Ali Karimi is one of several Sepahan Academy players who were promoted to the first team in season 2012/13.
He was invited to the Iran U-23 training squad by Nelo Vingada in preparation for Asian Games Incheon 2014 and then the 2016 AFC U-22 Championship (Summer Olympic qualification). He was named to the U23 final roster for Incheon 2014.

At the Senior level, Karimi was invited to Team Melli by Carlos Queiroz in March 2014 but did not manage a game. He was called up again to the senior squad for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against India in September 2015.
Karimi finally made his debut against Papua Guinea on 10 November 2016 in a friendly match.

After Years of playing for his childhood club, Karimi was transferred to the Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb where he played for the B team and the seniors. He was loaned to Lokomotiva in 2017 where he finally managed to score.