Iran qualified for five FIFA men’s tournaments in 2016 and 2017

They became the first Asian team to reach Russia 2018

Third-place finishes in Bahamas and Colombia, spectacular wins in India

If you heard that only one nation had qualified for five men’s FIFA tournaments in 2016 and 2017, chances are you would guess it was Brazil, Germany or another of the game’s global superpowers.

In fact, Iran hold that unique and impressive distinction, having reached the senior World Cup as well as FIFA’s U-20 and U-17 finals, and its futsal and beach soccer showpieces. Nor have the Asian giants been satisfied simply with taking part, as FIFA.com discovered.

*2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ *Played 18, lost none. That was the remarkable record that propelled Carlos Queiroz’s Team Melli to Russia 2018, and ensured that they became the first Asian side to qualify. Iran sealed their place with two games to spare and are now looking forward to a fifth World Cup, having previously participated in the 1978, 1998, 2006 and 2014 editions. Queiroz is not content simply to be joining the party though. "My goal and dream is to get to the knockout stage,” he said. “We should not be satisfied with the first round. We need to be ambitious. We need to think big. We will not go to Russia as tourists."