{{Short description|Governing body of association football in Iran}} {{National football association | Logo = Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran logo.svg | Founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1920}}<ref>[http://www.ffiri.ir/en/veteran/History-of-Iran-s-football/default.aspx?SelectedViewIndex=1 History of Iran’s Football] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731064431/http://www.ffiri.ir/en/veteran/History-of-Iran-s-football/default.aspx?SelectedViewIndex=1 |date=2016-07-31 }}, ffiri.ir</ref> | Region = AFC | FIFA affiliation = 1948 | Region affiliation = 1954<ref>{{cite news|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19540527-1.2.190.aspx|title=Asian soccer championship next year|date=27 May 1954|newspaper=The Straits Times}}{{cite news|url=http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/freepress19541005-1.2.126.aspx|title=ASIAN SOCCER FINALS IN SINGAPORE May be used as Olympic series|date=5 October 1954|newspaper=The Singapore Free Press}}{{cite news|url=http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19550614.2.157.aspx|title=Singapore to Meet Indonesia in Asian Soccer Tourney|date=14 June 1955|newspaper=The Straits Times|access-date=6 January 2015|archive-date=31 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131034337/http://newspapers.nl.sg/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19550614.2.157.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> | Subregion = CAFA | Subregion affiliation = 2015 | Headquarters = Tehran, Iran | President = Mehdi Taj<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-30 |title=Mehdi Taj elected as head of Iran football federation | url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/476220 |website=Tehran Times |access-date=2022-09-09}}</ref> | Website = {{official URL}} |Badge_size=100}} The '''Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran''' ('''FFIRI'''; {{langx|fa|فدراسیون فوتبال جمهوری اسلامی ایران|Fedrasion-e Football-e Jomhuri-e Eslami-e Iran}}) is the governing body for football in Iran. It was founded in 1920.<ref name=foundation>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/associations/association=irn/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070603155130/http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=irn/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 3, 2007|title=Member Association – Iran}}</ref> The federation has been a member of FIFA since 1948<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.e-newspaperarchives.ch/?a=d&d=COU19480728-01.2.37.1.1&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN--------0-----|title=LA SUISSE ORGANISERA LA COUPE DU MONDE 1954|language=French|date=28 July 1948|newspaper=Le Courrier}}</ref> and a member of the Asian Football Confederation since 1958.{{fact|date=December 2023}}
==History== The federation was founded in 1920,<ref name=foundation/> has been a member of FIFA since 1948, and a member of the Asian Football Confederation since 1954.
In 2001, Iran was a founding member of the West Asian Football Federation, along with Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria.{{fact|date=December 2023}}
In 2014, Iran was a founding member of the Central Asian Football Association alongside Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/about-afc/afc-committees/1127-executive-committee/28784-central-zone-gets-thumbs-up-from-tajikistan.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140612013350/http://www.the-afc.com/en/about-afc/afc-committees/1127-executive-committee/28784-central-zone-gets-thumbs-up-from-tajikistan.html|url-status=dead|title='Central Zone' gets thumbs up from Tajikistan|archive-date=12 June 2014}}</ref>
==Controversies== On 23 November 2006, the federation was suspended by FIFA,<ref>{{cite web |title=FIFA suspends Iran Football Federation |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/releases/newsid=107801.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511050917/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/releases/newsid=107801.html |archive-date=May 11, 2012 |access-date=17 March 2018 |website=fifa.com}}</ref> due to government interference in football matters. FIFA rules decree that a national football federation should remain autonomous from the national government. However, on 17 December 2006, the ban was lifted and a new Transitory Board was composed.
During the 2009 Iranian election protests, seven members of the Iran national football team were initially reported to have been banned for life by the federation for wearing green armbands in support of the Iranian Green Movement.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/2009/06/24/2009-06-24_iran_soccer_players_banned.html |title=Iran soccer players banned from national team after wearing green pro-opposition wristbands |first=Andy |last=Clayton |date=24 June 2009 |newspaper=NY Daily News |access-date=8 July 2010 |location=New York |archive-date=31 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831040659/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/2009/06/24/2009-06-24_iran_soccer_players_banned.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Iran women's national football team was briefly suspended by FIFA from international competition in 2011 for being required by the federation to wear headscarves.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/iran-womens-soccer-team-thwarted-by-hijab-ban/ |title=Iran women's soccer team thwarted by hijab ban |work=CBS News |date=7 June 2011 |access-date=2012-09-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/irans-women-soccer-team-banned-from-olympics-because-of-headscarves/2011/06/06/AGqVuXKH_gallery.html |title=Iran's women soccer team banned from Olympics, because of headscarves |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=2012-09-19}}</ref>
In 2015, the federation banned players from the men's national team due to conscription problems.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teammelli.com/2014/10/15/mehrdad-pooladi-saved-by-fifa/|title=Mehrdad Pooladi saved by FIFA !|work=TeamMelli|access-date=2015-09-04|archive-date=2015-11-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151121024931/http://www.teammelli.com/2014/10/15/mehrdad-pooladi-saved-by-fifa/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teammelli.com/2015/08/24/team-melli-unable-to-use-players-under-military-service/|title=Team Melli unable to use players under Military Service. – TeamMelli|website=www.teammelli.com|access-date=17 March 2018|archive-date=25 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825104104/http://www.teammelli.com/2015/08/24/team-melli-unable-to-use-players-under-military-service/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In August 2017, the federation banned Masoud Shojaei and Ehsan Hajsafi from the national team after they played against the Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv in the UEFA Europa League.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/10/world/middleeast/iran-soccer-masoud-shojaei-ehsan-haji-safi.html|title=Iran Bans Two Soccer Stars for Playing Against Israelis|first=Thomas|last=Erdbrink|newspaper=The New York Times |date=10 August 2017|access-date=17 March 2018}}</ref>
On 9 November 2018 Fatma Samoura, Secretary General of International Federation of Football Association FIFA said she would ask the Iranian government to end the ban on women's entry to sports stadiums.<ref>[https://en.radiofarda.com/a/fifa-engage-iran-on-women-allowed-in-stadiums/29590427.html FIFA To Engage With Iran To Lift Ban On Women In Stadiums]</ref> On 7 August 2019, Mohammad Jafar Montazeri, prosecutor general of Iran, supporting the ban, said that it should not concern FIFA if women in Iran can enter sports stadiums or not.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dpa-international.com/topic/iran-judge-ban-women-football-stadiums-concern-fifa-urn%3Anewsml%3Adpa.com%3A20090101%3A190808-99-381718|title=Iran judge: Ban on women in football stadiums does not concern FIFA|access-date=7 August 2019|publisher=DPAInternational|archive-date=8 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808094230/https://www.dpa-international.com/topic/iran-judge-ban-women-football-stadiums-concern-fifa-urn%3Anewsml%3Adpa.com%3A20090101%3A190808-99-381718|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, after continuous pressure from FIFA, IRNA deputy Sports Minister Jamshid Taghizadeh said women would be allowed to enter Azadi Stadium to watch the men's World Cup 2022 qualifier match between Iran and Cambodia in October.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://trulytimes.com/iran-agrees-to-let-women-watch-soccer-world-cup-qualifier.html|title=Iran Agrees to Let Women Watch Soccer World Cup Qualifier|access-date=25 August 2019|publisher=Truly|archive-date=28 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828091553/https://trulytimes.com/iran-agrees-to-let-women-watch-soccer-world-cup-qualifier.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, in March 2022, Iranian women were again banned from entering the stadium for a World Cup qualifier.<ref>{{cite web|title=Iran again bans women from football stadium – Al-Monitor: Independent, trusted coverage of the Middle East |url=https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/03/iran-again-bans-women-football-stadium |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=www.al-monitor.com |date=30 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
During the 2022 FIFA World Cup as well as the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, the Iranian government and federation reportedly sent paid members of the Basij and IRGC to cheer for the team in the stands and to counter protesters.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://iranwire.com/en/sports/124132-iranwire-exclusive-hundreds-of-basij-to-cheer-iranian-football-team-in-qatar/|title=IranWire Exclusive: Hundreds of Basij to Cheer Iranian Football Team in Qatar|accessdate=12 March 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://iranwire.com/en/news/124570-iranian-football-supporters-sent-to-qatar-earn-up-to-100-daily/|title=Iranian Football "Supporters" Sent To Qatar Earn up to $100 Daily|accessdate=12 March 2024}}</ref>
In April 2024, goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini was summoned, suspended, and fined by the Iranian federation for hugging a female fan.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/2024/04/23/66279455268e3e97568b4585.html | title=Iran suspends and fines its international goalkeeper after he hugged a woman at the end of a match | date=23 April 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.iranintl.com/en/202404238353 | title=Iranian Goalie Faces Court After Hugging Female Fan | date=23 April 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/04/22/esteghlal-keeper-hosseini-sanctioned-hugging-female-fan/ | title=Esteghlal keeper Hosseini sanctioned for hugging female fan | date=22 April 2024 }}</ref> In October 2024, Zahra Ghanbari was suspended and forced to apologize by the Iranian federation for "improper hijab" during a goal celebration at the 2024–25 AFC Women's Champions League.<ref>{{cite web | title=Iranian Footballer Suspended and Forced to Apologize for Headscarf Mishap | url=https://iranwire.com/en/women/135648-iranian-footballer-suspended-and-forced-to-apologize-for-headscarf-mishap/ }}</ref> In December 2024, defender Ramin Rezaeian was summoned by the federation as well after hugging a female fan.<ref>{{cite web | title=Iran football federation summons player after hugging female fan | date=27 December 2024 | url=https://www.iranintl.com/en/202412271105 }}</ref>
===2026===
Prior to the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw, a group stage match scheduled to be played in Seattle was designated as a "Pride Match" by the City of Seattle to coincide with the city's annual Pride celebrations and to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Emma |date=December 8, 2025 |title=2026 World Cup: 'Pride Match' to feature Egypt and Iran - where homosexuality is illegal |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/ce8q01d56v7o |publisher=BBC Sport |accessdate=December 9, 2025}}</ref> Following the draw, the fixture was confirmed to be the match between Iran and Egypt. Both Iran and Egypt are countries where homosexuality is criminalized under domestic law, with Iran in particular having imposed capital punishment in certain cases.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mesa |first=Jesus |title=World Cup pride match to feature two countries that prosecute gays |url=https://www.newsweek.com/sports/world-cup-pride-match-iran-egypt-seattle-11174210 |access-date=2025-12-10 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref> The Iranian Football Federation and the Egyptian Football Association objected to the match's designation; however, FIFA and local organizers confirmed that associated LGBTQ+ events would proceed, and that rainbow flags would be permitted inside the stadium.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fassihi |first=Farnaz |date=December 9, 2025 |title=Seattle Plans Pride Match at Soccer World Cup, Infuriating Iran and Egypt |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/world/middleeast/iran-egypt-world-cup-seattle-pride.html |work=The New York Times |accessdate=December 10, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last1=MacInnes | first1=Paul | title=LGBTQ+ events to go ahead at World Cup game despite Egypt and Iran objections | work=The Guardian | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/dec/10/lgbtq-pride-world-cup-egypt-iran-objections-seattle-fifa }}</ref>
In January 2026, multiple Iranian footballers and athletes were killed during the 2026 Iran massacres amid the 2025–2026 Iranian protests, including former Tractor Sazi F.C. midfielder Mojtaba Tarshiz, prompting former Iran national team captain Masoud Shojaei to criticise FIFA for its silence over the killing of Iranian athletes during protests, while then-captain Mehdi Taremi expressed solidarity with the Iranian people.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.euronews.com/2026/01/15/iranian-footballers-killed-in-protests-as-former-national-team-captain-slams-fifa-silence |title=Iranian footballers killed in protests as former national team captain slams FIFA silence |website=Euronews |date=15 January 2026 |access-date=15 January 2026 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jan/14/iran-football-team-battle-to-be-heard-regime-protests |title=Iran’s footballers face battle to be heard as regime brutally clamps down on protests |website=The Guardian |date=14 January 2026 |access-date=15 January 2026 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jan/15/geopolitical-football-iran-trump-how-can-the-game-stand-strong-in-a-fractured-world |title=Geopolitical football: Iran? Trump? How the game can stand strong in a fractured world |website=The Guardian |date=15 January 2026 |access-date=15 January 2026 |language=en}}</ref> On 14 January, the federation, along with the Islamic Republic of Iran Wrestling Federation, were exempt from posting a picture to their Instagram accounts opposing Donald Trump's threats to attack Iran for its response to the protests, and also claiming that athletes were killed during the Twelve-Day War.<ref>https://iranwire.com/fa/news-1/147284استوریهای-اجباری-فدراسیونهای-ورزشی-علیه-دونالد-ترامپ-فدراسیون-فوتبال-مستثنی-شد/{{dead link|date=January 2026}}</ref> After the massacres, the AFC ruled that Iranian clubs cannot host AFC Champions League Elite and AFC Champions League Two matches at home, and would therefore have to move them to neutral venues.<ref name="sport-thousands-killed">{{Cite web |url=https://www.iranintl.com/en/202601227152 |title=Iran’s bid for normalcy via sport: Matches return but players refuse the script |date=25 January 2026 |website=Iran International}}</ref> Following the massacres, activists called on FIFA to ban the Iranian national team from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/kick-iran-out-olympics-world-cup-execution-over-30-athletes-activists-demand |title=Kick Iran out of Olympics, World Cup for execution of over 30 athletes, activists demand |date=7 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.iranintl.com/202602072057 |title=مخالفان خواستار اخراج جمهوری اسلامی از المپیک و جام جهانی به دلیل اعدام ورزشکاران هستند |date=7 February 2026}}</ref> Ali Karimi, a former footballer for the Iran national team, along with a coalition of prominent Iranians, wrote an open letter to FIFA and all its member associations, calling on FIFA president Gianni Infantino to speak up on the protest deaths.<ref>{{cite web|last=Aarons |first=Ed |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jan/26/iran-football-ali-karimi-infantino-fifa-protest-deaths |title=Iran football great Ali Karimi leads call for Infantino to speak up on protest deaths |date=January 26, 2026 |website=The Guardian |access-date=February 8, 2026}}</ref> Following the protests and ensuing crackdown, the Spanish Football Federation reportedly pulled out of a planned friendly match with Iran.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.iranintl.com/en/202602122069 |title=Spain pulls out of soccer match with Iran's national team - report |date=12 February 2026}}</ref>
After a number of players resigned from the Iran women's national football team and refereeing organization following the massacres, the Iranian football federation reportedly threatened them with multi-year bans from professional football activities, judicial action, and long prison sentences.<ref>https://www.iranintl.com/en/202602195238 {{Bare URL inline|date=May 2026}}</ref> In March 2026, after the Iran women's national football team players refused to sing the national anthem of the Islamic Republic as a form of silent protest ahead of their 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup opener against South Korea, concerns grew for their safety following threats from Iranian state media.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/mar/03/iran-women-football-team-decline-to-sing-national-anthem-before-asian-cup-tie {{Bare URL inline|date=May 2026}}</ref><ref>https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-06/iran-women-football-womens-asian-cup-state-tv-traitors/106425022 {{Bare URL inline|date=May 2026}}</ref> Ahead of the following match against Australia, the national team players were reportedly forced to sing the national anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with threats to the players' family members if they did not.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cuadrado |first=Patrick Sung |last2=Macfarlane |first2=Christina |date=2026-03-06 |title=Iranian women’s soccer team forced to sing national anthem ahead of Asian Cup match, sources tell CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/06/sport/iran-women-soccer-national-anthem-asian-cup |access-date=2026-03-08 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> After the team's exit from the tournament on 8 March, members of the team gave what appeared to be SOS hand signals from the bus as they were leaving, leading to protests and growing calls for Australia to offer the team refuge after the players were accused of being wartime traitors by Iranian state media for not singing the national anthem of the Islamic Republic in their opening game amid the Iran War.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Maiden |first1=Samantha |title=‘Impossible situation’: Iranian women’s team sing anthem amid fears of jail, death after final game |url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/football/impossible-situation-iranian-womens-team-facing-jail-death-after-final-game/news-story/d75aababb6bfdbd0de24384a180f3d36 |website=The Advertiser |access-date=9 March 2026 |date=8 March 2026}}</ref><ref>https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-09/asian-cup-2026-protesters-surround-iran-team-bus/106431212 {{Bare URL inline|date=May 2026}}</ref><ref>https://apnews.com/article/iran-soccer-womens-asian-cup-6a9fd17b140e01b9e841a766c9ff2670 {{Bare URL inline|date=May 2026}}</ref><ref>https://www.dw.com/en/fears-grow-for-irans-womens-football-team/a-76278906 {{Bare URL inline|date=May 2026}}</ref>
Amid the Iran War, Sardar Azmoun was reportedly expelled from the national team after posting a picture on social media, per IRGC-affiliated media.<ref>https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/sports/2026/3/20/iran-footballer-azmoun-kicked-off-national-team-for-disloyalty-say-reports {{Bare URL inline|date=May 2026}}</ref>
On April 30, 2026, protests were held outside the 2026 FIFA Congress in Vancouver, calling on FIFA to ban the Iranian team and stating that it represents the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) instead of the people of Iran.<ref>https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/they-are-not-representing-iran-protesters-urge-fifa-ban-iran-world-cup-2026-04-30/</ref> On May 19, it was reported that FIFA would again ban the pre-revolutionary Lion and Sun flag from World Cup stadiums, similar to previous World Cups.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7288376/2026/05/19/world-cup-fifa-iran-flag/</ref><ref>https://www.iranintl.com/en/202605195257</ref>
==Competitions== ===Men's=== *Persian Gulf Pro League *Azadegan League *League 2 (Iran) *League 3 (Iran) *Hazfi Cup *Iranian Super Cup
===Women's=== *Kowsar Women Football League *Hazfi Cup (women) *Iranian Supercup (women)
==Membership== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- !Organization !Affiliation !Notes |- |FIFA |Since {{Start date and years ago|1950|df=y}} |{{n/a}} |- |AFC |Since {{Start date and years ago|1954|df=y}} |{{n/a}} |- |WAFF |2001–2014; {{a.y|2001|2014}} |rowspan="2"|Founding member |- |CAFA |Since {{Start date and years ago|2015|df=y}} |}
==Presidents== thumb|200px|right|Old Logo of the Iran Football Federation (until 1979){{citation needed|date=July 2016}} [[File:Iran Football Federation Logo 1970s.jpg|thumb|Jersey badge of Team Melli at the 1978 FIFA World Cup<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.historicalkits.co.uk/international/tournaments/fifa-world-cup/1978/1978-group-4.html |title=Historical Football Kits - World Cup 1978 |publisher=historicalkits.co.uk |access-date=22 October 2013}}</ref>|alt=|261x261px]]
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! Presidency <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.varzesh3.com/news/1323370/%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%87-%DA%A9%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%84-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%AE-%D9%81%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84|title=شناسنامه کامل روسای تاریخ فدراسیون فوتبال :: ورزش سه|website=www.varzesh3.com|access-date=17 March 2018}}</ref> ! President ! Took office ! Left office ! Note |- ! 1 | Ali Kani | 1947 | 1950 | Runners-up of 1951 Asian Games |- ! 2 | Hedayatollah Gilanshah | 1950 | 1952 |Commander of Imperial Iranian Air Force (1952) |- ! 3 | Mohsen Haddad | colspan=2|1952 | |- ! 4 | Hossein Siasi | 1952 | 1953 | |- ! (3) | Mohsen Haddad | 1953 | 1954 | second term |- ! (4) | Hossein Siasi | colspan=2|1954 | second term |- ! (1) | Ali Kani | 1954 | 1955 | second term |- ! 5 | Mostafa Salimi | 1955 | 1956 | |- ! 6 | Hossein-Ali Mobasher | 1956 | 1958 | |- ! 7 | Mostafa Mokri | 1958 | 1960 | |- ! 8 | Zabih Khabiri | 1960 | 1961 | |- ! 9 | Hossein Soroudi | 1961 | 1962 | |- ! (6) | Hossein-Ali Mobasher | 1962 | 1967 | second term<br />qualified to 1964 Olympics<br />Runners-up of 1966 Asian Games |- ! (9) | Hossein Soroudi | 1967 | 1968 | second term |- ! (7) | Mostafa Mokri | 1968 | 1972 | second term<br />winner of 1968 Asian Cup and 1972 Asian Cup<br />qualified to 1972 Olympics |- ! 10 | Kambiz Atabay | 1972 | 1979 | Presidents of AFC<br />(1 August 1976 - 9 December 1978)<br />qualified to 1978 World Cup<br />qualified to 1976 Olympics<br />winner of 1976 Asian Cup<br />Founder of Takht Jamshid Cup<br />winner of 1974 Asian Games |- ! 11 | Naser Noamooz | 1979 | 1980 | first president after Revolution <br />qualified to 1980 Olympics but boycotted the event<br />Third place of 1980 Asian Cup |- ! 12 | Hadi Tavoosi | 1980 | 1981 | |- ! 13 | Hossein Abshenasan | colspan=2|1981 | |- ! 14 | Hossein Raghfar | 1981 | 1982 | youngest president of FFIRI ever at 28 years old<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.parsine.com/fa/news/59002/%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D9%88-%D8%B3%D9%88%D9%85%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%B1%D8%A6%DB%8C%D8%B3-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%DA%A9%DB%8C%D8%B3%D8%AA |title= سی و سومین رئیس فوتبال کیست |last=پارسینه |website=پارسینه-Parsine |date= 4 March 2012 |access-date= 17 March 2018}}</ref> |- ! (13) | Hossein Abshenasan | 1982 | 1983 | second term |- ! 15 | Behrooz Sahabeh | colspan=2|1984 | |- ! 16 | Nasrollah Sajjadi | colspan=2|1985 | |- ! 17 | Ali Mohammad Mortazavi | 1986 | 1987 | |- ! 18 | Mohammad Reza Pahlavan | 1987 | 1989 | Third place of 1988 Asian Cup |- ! (11) | Naser Noamooz | 1989 | 1993 | second term<br />winner of 1990 Asian Games<br />Founder of Azadegan League |- ! 19 | Mohammad Safizadeh | 1993 | 1994 | |- ! 20 | Amir Abedini | colspan=2|1994 | chairman of Persepolis<br />(1993—2001) |- ! 21 | Dariush Mostafavi | 1994 | 1997 | Third place of 1996 Asian Cup |- ! 22 | Mohsen Safaei Farahani | 1997 | 2002 | qualified to 1998 World Cup<br />winner of 1998 Asian Games and 2002 Asian Games<br />Founder of Iran Pro League<br />winner of 1998 FIFA Fair Play Award<br /> member of Iranian Parliament (2000-2004) |- ! 23 | Mohammad Dadkan | 2002 | 2006 | Third place of 2004 Asian Cup<br />qualified to 2006 World Cup<br />Third place of 2006 Asian Games |- ! (22) | Mohsen Safaei Farahani | 2006 | 2008 | second term<br />interim, appointed by FIFA |- ! 24 | Ali Kafashian | 2008 | 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.etemaad.com/Released/86-10-27/190.htm#63903 |title=ورزش |publisher=Etemaad.com |access-date=2009-12-02}}</ref> | qualified to 2014 World Cup<br />2008 and 2012 Best Asian Football Federation of the Year <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ffiri.ir/html/index.php/images/pdf/index.php?module=%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1&func=display&sid=1005|title=فدراسیون فوتبال ایران برترین فدراسیون آسیا|website=ffiri.ir|access-date=17 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004044024/http://www.ffiri.ir/html/index.php/images/pdf/index.php?module=%D8%A7%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1&func=display&sid=1005|archive-date=4 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> |- ! 25 | Mehdi Taj | 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.varzesh3.com/news/1323536/%D9%85%D9%87%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D8%B1%D8%A6%DB%8C%D8%B3-%D9%81%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B4%D8%AF|title=مهدی تاج رئیس فدراسیون فوتبال شد |publisher=varzesh3.com |access-date=2016-05-07}}</ref> | 2019<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/443528/Mehdi-Taj-resigns-as-head-of-Iran-football-federation |title=Mehdi Taj resigns as head of Iran football federation |date=29 December 2019 |publisher=Tehran Times }}</ref> | qualified to 2018 World Cup |- ! — | Heydar Baharvand (acting) | 2019 | 2021 | |- ! 26 | Shahaboddin Azizi Khadem | 2021 | 2022 | qualified to 2022 World Cup <br />Dismissal due to incompetence |- ! — | Mirshad Majedi (acting) | colspan=2|2022 | |- ! (25) | Mehdi Taj | 2022 | Present | second and third term |- |}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! # ! President ! Stability<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.varzesh3.com/news/1323403/100-%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-%DA%A9%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%B4%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%81%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B3%DB%8C%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84|title=100 ماه ریاست کفاشیان در فدراسیون فوتبال :: ورزش سه|website=www.varzesh3.com|access-date=17 March 2018}}</ref> |- | 1 | Ali Kafashian | 8 years and 4 months |- | 2 | Kambiz Atabay | 7 years and 6 months |- | 3 | Mehdi Taj | 7 years and 1 months |- | 4 | Mohsen Safaei Farahani | 4 years and 9 months |- | 5 | Mostafa Mokri | 4 years and 6 months |- | 6 | Hossein-Ali Mobasher | 4 years |- | 7 | Naser Noamooz | 3 years and 10 months |- | 8 | Mohammad Dadkan | 3 years and 9 months |- | 9 | Ali Kani | 3 years and 7 months |}
==Board members== {{Updated|1 March 2025.}} {| |- |valign="top"| {| class="wikitable" text-align: center" |- style="background:#000000; color:#FFC900; font-weight: bold;" align="center" |Position |Name |- |align=center|President |align=center|Mehdi Taj |- |align=center|General Secretary |align=center|Hedayat Mombeyni |- |align=center|First Vice President |align=center|Mahdi Mohammadnabi |- |align=center|Second Vice President |align=center|Heydar Baharvand |- |align=center|Third Vice President and Women Section |align=center|Farideh Shojaei |- |align=center|Representative of Provincial Football Boards |align=center|Tahmoures Heydari |- |align=center|Representative of Provincial Football Boards |align=center|Ali Taheri |- |align=center|Representative of Club chairpersons |align=center|Ali Khatir |- |align=center|Representative of Club chairpersons |align=center|Mohammad Esfandiarpour |- |align=center|Board Member |align=center|Farzin Dabiri Oskuei |- |align=center|Board Member |align=center|Hojjat Karimi |- |align=center|Board Member |align=center|Mohammad-Rahman Salari |- |} |}
==National teams== * Iran national football team ''Head coach: Amir Ghalenoei'' * Iran national under-23 football team ''Head coach: Reza Enayati'' * Iran national under-20 football team ''Head coach: Samad Marfavi'' * Iran national under-17 football team ''Head coach: Hossein Abdi'' * Iran national under-15 football team ''Head coach: Ali Doustimehr '' * Iran national futsal team ''Head coach: Vahid Shamsaei'' * Iran national under-20 futsal team ''Head coach: Ali Sanei'' * Iran national beach soccer team ''Head coach: Ali Naderi'' * Iran women's national football team ''Head coach: Maryam Azmoon'' * Iran women's national under-23 football team ''Head coach: TBD'' * Iran women's national under-20 football team ''Head coach: TBD'' * Iran women's national under-17 football team ''Head coach: Shadi Mahini'' * Iran women's national futsal team ''Head coach: TBD''
==References== <references/>
==External links== * {{Official Website}} {{in lang|fa}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070603155326/http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=irn/index.html FIFA website]
{{Sports governing bodies in Iran}} {{Iran national football team}} {{AFC associations}} {{Football in Iran}}
Category:Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran Iran Football Iran Iran Iran<!--Formerly--> Iran Category:1920 establishments in Iran Category:Sports organizations established in 1920