Iran National Football Team: Overview, Ranking, Strengths, Weaknesses, and Tactics
Overview & Ranking
Iran’s national football team, known as Team Melli, is one of Asia’s strongest football teams. They have consistently performed well in AFC competitions and have qualified for multiple FIFA World Cups, including 1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, and 2022. As of late 2024, Iran is ranked 18th in the FIFA rankings, making them one of the top teams in Asia.
Strengths
- Strong Defense – Iran is known for its disciplined and well-structured defense, making it difficult for opponents to break them down.
- Experienced Players – The squad includes seasoned players who bring stability and leadership to the team.
- Counter-Attacking Ability – Iran excels at quick transitions, using fast wingers and forwards to exploit gaps left by attacking opponents.
Weaknesses
- Inconsistent Attack – While Iran is defensively solid, they sometimes struggle to score goals, especially against stronger teams.
- Limited Tactical Flexibility – The team often sticks to a defensive approach, which can make it difficult to adapt when chasing a game.
Tactics
Iran primarily plays with a compact and defensive setup, focusing on organization and discipline. They often rely on counter-attacks to create scoring opportunities, taking advantage of their quick forwards. This approach has worked well against stronger teams, but their attack-heavy opponents can sometimes expose their lack of offensive creativity.
All in all
Iran is a well-balanced team with a strong defensive foundation and an effective counter-attacking strategy. However, improving their offensive consistency and tactical flexibility could help them compete even better on the international stage.
Iran National Football Team Ratings (Out of 10)
- Strikers: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/10)
Iran has talented forwards, but their attacking play lacks consistency against top-tier defenses. While they can be dangerous on counter-attacks, they often struggle to break down organized defenses. - Midfielders: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/10)
The midfield is solid but not exceptional. Iran has good ball-winning midfielders, but creativity and playmaking are areas that need improvement. They often rely on quick transitions rather than prolonged possession-based play. - Defenders: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (8/10)
One of Iran’s biggest strengths is their defense. They are well-organized, disciplined, and hard to break down, making them a tough team to score against. Their defensive setup has helped them secure good results against stronger teams. - Manager: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (6/10)
Iran’s managers have traditionally focused on defensive stability and counter-attacking football. While this has brought success, the team sometimes struggles when they need to be more aggressive or control possession. A more tactically flexible approach could improve their overall performance.
Overall :
Iran is a defensively strong team with a decent midfield and inconsistent attacking options. If they can develop a more balanced style of play and improve their attacking creativity, they could become an even bigger threat on the international stage.
Iran Football Team Market Valuation :
Here is a table detailing the market valuations of key Iranian national football team players, along with their respective clubs:
| Player Name | Position | Age | Club | Market Value (€) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alireza Beiranvand | Goalkeeper | 32 | Persepolis FC | 1,000,000 |
| Mohammadreza Akhbari | Goalkeeper | 32 | Tractor SC | 650,000 |
| Payam Niazmand | Goalkeeper | 29 | Sepahan SC | 600,000 |
| Hossein Hosseini | Goalkeeper | 32 | Esteghlal FC | 600,000 |
| Hossein Kanaani | Centre-Back | 30 | Al-Ahli SC | 2,000,000 |
| Mohammad Amin Hazbavi | Centre-Back | 21 | Foolad FC | 1,200,000 |
| Roozbeh Cheshmi | Centre-Back | 31 | Esteghlal FC | 650,000 |
| Ali Nemati | Centre-Back | 29 | Persepolis FC | 600,000 |
| Mehdi Zare | Centre-Back | 22 | Sepahan SC | 600,000 |
| Shoja Khalilzadeh | Centre-Back | 35 | Al-Rayyan SC | 150,000 |
| Milad Mohammadi | Left-Back | 31 | AEK Athens FC | 2,300,000 |
| Ali Gholizadeh | Right Winger | 28 | Kasımpaşa SK | 1,500,000 |
| Mehdi Taremi | Centre-Forward | 32 | FC Porto | 8,000,000 |
| Sardar Azmoun | Centre-Forward | 30 | Bayer 04 Leverkusen | 7,500,000 |
| Shahriar Moghanlou | Centre-Forward | 30 | Sepahan SC | 1,500,000 |
| Saeed Saharkhizan | Centre-Forward | 21 | Esteghlal FC | 1,200,000 |
| Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh | Centre-Forward | 24 | Charleroi SC | 1,000,000 |
Total Market Valuation of Iran National Football :
The total market valuation of the Iranian national football team players listed is approximately €31,050,000
Final Thoughts :
Comparison of Iran’s Market Valuation with Top 10 National Teams
Based on my own assessment, Iran’s market valuation is significantly lower compared to the world’s top teams. Here’s an estimated comparison:
| Rank | Country | Estimated Market Value (€ Million) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | England | €1,000M (Approx.) |
| 2 | France | €980M |
| 3 | Brazil | €920M |
| 4 | Spain | €890M |
| 5 | Germany | €850M |
| 6 | Portugal | €830M |
| 7 | Argentina | €760M |
| 8 | Italy | €660M |
| 9 | Belgium | €540M |
| 10 | Netherlands | €540M |
| — | Iran | €31M – €50M (Estimated) |
Key Analysis
- Massive Market Gap – Iran’s valuation is over 20 times lower than top teams like England and France. The lack of Iranian players in major European leagues plays a huge role in this gap.
- Limited European Presence – While countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Portugal have their top players in clubs like Manchester City, Real Madrid, and PSG, most Iranian players are in domestic or lower-tier European leagues, reducing their market value.
- Star Player Impact – Teams like Portugal (Cristiano Ronaldo) and Argentina (Lionel Messi in the past) have individual players worth over €50M alone, whereas Iran’s most valuable players (Mehdi Taremi & Sardar Azmoun) have values closer to €7-8M each.
- Growth Potential – If more Iranian players transfer to elite clubs in Europe’s top 5 leagues (Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1), Iran’s market value could increase beyond €100M over time.
All in all
Iran is a strong team within Asia but lags significantly behind global football giants in market valuation. Increased player transfers to elite leagues, along with better youth development, could help narrow this gap in the future.
Iran is a team that can reach round of 16 and can bring some up sets also.
Happy Football