page_title: Ahvaz
section_title: Football
hierarchical_section_title: Ahvaz / Sport / Football
caption_attribution_description: English: Foolad-Sepahan Persian Gulf Pro League match at Foolad Arena
context_page_description: Ahvaz, is a city in the southwest of Iran and the capital of Khuzestan province. Ahvaz's population is about 1,300,000 and its built-up area with the nearby town of Sheybani is home to 1,136,989 inhabitants. It is home to Persians, Arabs, Bakhtiaris, Dezfulis, Shushtaris, etc. The languages are spoken in Persian, Arabic; and dialects of Luri, Dezfuli, Shushtari, etc.
  Iran's only navigable river, the Karun, passes by the middle of the city. It has a long history dating back to the Achaemenid period. In ancient times, it was one of the main centers of the Academy of Gondishapur.
context_section_description: Football is a major part of the city's culture. The abundant enthusiasm has made Ahvaz home to three Iranian major Football clubs: Foolad, Esteghlal Khuzestan are currently playing in the Persian Gulf Pro League, and Esteghlal Ahvaz is playing in Azadegan League.
  Foolad have won the league on two occasions, the 2013–2014 season and the 2004–2005 season. Esteghlal Ahvaz finished runners–up in the league in the 2006–2007 season. In 2016, Esteghlal Khuzestan won the league for the first time.
  A number of other teams such as Foolad B the second team of Foolad and Karun Khuzestan play in the 2nd Division.
caption: The Stadium of "Foolad Khuzestan Martyrs" (Shohadaye-Foolade-Khuzestan);[41] also known as Foolad Arena
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