Author: Editor

India faces a tough challange against Iran

IFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: The senior Indian men’s national team, after defeating hosts Tajikistan last week, are now winding up for the clash against Asian giants IR Iran, at the Hisor Central Stadium in Hisor, Tajikistan, which will kick off at 17:30 PM IST, on Monday, September 1, 2025. The match will be streamed live on FanCode.

India head coach Khalid Jamil credited the victory against the hosts to the unity amongst the entire team. “The win was all down to the unity that the players showed on the pitch. They all worked in unison. Not only the players, but the entire staff – the technical, non-technical, and medical staff all worked together, and the unity within the team is visible,” Jamil said to the-aiff.com on the eve of the match.

India (133rd in the FIFA rankings) next face Iran (ranked 20th), a match that may very well be termed as a ‘David versus Goliath’ affair. The Indian head coach, however, is focused on getting the Blue Tigers up and ready for the match against the Asian giants.

“The win in the last game was a huge motivation for us, but the main thing right now is for us to be ready for the Iran game. We’ve had two days to recover, and now we need to ensure that everyone is fresh when we face Iran,” said Jamil.

Defender Sandesh Jhingan, who scored the second goal in the 2-1 victory against Tajikistan and was named Player of the Match for his performance, stressed the importance of using the Tajikistan win to build momentum for the real objectives.

“Yes, we are happy that we got a win and that we have three points, but we must build on this win as a nation and as a team. We must continue to improve, because our main aim is to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup for the third consecutive time,” said Jhingan. “These games are important for us to prepare for the upcoming qualifiers (against Singapore).”

Iran have the march over India in the head-to-head record; the former having won four, while the Blue Tigers scored two victories against Team Melli, on the six occasions that the two sides have crossed swords. However, India’s last win against Iran came in 1959 in Ernakulam, when goals from Chuni Goswami, Yusuf Khan, and Tulsidas Balaram helped the hosts win 3-1.

India last faced Team Melli back in 2016 in the World Cup qualifiers, where the latter won 4-0 in Tehran. Of the current squad, only Jhingan, goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, and winger Udanta Singh were present in the team back in 2016.

“I think only the three of us (Jhingan, Sandhu, and Udanta) have played against them in this squad, so we know what kind of a challenge they will pose,” said Sandhu. And of course, they have only gotten better over the years, playing in the World Cup on a regular basis,” said Sandhu. “What we have learned playing against top opposition like Iran is that we have to make the most of our chances when they come by, and minimise our mistakes as much as we can, because such teams will punish any lapses.

“But the most important thing is to believe in the team and stay united at all times,” said Sandhu. “We must follow the plans laid out by the coach with all honesty. We must make sure that we make life difficult for them. We must show bravery and desire. Nothing is impossible in football – the Grimsby vs Manchester United (match) was an example of that.”

Mehdi Taremi Completes Move to Olympiacos

ATHENS, Greece – In a significant move for both player and club, Iranian international striker Mehdi Taremi has officially joined Greek Super League champions Olympiacos on a multi-year contract. The transfer brings an end to months of speculation and marks a new chapter for the prolific forward.

The deal was finalized after Taremi, who was in camp with the Iranian national team for a CAFA Nations Cup 2025 tournament in Tajikistan, received special permission from his coach. He departed on a private jet to Athens, Greece, on Sunday, underwent and passed his medical examinations, and signed his contract before returning to rejoin his national team duties.

Transfer Details and Contract

According to widespread reports from major Greek media outlets and renowned international football journalists, including Fabrizio Romano, Olympiacos secured Taremi’s services for a modest transfer fee of approximately €2-2.5 million. This represents a significant coup for the Piraeus-based club, as the 31-year-old striker was available on a free transfer just last summer.

Taremi has signed a contract that will see him earn over €2 million per season. His arrival is a major statement of intent from Olympiacos as they prepare for a demanding campaign on both domestic and European fronts.

A New Challenge for Taremi

Upon his arrival in Athens, Taremi expressed his excitement about the new challenge. “I am very happy to join Olympiacos. Everyone knows how big and popular this club is, and I hope I can help the team,” he stated.

He also addressed the prospect of competing for a starting role with the club’s other attackers, including AFCON hero Ayoub El Kaabi and Ukrainian forward Roman Yaremchuk. “We are all here to help the team succeed, and the main goal is the success of the club. I am ready to compete and contribute in any way I can.”

From Milan to Piraeus

Taremi joins Olympiacos after a single season with Italian giants Inter Milan, where he arrived as a free agent following a highly successful stint with FC Porto. While often used in a rotational role at Inter, the Iranian made 43 appearances across Serie A and European competitions, scoring three goals and providing nine assists, playing a part in the Nerazzurri’s Scudetto-winning campaign.

Before choosing Olympiacos, Taremi was a sought-after commodity, attracting serious interest from several European clubs and notably turning down lucrative offers from Brazilian powerhouses Flamengo and Botafogo.

What This Move Means

For Olympiacos, this is a marquee signing. Taremi brings a wealth of experience from top European leagues and the UEFA Champions League, along with a proven track record of goalscoring and playmaking. His presence immediately bolsters their attack as they seek to dominate the Greek Super League once more.

For Taremi, the move offers a central role in an ambitious project and the guaranteed opportunity to feature in the UEFA Champions League. Olympiacos will face a “group of death” featuring European heavyweights Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Borussia Dortmund, providing Taremi with a perfect stage to showcase his talents.

Olympiacos currently sits atop the Greek Super League table with a perfect six points from their opening two matches. The addition of a player of Taremi’s caliber makes them a formidable force as they look to achieve success both at home and on the continent’s biggest stage.

The bitter reality of Iranian football

The poor showing of Iranian clubs in the AFC Champions League has resulted in many criticisms and demands for change.

Masoud Eghbali, a football expert and FIFA instructor, talked to Mehr about the performance of the four Iranian clubs representatives in the AFC Champions League currently being played in Doha, Qatar. He was particularly critical with the appointment of the coaches of these clubs and considered some most of the appointments as irresponsible, amateurish, and indicative of a lack of insight and knowledge.

The format of the competition has been changed due to the COVID19 pandemic, The remaining group matches and next round plus the next round of the AFC west division has been arranged like a mini tournament in Doha,

Iran is represented by Perspolis, Esteghlal, Sepahan, and Shahr Khodro. The latter two teams have been eliminated from the competition however, Persepolis and Esteghlal still stand a slim chance in the final group games.

Eghbali commented: “The appointment of Mehdi Rahmati (Shar Khodro) and Moharram Navidkia (Sepahan) who have no qualification whatsoever as coaches and neither have attended any coaching courses as head coaches of teams that are playing in Asian competition, makes a mockery of football and its principles. It is only natural that these inexperienced coaches will fail and it is clear for even the average football fan to predict their failures against the top clubs in Asia who invest in the best coaches in the world.”

“Our football is facing deep-rooted and fundamental issues. While in the few last decades, Asian football has experienced rapid movement forward, our football has snoozed in the memories of past successes and proudly stood still and even retreated in many cases. We have to accept this reality, even though it is bitter. The bitter truth about our football is that we are years behind the top tier of Asian football. Just look at the facilities of Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan and many other Asian countries and compare it with our football facilities. You will instantly recognize the vast gap in infrastructure and our shortfalls. Korea and Japan have hosted the World Cup in the past, and Qatar is set to host the next World Cup. Look at the stadiums in Iran, we do not even have one such high standard facility in comparison. In terms of investment, it is not possible to catch up with these developed countries. In football management, we are light years behind the Asian competition and that is where it really hurts. Technically, the results of our clubs and national teams is evident as it show that we are not at the top tier of Asian football anymore. We are at best second tier, drifting down to third if drastic measures are not taken to address the shortfalls”

If football in the developed Asian countries stagnates at the standards where it is today and makes no progress, and there is a revolution in our football that progresses and develops rapidly in the fields of structure, technology, facilities, investment, and management, we may require 15 years later to catch up with the top tier Asian countries like to reach Japan, Korea, and Qatar.”

“We still look at football as a ‘game’ while the world sees this sport as a ‘sport, industry, business, economy and politics’. We must change our mentality and mindset with regard to football. As long as our clubs are the playground and backyard of political leaders and they look at it as “a heavy burden in every way”, as long as we do not invest enough in it, as long as we do not become proactive, honest, and dedicated to the sport rather than using it as a tool for political propaganda or personal gains, the status quo will remain and this football will not improve, perhaps even drop further. This current situation means a large distance between us and the top level of Asia and it will be more and more evident day by day.

Honestly, with this situation of our football, there will be hardly any progress and it remains only at the level of a (childish) game and entertainment.”

Roozbeh Cheshmi to sign with Umm Salal in Qatar

Alkass TV Channel  Qatar claimed that Roozbeh Cheshmi, Team Melli, and Esteghlal Tehran defender, had signed a contract with Umm Salal.

In Tehran, the news was circulating that the player has signed an extension of his contract with his present club Esteghlal however, Roozbeh Cheshmi seems to have reached an agreement with a Qatari club. Alkass Twitter feed quoted private sources confirming that Umm Salal has indeed signed a contract Cheshmi.

It is understood that Cheshmi is still in the Esteghlal squad in Doha, Qatar preparing for the match against Al-Shurta in the Asian Champions League. 4 Iranian clubs are taking part in the AFC Champions League in Doha, Persepolis, Esteghlal, Sepahan and Shahr Khodro. The latter has already been eliminated while the other 3 still stand a chance of qualifying to the next round.

Saman Ghoddos heading to the Championship outfit Brentford.

Brentford agreed a deal with Amiens to sign attacking midfielder Saman Ghoddos.

The Ligue 2 outfit has given the Team Melli player the green light to leave the club after their relegation from France’s top flight last season as per a contract clause.

A source at Brentford has told Football Insider that the 27-year-old has already undertaken his medical over in France and that the move is set to be completed shortly. Ghoddos will have to undergo the mandatory 2 weeks self-quarantine as per British regulation on new arrivals into the country.

Ghoddos has been a long-term target for Bees boss Thomas Frank and the Championship outfit tried to sign the playmaker last summer.

However, he remained with Amiens but spent most of the season on the sidelines through both suspension and injury as the club were relegated.

He was suspended from playing for four months and fined by FIFA after he reneged on a written contract with Spanish outfit SD Huesca to move to France.

Having returned to action back in January this year, he suffered a hip injury which kept him sidelined for seven league games and he managed to make just two more appearances before the French football season was cut short.

The 21-cap international star now looks set to bolster Brentford’s side as Frank’s men look to bounce back from their play-off disappointment last season. The team is one of the challengers for promotion to the premier league this season.

Brentford kicked off the 20/21 campaign with a 1-0 defeat to Birmingham, although they progressed to the next round of the League Cup with a 2-0 win over Southampton.

Marítimo, Ali Alipour’s next destination.

As reported earlier, Persepolis is facing a major exodus of its star player out of the team and country. The Portuguese newspaper Record has said that  Marítimo is almost assured of recruiting the Brazilian right-back Cláudio Winck, who terminated his contract with Vasco da Gama and will sign for 3 seasons; and the Iranian striker Ali Alipour, ex-Persepolis, who has an agreement for 2 seasons and is waiting for his visa to travel to Portugal.

This news comes as Persepolis is struggling financially and is in a perilous situation with piles of court cases against it for non-payment. Mehdi Torabi has left the Team to Qatar while other players are awaiting contracts abroad.

Ali Alipour has been chased by Rio Ave as a replacement for his compatriot Mehdi Taremi who left to join FC Porto. This is the first time Marítimo was mentioned as a destination for Persepolis’ top scorer.

Team Melli friendlies with Uzbekistan & Tajikistan re-arranged.

On recommendation from FIFA and due to the postponement of the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers, Uzbekistan friendly match which was supposed to be played on 8th September has been put off for a month and will therefore be played in Bunyoudkar Stadium on 8th October.

Meanwhile, FFIRI has finalized arrangements for another friendly 4 days later after the Uzbekistan match when Team Melli will host Tajikstan in Azadi on the 12th of October. These will be the first Team Melli matches under the new coach  Dragan Skočić,

the Croat has yet to meet Team Melli as a group in any training session. However, he traveled to several places to meet individual players or observe them in action.

Taremi signs for FC Porto

TEHRAN, Sep. 01  – Primeira Liga’s defending champion FC Porto announced the signing of Team Melli striker of Rio Ave Mehdi Taremi on a four-year contract.

Porto has reportedly paid around €4.5m plus 25-year-old forward Andre Pereira for this transfer.

The Iranian striker impressed Portugal’s league with 21 goals and five assists in the last season, being named one of the top goal scorers of the league. He had reportedly been under the radar of other Portuguese giants including Sporting Lisbon and Benfica.

Porto hopes to defend its title with goals that will be added by Taremi.

After signing the deal, Taremi said he seeks to score more than 20 goals for Porto in the next season. The team’s aim is to win the league’s and Taça de Portugal’s title in the coming year, he added.

OnWednesday, FC Porto defeated Académica 5-1 a training game held at the Olival internship center, in Vila Nova de Gaia, Porto District, with Sérgio Conceição using 24 players including the new signing Mehdi Taremi.

Serjik Teymourian passes away

The brother of former Team Melli captain, Serjik Teymourian (46) passed away this morning in Tehran after suffering fatal injuries in a motorcycle crash.

Serjik who was born in Tehran on 29th May 1974, started his football career like most Iranian-Armenian players with Ararat. He was soon discovered by Esteghlal and joined the famous club in 1993. He played from p Esteghlal until the season 1998 where he joined the Bundesliga team Mainz 05. He was in Germany for two seasons.

Serjik played several international selection games for Tehran and Iran XI teams.

God bless his soul.

 

Omid Team to start the long road to Olympics in earnest.

Iran will kickstart their 2020 AFC U-23 Championship Qualifiers campaign from 22nd March in Tehran. The team, known as Omid Team, is under the guidance of the seasoned Croat coach Zlatko Krancjar and will lock horns against Turkmenistan in their first match before crossing swords against Yemen two days later and finally, their strongest rival, Iraq on 26th March.

Omid team held has held a series of training sessions and camps including playing friendly games against Syria and Jordan prior to the competition. Omid Team also played in a competition in Qatar where three U-23 teams took part. Iran won the title of that round ribbon tournament.

Tehran is hosting Group C of 2020 AFC U-23 Championship Qualifiers

 In preparation for the matches starting tomorrow, a post-match conference was held at the National Iranian National Football Center’s conference hall where all the coaches expressed optimism for their team’s chances while Iraqi and Yemeni coach criticized the AFC plans for the Olympic Games qualifiers.

At the beginning of the press conference, Turkmen coach Bayram Dordayiev said: “I know Iran’s football quite well, since I worked in Iran for several years. Iran’s football has a a colorful history and has produced players such as Ali Daei, Mehdi Mahdavikia and Ali Parvin in its history. Football is strong and powerful in this country. Iran is strong in the Olympics age group and has a youth team that plays well in defense and attack. We have a tough group. Iran and Iraq are powerful teams and we have information about them. Ultimately, the result of any match cannot be predicted but only the playing field will dictate the victorious and superior team.”

Iran’s coach, Zlatko Krancjar, said: “First of all, I wish to congratulate everyone on the occasion of the Persian New Year and welcome my colleagues from Turkmenistan, Yemen and Iraq to Iran. Apart from Iraq, we do not know adequate knowledge about the other two teams, we only know the Iraqi team and played two games and hopefully in the coming days we will be able to get the necessary knowledge of the other competitors.”

About the final list of 23 players in the squad, Head coach or Iran U23 team, Krancjar said  “We should announce the list beforehand. We set up this list, and the promise is that it can deliver our objectives. Some clubs did not cooperate with the team by holding their players.  Apart from the damage that was done because of that, there is no particular problem in the team. We were looking at the legionnaires, but the domestic players were better and more prepared”

Referring to the use of players outside the Iranian league, he said ” We have Reza Shekari from Russia but  we do not have Younis Delphi due to injury.”

Iraqi coach Abdul Ghani Shahid said: “We have great hopes to qualify. We succeeded in qualifying to the Rio Olympics in the last competition and hope we can repeat it again. Many think that Iraq and Iran will qualify from this group, but I believe the standards are too close to call. Asian Football Confederation has made a strange plan for the tournament. The AFC, which always pays particular attention to the quality of the players and the quality of the tournament, holds tournaments in tandem, and this affects the quality of the work. We did not use adult players in the tournament because they were engaged in the AFC Asian Cup with the senior team and subsequently entered this competition without them by using younger players.”

Yemeni coach Sammy Na’ash also spoke at the press conference “We are in a tough and strong group. The two teams from Iraq and Iran have a special lead in this group. The AFC’s planning for this tournament is not desirable, and competitions are held with the least rest for the players. We started the preparation program very late and we encountered a lot of problems, but we are doing our best to produce a good and decent performance.”