Above: Iran lines up for a recent game. Image: Iran Football Federation.
By Genevieve Henry (18/2/26).
The Iranian Women’s National Team, also known as Shirzanan or the Lionesses, are set to compete in Group A against Australia, South Korea, and the Philippines in their second-ever Asian Cup. With a mixed bag of performances against other Asian teams lately, Iran have shown they not only have the potential to score, but to hold top teams to tight matchups.
Without adequate training facilities and a consistent friendly schedule, Iran faces struggles in their development that a few other countries are familiar with. This team continues to improve and act as a catalyst for change even without the systems to support them. Among the current protests in Iran, the team has been unable to practice or play their scheduled friendlies.
Squad:
TBA.
Head Coach:
Marziyeh Jafari is an impressive figure in Asian women’s football. She has coached Bam Khatoon, the most successful club in the Iranian professional women’s league, since 2010. She has led the team to multiple AFC Women’s Champion’s League campaigns. Jafari is the most titled women’s coach in Iran and even won the 2025 AFC Coach of the Year. While she was appointed in 2025 to coach the national team, she currently remains at Bam Khatoon, giving her a difficult dual role. It gives her the benefit of working with a few players at both levels.
Asian Cup History:
Iran are set to make just their 2nd ever Asian Cup appearance, their first coming in 2022 where they failed to make it out of the group. They lost both matches of the group stage to China and Chinese Taipei; they did not face India who withdrew. Their goal difference of -12 tells the story of their tournament.
How They Qualified:
Iran qualified as the winners of qualification Group A. Finishing on 9 points, level with hosts Jordan, Iran advanced thanks to their head-to-head win over Jordan–the superseding qualification rule. With a goal difference of 9 (to Jordan’s 11), Iran put on impressive displays in beating Singapore 4-0, Bhutan 7-1, and Iran 2-1. They lost to Lebanon 3-1. Their goal difference was the smallest of all the qualifying nations.
Strengths:
Iran has an impressive defensive record, largely due to the goalkeeping of Zahra Khajavi. In the four games (out of 12) Iran lost in 2025, they never lost by a goal margin of more than two. They conceded nine goals in total while scoring 35. When Iran faced Australia in 2023, they caused the Matildas some struggles and allowed just two goals in a tight game. It will be interesting to see how and if they can thwart their fellow Group A teams.
Iran also are known for individual skills, many of their players being trained in futsal and therefore operating well on their own.
Development Areas:
This team faces struggles with possession. The team does not have on-ball cohesion so they struggle to be united on that front. They also lack in depth and experience of players due to the political and social implications of women’s football in Iran. Without proper and equal resources, not many players are afforded opportunities to develop at a high level. The opportunity to play in this edition and the 2022 edition of the Asian Cup are great opportunities for the players to have a consistent training environment and games.
Key Players:
Zahra Ganbari is Iran’s top scorer with 16 goals according to some reports. She has been a leader and advocate for women’s football in Iran. She also captains the team as one of the most experienced players, having played for nearly 20 years. She plays for Iranian club Persepolis.
Fatemeh Amineh is a defender who leads the defense through her experience. The 28-year old plays for Bam Khatoon under Jafari, giving her a unique relationship that transfers tactics from club to country. This particular aspect of her game shines through in her positioning and communication that is necessary to keep scoreline manageable.
Zahra Khajavi is Iran’s top goalkeeper. As the starting goalkeeper for seven years, she is very popular in Iran. Her work off the line is matched by none and her leadership controls the defense. As she grew up playing futsal, her foot skills are unusually good for a keeper. She plays the largest part in keeping Iran’s defense in check and stopping the goals from pouring in due to disorganization.
One to Watch:
Sana Sadeghi has racked up an impressive number of caps for her age considering the inconsistent game schedule. The 25-year old plays for Persepolis in Iran, giving her a valuable connection with a large majority of her teammates who play for the same club. Her experience helps to vitalize the midfield and bridge the gap between younger players and veterans.
Success Would Be:
Winning a game or even scoring a couple goals in a tough group would be a success for Iran. As one of the newest teams to the tournament, this will likely be a learning experience on the long road to development.
Prediction:
Group stage exit. On paper, it seems highly unlikely that Iran could make it out of Group A, let alone win a game. No matter what, even qualifying for their second Asian Cup is an impressive feat.
Fixtures:
1st March — South Korea vs Iran, 7pm, Gold Coast Stadium
5th March — Iran vs Australia, 7pm, Gold Coast Stadium
8th March — Iran vs Philippines, 7pm, Gold Coast Stadium
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