# Iran women's national football team

The Iran women's national football team, nicknamed the Lionesses, represents Iran in international women's football around the world, and is controlled by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI). The Iran women's team played its first international match in May 1971 against Italy and first FIFA international in September 2005 against Syria.

## History
### Early years

In 1969, a group of Iranian women attended FIFA coaching classes for women's football in South Korea, Singapore and India. During their time in those countries they also watched women's football matches. Upon their return home, Iran Football Federation after many meetings decided to kick start women's football in Iran. Soon after, clubs such as Taj, Persepolis, Deyhim, Oghab, and PAS formed women's football teams and a women's football league was established in Tehran. Persepolis women football team was coached by Alan Rogers whose assistant was Ali Parvin.
On 7 May 1971, visitors to Tehran, Italy took to the field and won against Iranian club side Taj S.C 2-0. The goals were scored by Medri and Bertolo. The Italians also missed a penalty kick by Nonni. It was the first time an Iranian women's team faced a foreign opponent. Two days later there was the second match which was between Iran women's national football team and Italy, with the Azzurre scoring five goals. Nonni, Gerwien, who scored a brace, Pesenti and Gualdi scored.
Both matches were organized by Pari Abasalti editor-in-chief of Ettelaat-e Banuvan magazine who was also the president of Iran's Damsels and Ladies Association. The venue was Amjadieh stadium in Tehran. Iran women's national team composed of players selected from Taj, Persepolis, Deyhim, Oghab and PAS. Some of the players who played were Hengameh Afshar, Goli Rahani and Effat Mohammadi. The team's head coach was Aziz Asli.
Women's football was abandoned as of Iranian Revolution in 1979.

### Refounded in 2005, Trying to start over

Refounded in 2004, the team reached second place at the 2005 West Asian Football Federation Women's Championship in Amman, Jordan held in September and October 2005.
In May 2006, the women's team hosted their first foreign visitors when a club from Berlin, Germany called BSV Al-Dersimspor played out a 2–2 draw in Ararat Stadium, Tehran.
The team won second place again at the 2007 and 2011 West Asian Football Federation Women's Championship.

### 2010s

Iran were briefly banned by FIFA from international competition in 2011 for wearing hijabs. This caused Iran to forfeit its bid to qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics. The ban was lifted in 2012.
In 2015 there were reports that eight players on the team were males awaiting sex change operations.
On 27 December 2019, Zahra Khajavi broke the clean sheet record of Iranian football by not conceding any goal for 953 minutes. Also, she, along with Alireza Biranvand, are known as the record holders of the longest hand throws in Iranian football. As one of the best goalkeepers in the history of Iranian football, Khajavi was able to once again draw the attention of the domestic media to the Iranian women's national football team. Her achievements played a key role in the progress of the women's national football team in these years.

### 2020s

In the 2020s, women's football became more popular among young Iranians, both boys and girls.
* Khajavi playing for Iran in 2022
* Iran national football team before the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup
* Iran against Australia, 2023
Iran qualified for their first ever AFC Women's Asian Cup when they won against Jordan on penalties in the qualifiers for the 2022 edition to be hosted in India. In Iran's historic debut, Iran impressed by holding India goalless, but following India's withdrawal due to COVID-19 pandemic, Iran's only point was lost, and thus Iran was left vulnerable to China and Chinese Taipei, losing 0–7 and 0–5 in process and was eliminated as the worst third-placed team.
In 2023, a report on BBC Persian reported the lack of facilities and friendly matches for the team. This report mentioned the "unwillingness" of the Iranian Football Federation to have a women's team. In the 2024 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, Maryam Azmoun's team had one draw and two defeats (in second round of the tournament), although their slight loss against powerful Australia was predictable for the fans.

## Team image
### Nicknames

The Iran women's national football team have been known or nicknamed as the "Iranian Lionesses" (in Persian: Shirzanan). The Iran women's national football team is widely nicknamed the Persian stars since 2010. "Parsi women" or Persian ladies are another nicknames of the team in Asian football.

### Media coverage and promotion

In the decades after 1979, the media coverage of women's football in Iran had problems, but the matches of the women's national team are usually followed by Iranian men and women in the national and foreign media.
Persian-language documentaries and sports programs are made about the team's winning potential and history.

### Kits and crest
#### Kit suppliers

The table below shows the history of kit supplier for the Iranian national football team.
| Kit supplier | Period | Notes |
| Uhlsport | 2019–2022 | |
| Merooj | 2022–present | |

### Home stadium

Iran plays their home matches on the Ararat Stadium.

### Attendance of women in football matches

On 9 November 2018 Fatma Samoura, 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.
In September 2019 it was reported that Iranian female football star Sahar Khodayari, dubbed the "blue girl", died after self-immolating in front of a court in Tehran when she found out she could face a two year sentence for attempting to enter a football stadium to watch her team play.

## Results and fixtures

The following is a list of matches in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

### Legend

Win  Draw  Lose  Fixture

### 2025

* Fixtures and Results (Iran)– Soccerway.com

## Head-to-head record

    As of 27 February 2025, after the match against Puerto Rico.
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Confederation |
| Afghanistan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | AFC |
| Australia | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -2 | AFC |
| Bangladesh | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | +12 | AFC |
| Bahrain | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 1 | +8 | AFC |
| Belarus | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 14 | −11 | UEFA |
| China | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | −7 | AFC |
| Chinese Taipei | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 12 | −8 | AFC |
| Hong Kong | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | AFC |
| India | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | AFC |
| Italy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | −5 | UEFA |
| Jordan | 13 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 17 | 21 | -4 | AFC |
| Kyrgyzstan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | AFC |
| Laos | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | AFC |
| Lebanon | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 | +18 | AFC |
| Myanmar | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | −4 | AFC |
| Nepal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | −3 | AFC |
| Palestine | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | +20 | AFC |
| Philippines | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | −9 | AFC |
| Puerto Rico | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −2 | CONCACAF |
| Russia | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | −6 | UEFA |
| Singapore | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | +6 | AFC |
| Sweden | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | −7 | UEFA |
| Syria | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 1 | +33 | AFC |
| Thailand | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 16 | −14 | AFC |
| Tajikistan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | +8 | AFC |
| Turkmenistan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | +4 | AFC |
| United Arab Emirates | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 3 | +3 | AFC |
| Ukraine | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | −1 | UEFA |
| Uzbekistan | 9 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 19 | −16 | AFC |
| Vietnam | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 13 | −11 | AFC |
| Total | 89 | 32 | 13 | 44 | 178 | 160 | +18 |

## Coaching staff
### Current coaching staff

    As of 28 February 2025
| Position | Name |
| Head coach | Maryam Azmoon |
| Assistant coach | |
| Physical trainer | Somayyeh Rouhi |
| Physiothrapist | Maryam Maanavi |
| Technical manager | Akbar Mohammadi |
| Supervisor | Azam Gholami |

### Manager history

* Aziz Asli (1971)
* Shahrzad Mozafar (2005)
* Zhu Fang Shin (2008)
* Maryam Irandoost (2010–2012)
* Helena Costa (2012–2014)
* Mahnaz Amirshaghaghi (2014–2016)
* Maryam Azmoon (2016–2020)
* Maryam Irandoost (2021–2022)
* Maryam Azmoon (2022–)

## Players
### Current squad

* The following players were called up for the friendly matches against Puerto Rico on 23 February and 26 February 2025.
| No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Club |
| 1 | 1GK | Zahra Khajavi | (1999-02-08) 8 February 1999 (age 26) | Bam Khatoon |
| 13 | 1GK | Mina Nafeei | (1999-02-25) 25 February 1999 (age 26) | Malavan |
| 22 | 1GK | Raha Yazdani | (1987-07-01) 1 July 1987 (age 37) | Sepahan |
| 4 | 2DF | Melika Motevalli | (1998-05-06) 6 May 1998 (age 26) | Sepahan |
| 5 | 2DF | Zeinab Abbaspour | (2003-01-24) 24 January 2003 (age 22) | Gol Gohar Sirjan |
| 14 | 2DF | Hasti Foroozandeh | (2004-03-06) 6 March 2004 (age 21) | Gol Gohar Sirjan |
| 19 | 2DF | Fatemeh Adeli | (1995-07-16) 16 July 1995 (age 29) | Sepahan |
| 3 | 3MF | Tania Jahanshahi | (2007-12-30) 30 December 2007 (age 17) | Malavan |
| 6 | 3MF | Zahra Sarbali | (1993-08-13) 13 August 1993 (age 31) | Bam Khatoon |
| 9 | 3MF | Zahra Ghanbari (captain) | (1992-03-04) 4 March 1992 (age 33) | Bam Khatoon |
| 10 | 3MF | Fatemeh Makhdoumi | (2001-02-14) 14 February 2001 (age 24) | Ista Kordestan |
| 17 | 3MF | Fatemeh Shaban | (2002-11-04) 4 November 2002 (age 22) | Ista Kordestan |
| 21 | 3MF | Maryam Dini | (2007-03-12) 12 March 2007 (age 18) | Gol Gohar Sirjan |
| 16 | 3MF | Mohaddeseh Zolfi | (2005-01-16) 16 January 2005 (age 20) | Ista Kordestan |
| 7 | 4FW | Afsaneh Chatrenoor | (1998-04-14) 14 April 1998 (age 26) | Bam Khatoon |
| 8 | 4FW | Shabnam Behesht | (1998-11-30) 30 November 1998 (age 26) | Gol Gohar Sirjan |
| 11 | 4FW | Negin Zandi | (2004-01-20) 20 January 2004 (age 21) | Bam Khatoon |
| 24 | 4FW | Zahra Alizadeh | (2000-12-07) 7 December 2000 (age 24) | Sepahan |
| 23 | 4FW | Sara Didar | (2004-11-27) 27 November 2004 (age 20) | Bam Khatoon |
| 20 | 4FW | Hajar Dabbaghi | (1999-03-22) 22 March 1999 (age 25) | Sepahan |

### Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up to the squad in the past year.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
| GK | Samira Mohammadi | (1992-06-14) 14 June 1992 (age 32) | 0 | 0 | Ista Kordestan | v. Belarus, 2024 |
| GK | Atena Towfigh | (2006-02-26) 26 February 2006 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | PAS Hamedan | v. Belarus, 2024 |
| DF | Fatemeh Amineh | (1997-06-03) 3 June 1997 (age 27) | 19 | 0 | Bam Khatoon | v. Belarus, 2024 |
| DF | Hadis Basat Shir | (1997-09-13) 13 September 1997 (age 27) | 6 | 0 | Palayesh Gaz Ilam | v. Jordan, 2024 |
| DF | Mobina Babouye | | ? | ? | | v. Belarus, 2024 |
| DF | Maedeh Birang | | ? | ? | Gol Gohar Sirjan | v. Belarus, 2024 |
| DF | Somayyeh Esmaili | | ? | ? | | v. Belarus, 2024 |
| DF | Negin Naghdi | | ? | ? | | v. Belarus, 2024 |
| DF | Sepideh Nozhati | (1998-11-28) 28 November 1998 (age 26) | ? | ? | Malavan | v. Philippines, 1 November 2023 |
| DF | Behnaz Taherkhani | (1995-05-22) 22 May 1995 (age 29) | 20 | 3 | Bam Khatoon | v. Philippines, 1 November 2023 |
| DF | Fatemeh Yousefi | (2005-07-08) 8 July 2005 (age 19) | ? | ? | Palayesh Gaz Ilam | v. Belarus, 2024 |
| MF | Marziyeh Feyzi | (2001-03-22) 22 March 2001 (age 23) | ? | ? | Tam Isfahan | v. Jordan, 2024 |
| MF | Mona Hamoudi | (1993-11-11) 11 November 1993 (age 31) | 5 | 2 | Bam Khatoon | v. Jordan, 2024 |
| MF | Shaghayegh Rouzbahan | (1994-12-06) 6 December 1994 (age 30) | 9 | 1 | Ista Kordestan | v. Belarus, 2024 |
| FW | Samaneh Chahkandi | (1989-03-28) 28 March 1989 (age 35) | 20 | 4 | Bam Khatoon | v. Philippines, 1 November 2023 |
| FW | Roghiyeh Jalalnasab | (2003-11-03) 3 November 2003 (age 21) | ? | ? | Gol Gohar Sirjan | v. Belarus, 2024 |
| FW | Golnoosh Khosravi | (2001-05-12) 12 May 2001 (age 23) | 5 | 1 | Sepahan | v. Jordan, 2024 |

### Current foreign-based players available for selection for national team

| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1GK | Parisa Geravandi | (1996-01-26) 26 January 1996 (age 29) | 0 | 0 | Ataşehir Belediyespor |
| 1GK | Maryam Yektaei | (1993-06-19) 19 June 1993 (age 31) | 6 | 0 | BEYLERBEYI SPOR KULÜBÜ SPOR FAALIYETLERI A.S |
| 2DF | Faezeh Esfahanian | (1998-12-18) 18 December 1998 (age 26) | 0 | 0 | Bağcılar Evren Spor |
| 2DF | Sara Valad Khani | (1999-08-14) 14 August 1999 (age 25) | 0 | 0 | FC Bergedorf 85 |
| 3MF | Hananeh Aminghashghay | (2003-07-14) 14 July 2003 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Altay |
| 3MF | Masha Mehri | (1986-01-01) 1 January 1986 (age 39) | 0 | 0 | ASKÖ Ebelsberg Linz |
| 3MF | Yasaman Farmani | (1995-02-12) 12 February 1995 (age 30) | 6 | 0 | Lech Poznań |
| 3MF | Annahita Zamanian | (1998-02-19) 19 February 1998 (age 27) | 0 | 0 | Sassuolo |
| 3MF | Lily Nabet | (1999-09-24) 24 September 1999 (age 25) | 0 | 0 | Angel City |
| 4FW | Shiva Alicia Fannipour | (1998-10-28) 28 October 1998 (age 26) | 0 | 0 | FC Bergedorf 85 |
| 4FW | Dajan Hashemi | (2000-11-21) 21 November 2000 (age 24) | 4 | 0 | Brøndby |

### Players of Iranian heritage in other national teams

Unfortunately, due to strict FIFA rules, Iran women's team is unable to acquire experienced footballers who have many caps for other national teams. Two players of Iranian heritage in other national teams are Sara Doorsoun ( Germany), and Natasha Shirazi ( Uganda).

### Players from Iranian diaspora

The following players from Iranian diaspora (dual citizens) capped for Iran national team, the flag next to them shows their citizenship:
* Katayoun Khosrowyar
* Melika Mohammadi
Several others such as the following never capped for the national team despite having capped for Iran's youth national team:
* Sofia Askari
* Kimya Raietparvar Taloukie
* Vida Raietparvar Taloukie

### Captains

* Zahra Ghanbari (20xx–present)

## Honours
### Regional

* WAFF Women's Championship
    Runners-up: 2005, 2007, 2011
* CAFA Women's Championship
    Runners-up: 2018, 2022

## Competitive record
### FIFA Women's World Cup

FIFA Women's World Cup record :
| Year | Result | Position | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 1991 to 2007 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2011 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2015 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2019 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2023 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2027 | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined |
| Total | 0/10 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
    *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

### Olympic Games

Summer Olympics record :
| Year | Round | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 1996 to 2008 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2012 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2016 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2020 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2024 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2028 | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined |
| 2032 | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined |
| Total | 0/7 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |

### AFC Women's Asian Cup

AFC Women's Asian Cup record :
| Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 1975 to 2008 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2010 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2014 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2018 | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify | did not qualify |
| 2022 | Group stage | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | −12 |
| 2026 | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined |
| 2029 | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined |
| Total | 1/19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | −12 |
    *Draws include knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.

### Asian Games

Asian Games record :
| Year | Result | GP | W | D* | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 1990 to 2022 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2026 | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined |
| 2030 | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined |
| 2034 | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined | to be determined |
| Total | 0/8 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |

### WAFF Women's Championship

WAFF Women's Championship record :
| Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | GS | GA |
| 2005 | Runners-up | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 2 |
| 2007 | Runners-up | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 2 |
| 2010 | Group stage | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 2011 | Runners-up | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 7 |
| 2014 | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter | did not enter |
| 2019–onward | Not WAFF member | Not WAFF member | Not WAFF member | Not WAFF member | Not WAFF member | Not WAFF member | Not WAFF member |
| Total | 4/7 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 58 | 16 |
Malavan F.C. participated at the 2010.

### CAFA Women's Championship

CAFA Women's Championship record :
| Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | GS | GA |
| 2018 | Runners-up | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 3 |
| 2022 | Runners-up | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 1 |
| Total | 2/2 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 26 | 4 |
Iran U-23 team participated at the 2018.

## FIFA World Ranking

    As of 26 January 2022, after the match against Chinese Taipei.
Best Ranking Best Mover Worst Ranking Worst Mover
Iran's FIFA World Ranking History :
| Rank | Year | Games Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Best | Best | Worst | Worst |
| Rank | Year | Games Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | Rank | Move | Rank | Move |
| 68 1 (6 March 2025) | 2022 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 70 | 0 | 70 | 0 |
| 70 | 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 0 | 70 | 0 |