Iran’s World Cup record at a glance
Iran are Asian football royalty — three-time continental champions — but that success has never translated to the World Cup, where they have exited in the group stage every time.
Here are the headline numbers, as recorded by FIFA ahead of the 2026 tournament.
| Record | Detail |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 7 (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026) |
| Best finish | Group stage (every tournament) |
| First World Cup | Argentina 1978 |
| All-time record (pre-2026) | P18 W3 D4 L11, 13 goals for, 31 against |
| Confederation | AFC (Asia) |
The closest Iran have come to the knockout rounds was Russia 2018, when they finished a single point short in a group with Spain and Portugal.
Every Iran World Cup, tournament by tournament
Iran have won just three of their 18 World Cup matches to date, and have been beaten in 11 of them.
The table below tracks all seven appearances, from their debut in Argentina 1978 to the ongoing 2026 finals.
| Year & host | Group results | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1978, Argentina | Lost to Netherlands, drew 1-1 with Scotland, lost to Peru | Group stage |
| 1998, France | Lost to Yugoslavia, beat USA 2-1, lost to Germany | Group stage |
| 2006, Germany | Lost to Mexico, lost to Portugal, drew 1-1 with Angola | Group stage |
| 2014, Brazil | Drew 0-0 with Nigeria, lost 0-1 to Argentina, lost to Bosnia | Group stage |
| 2018, Russia | Beat Morocco 1-0, lost 0-1 to Spain, drew 1-1 with Portugal | Group stage (1 point short) |
| 2022, Qatar | Lost 2-6 to England, beat Wales 2-0, lost 0-1 to USA | Group stage |
| 2026, Canada/Mexico/USA | Drew 2-2 with New Zealand, drew 0-0 with Belgium, face Egypt 26 June | In progress |
Russia 2018 is widely seen as Iran’s strongest campaign, as FIFA details, with a win over a Morocco side that later reached a World Cup semi-final.
Iran’s three World Cup wins
All three of Iran’s World Cup victories have come against well-known opponents, and each is remembered for a different reason, per FIFA.
| Match | Score | Why it mattered |
|---|---|---|
| v USA, France 1998 | 2-1 | Iran’s first-ever World Cup win, played in a spirit of solidarity |
| v Morocco, Russia 2018 | 1-0 | Opening-game win that nearly took Iran to the knockouts |
| v Wales, Qatar 2022 | 2-0 | Two stoppage-time goals — Iran’s best World Cup result |
The 1998 win over the USA in Lyon is the most fondly remembered, as FIFA recounts, with players from both teams exchanging white flowers before kick-off.
The 2022 win over Wales in Doha arrived through two late strikes from Rouzbeh Cheshmi and Ramin Rezaeian deep into stoppage time, FIFA reports.
Iran players’ World Cup record
Striker Mehdi Taremi shares Iran’s all-time World Cup scoring record with Ramin Rezaeian, on two goals each — Taremi scored both his in a 6-2 defeat to England at Qatar 2022.
Twelve Iranians have now scored at a World Cup, and only Taremi and Rezaeian have done it more than once.
The key names in Iran’s World Cup story:
| Player / role | Record |
|---|---|
| Mehdi Taremi | Joint-top World Cup scorer (2 goals, with Ramin Rezaeian) |
| Ehsan Hajisafi | Most appearances — played at 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026 |
| Iraj Danaeifard | Scored Iran’s first-ever World Cup goal (1978) |
| Amir Ghalenoei | Current head coach, leading Iran in 2026 |
Coach Amir Ghalenoei guided Iran through a near-flawless qualifying campaign, losing just once in 16 matches, as FIFA reports.
Iran sealed their place at a fourth straight World Cup with a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan in Tehran in March 2025, according to FIFA.
Iran at the 2026 World Cup
Iran are chasing a first-ever knockout berth at the 2026 finals, where they sit in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.
In the opener at Los Angeles, Iran twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with New Zealand through goals from Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi, FIFA’s match report confirms.
Iran then held a 10-man Belgium to a goalless draw on 21 June.
The group is decided on 26 June, when Iran face Egypt at Lumen Field in Seattle — schedules listed on our Iran match page.
Iran Match at the 2026 World Cup: Full Schedule of Iranian Team and Kick-off Times
If you are planning to follow the team, you can compare flights to Seattle, hotels in Seattle and hotels in Los Angeles on Wego, and track live match-day schedules with the Wego flight tracker.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times has Iran qualified for the World Cup?
Iran have qualified seven times — in 1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026. The 2026 finals are their fourth appearance in a row.
Has Iran ever reached the World Cup knockout stage?
No. Iran have been eliminated in the group stage at all six of their previous tournaments. Their closest call was Russia 2018, when they finished a single point short.
Who is Iran’s all-time World Cup top scorer?
Mehdi Taremi and Ramin Rezaeian are tied on two World Cup goals each. Taremi scored both his against England at Qatar 2022, while Rezaeian scored against Wales in 2022 and New Zealand in 2026. They are the only two Iranians to have scored more than once at a World Cup.
Which teams has Iran beaten at the World Cup?
Iran have three World Cup wins: the USA in 1998 (2-1), Morocco in 2018 (1-0) and Wales in 2022 (2-0). All other matches have ended in draws or defeats.
Sources
- FIFA — IR Iran World Cup history, records and 2026 profile
- FIFA — IR Iran 2-2 New Zealand match report and highlights
- FIFA — IR Iran 2026 squad, fixtures and news
- Al Jazeera — Belgium held to goalless draw with Iran in Los Angeles
- Al Jazeera — US refuses to ease Iran World Cup travel restrictions
- ESPN — Group G at the 2026 World Cup: teams, records and stats
- Sky Sports — Iran 2-2 New Zealand match report
- Tehran Times — Ehsan Hajisafi sets historic Iran World Cup appearance record
- Wikipedia — Ramin Rezaeian (World Cup goals, 2022 and 2026)
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