Team Melli will meet Japan tomorrow for a place in the semi finals of the 18th AFC Asian Cup.
It is also the clash between the number one ranked Asian Team team and number two. The two Asian Gians have played each others 18 times since 1951 Asian Games Semi-Finals in India. Iran won the replayed match 3-2. The records is balanced with 6 wins, draws and losses each. The only advantah=ge is that Japan has a goal difference of +2.
The last time the two teams met was in the semi-final of the last AFC Asian Cup where Japan comprhensively beat Carlo Queiroz team, 3-0 in Al Ain. The last time Iran wom was back in 2005 in Azadi Stadium in the qualifiers of the FIFA World Cup 2006.
Lately, the Japanese have been the talk of the football world with their superb results against many major teams of the world. The stabilty in the coaching staff, Japanese discipline, European experinced players and the work rate of the team has made them a force to be reckoned with.
IT was a shocking result when Japan lost to Jordan i n the group stages. It was the frist loss to any team in over 15 matches.
Iran has not lost since Amir Ghalenoei took over in March 2022. Those good results of Team Melli included acomprhensive wins against teams that are alread in the quarter finals stage of the AFC Asian Cup 2023. A 4-0 and 3-1wins against win Qatar and Jordan repectively and an away draw 2-2 against Uzbekistan.
Despite being the two top teams in AFC zone by FIFA ranking, it is clear from recent results that they are are far from invincible. The match on the 3rd will be a major clash and an early final. It will also be a shrewed batte between the coaches of the two teams Hajime Moriyasu and Amir Ghalenoei.
Summary of matches
| Venue | Matches played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals | GD |
| Home | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 – 4 | +1 |
| Away | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 – 7 | -5 |
| Neutral | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 12 – 10 | +2 |
| Total | 18 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 19 – 21 | -2 |
Matches
| Date | Comp. | H / A / N | Final score | Stadium | Attendance |
| 28.01.2019 | Asian Cup / Semi Final | A | 0 – 3 | Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain | 23262 |
| 13.10.2015 | Friendly | H | 1 – 1 | Azadi Stadium , Tehran | 15000 |
| 17.08.2005 | World Cup Qualifier / Second Round | A | 1 – 2 | Nissan Stadium , Yokohama | 65000 |
| 25.03.2005 | World Cup Qualifier / WCQ | H | 2 – 1 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran | 120000 |
| 28.07.2004 | Asian Cup / Group D | N | 0 – 0 | Olympics Sport Centre , Chongqing | 52000 |
| 11.08.1999 | Friendly / Friendly | A | 1 – 1 | International Stadium, Yokohama | 35860 |
| 16.11.1997 | World Cup Qualifier / Play-Off | N | 2 – 3 | Larkin Stadium-Johor Bahru | 22000 |
| 18.10.1993 | World Cup Qualifier / Second Round | N | 2 – 1 | Al Khalifa Stadium , Doha | 15000 |
| 03.11.1992 | Asian Cup / Group A | A | 0 – 1 | Big Arch Stadium , Hiroshima | 37000 |
| 01.10.1990 | Asian Games / Quarter Finals | N | 1 – 0 | Fengtai Sports Center-Beijing | 10000 |
| 20.01.1989 | Friendly | H | 2 – 2 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran | 50000 |
| 04.12.1988 | Asian Cup / Group 1 | N | 0 – 0 | Qatar FC Stadium , Doha | 4000 |
| 22.09.1986 | Asian Games / Group D | N | 2 – 0 | Hanbat Stadium, Daejeon | 30000 |
| 20.11.1982 | Asian Games / Group D | N | 0 – 1 | Modeltown Stadium-New Delhi | 10000 |
| 18.12.1966 | Asian Games / Semi Final | N | 1 – 0 | Tarua Football Stadium-Bangkok | 20000 |
| 11.12.1966 | Asian Games / Group B | N | 1 – 3 | Chulalongkon University Stadium-Bangkok | 10000 |
| 08.03.1951 | Asian Games / Semi-Final replay | N | 3 – 2 | Ambedkar Stadium -New Delhi | 30000 |
| 07.03.1951 | Asian Games / Semi Final | N | 0 – 0 | Ambedkar Stadium – New Delhi | 23000 |