

2011 AFC Asian Cup

2015 AFC Asian Cup

2019 AFC Asian Cup

2022 FIFA World Cup qualification

Matches Source: # Date Competition Home team Score Away team Goals (home)Goals (away)Venue131 May 1962Friendly1–1Kouzehkanani Abbas Amjadieh Stadium, Tehran22 June 1962Friendly1–2Kouzehkanani Ismail ; Hameed Amjadieh Stadium, Tehran313 December 19631964 Olympic qualificationNot a full FIFA international4–0Shirzadegan ; Arab ; Amjadieh Stadium, Tehran42 January 19640–0 Al-Kashafa Stadium, Baghdad57 March 19691969 Friendship Cup2–1Ghelichkhani ; Eftekhari Dhiab Amjadieh Stadium, Tehran69 May 19721972 Asian Cup3–0Kalani National Stadium, Bangkok713 September 19741974 Asian Games1–0Roshan Aryamehr Stadium, Tehran829 August 19751976 Olympic qualificationNot a full FIFA international1–0Khorshidi Aryamehr Stadium, Tehran95 June 19761976 Asian Cup2–0Nouraei ; Roshan Aryamehr Stadium, Tehran105 November 19891989 Peace and Friendship Cup0–0 Al-Sadaqua Walsalam Stadium, Kuwait City1122 October 19931994 World Cup qualification1–2Daei Radhi ; Kadhim Khalifa Stadium, Doha125 December 19961996 Asian Cup1–2Daei Fawzi ; Sabbar Al-Maktoum Stadium, Dubai1318 October 20002000 Asian Cup1–0Daei Saida Stadium, Sidon147 September 20012002 World Cup qualification 1–2Emad Reza Karimi ; Daei Al-Shaab Stadium, Baghdad1512 October 20012–1Mahdavikia ; Karimi Chathir Azadi Stadium, Tehran165 September 20022002 WAFF Championship0–0 ()Iraq won on penalties. Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus1713 August 20032003 LG Cup0–1Swadi Azadi Stadium, Tehran1823 June 20042004 WAFF Championship2–1Nekounam ; Borhani Mnajed Azadi Stadium, Tehran194 October 2006Friendly2–0Rezaei ; Rajabzadeh International Stadium, Amman2016 June 20072007 WAFF ChampionshipIran competed in the tournament with its B team squad.0–0 International Stadium, Amman2124 June 20072–1Badamaki ; Beikzadeh Sadir International Stadium, Amman221 October 20102010 WAFF Championship2–1Hosseini ; Gholami Karim King Abdullah Stadium, Amman2311 January 20112011 Asian Cup1–2Mahmoud Rezaei ; Mobali Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Doha244 January 2015 FriendlyNot a full FIFA international0–1Azmoun Wollongong Showground, New South Wales2523 January 20152015 Asian Cup3–3 ()Iraq won on penalties.Azmoun ; Pouraliganji ; Ghoochannejhad Yasin ; Mahmoud ; Ismail Canberra Stadium, Canberra2618 March 2017FriendlyPlayed behind closed-doors.0–1Abdul-Amir Azadi Stadium, Tehran2716 January 20192019 Asian Cup0–0 Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai2814 November 20192022 World Cup qualification 2–1M. Ali ; Abbas Nourollahi Amman International Stadium, Amman2915 June 20211–0Azmoun Al Muharraq Stadium, Arad307 September 20212022 World Cup qualification0–3Jahanbakhsh ; Taremi ; Gholizadeh Khalifa International Stadium, Doha3127 January 20221–0Taremi Azadi Stadium, Tehran

Statistics

Overall

Iran 18 wins Iraq 6 winsDraws 7 draws

Top scorers Rank Player Goals1 Ali Daei 42 Hamid Shirzadegan 3 Hossein Kalani 3 Sardar Azmoun 33 Various players 2

See also Iran–Saudi Arabia football rivalry Iraq–Saudi Arabia football rivalry

References

Iran–Iraq football rivalry

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