The Anthem
National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran
▶ Listen on YouTube ↗“Upward on the horizon rises the Eastern Sun…”
Adopted in 1990; one of several anthems Iran has had through its modern history.
The Legends
Names that echo
Ali Daei
Forward · 1990s–2000s
For years the all-time leading scorer in men's international football, with 100+ goals.
Mehdi Mahdavikia
Winger · 1990s–2000s
Bundesliga flyer and scorer in Iran's famous 1998 win over the USA.
Sardar Azmoun
Forward · 2010s–20s
'The Iranian Messi'; a prolific modern marksman.
Fun Facts
Worth knowing
- 01
Ali Daei was the first male footballer to reach 100 international goals — a record that stood for nearly two decades.
- 02
Iran is the most successful Asian nation in World Cup qualifying history.
- 03
Persian carpets, poetry and cuisine make Iran one of the cultural cradles of the wider region.
At the World Cup
The story so far
Asia's qualifying powerhouse, Iran has reached the World Cup repeatedly without yet escaping the group — though it has produced some of the tournament's most charged fixtures.
A politically charged win
Iran beat the USA 2-1 in one of the most politically loaded matches in World Cup history, the teams exchanging flowers before kickoff.
Group Stage