2006 World Cup Qualifiers (February 2004)

Iran’s road to the 2006 World Cup started prior to the 2004 Asian Championship. Grouped with Jordan, Laos and Qatar, Iran would open up against a Qatari team that was not only giving quick citizenship to foreigners playing in the Qatari league, but also actively recruiting foreigners in Europe who had no chance of playing for their own national team while also having absolutely no ties to Qatar. Before the German based Brazilians Aílton, Dedé and Leandro could respond to Qatar’s request FIFA intervened and nixed this move.

Iran would first face Qatar in an empty Azadi Stadium as punishment for the firecracker incident against North Korea in the Asian Championship qualifiers. 

With less than 10 minutes gone by, Iran opened the scoring with a Nikbakht shot from inside the box. Mahdavikia would double Iran’s lead before halftime. Following a foul on Karimi in the second half, Daei converted from the spot. Qatar would score a consolation goal, also from the spot, and Iran would ultimately win 3-1. 

Iran would then play Laos away and demolish them 7-0 with braces from Daei, Enayati and Taghipour plus a Laos own goal. 

With only one team advancing from the group, Iran’s prospects looked good. However, in the next game at home against Jordan disaster struck. A late counterattack by Jordan would provide the only goal in a 1-0 defeat for Iran. 

With the qualifiers resuming after the Asian Championship, Iran was now in a position in which in all likelihood it had to win its three remaining games to stay alive.

Following the 2004 Asian Championship, Iran faced Jordan away in a must-win situation. 

One bright spot for Iran was the return of Hashemian after a three year absence. With him playing his club soccer in Germany, the reason for refusing call ups to the national team was his lack of playing time in spite of being in top form while an aging Daei seemingly had a fixed starting spot. Hashemian, under immense pressure, eventually yielded and joined the squad to face Jordan in Amman. Desperation was such that even Azizi was fielded. With 80 minutes gone and no goals, it seemed like Iran’s chances were slipping away. However, a looping header by Nikbakht eluded the keeper and finally broke the deadlock. In injury time Daei headed Iran’s second goal for a much-needed 2-0 victory. In spite of this crucial win, Iran was still not in the clear as they now faced a Qatari team in need of a win for survival. 

Iran suffered a setback in goal when Mirzapour was sidelined with an injury and in his place Rahmati stood in Iran’s goal. Iran opened the scoring in the 9^th minute after Hashemian’s shot hit the post and trickled in but Qatar would equalize shortly thereafter. With only 15 minutes left Golmohammadi mistakenly deflected a low cross into his own net to give Qatar the lead. With two goals needed in the little remaining time, Borhani converted a perfect through-ball to tie matters up in the 78^th minute. With five minutes left, Azizi was subbed on the field. He was quick to score for Iran although the ref disallowed the goal due to offside. With one minute remaining in regulation Azizi broke into the box and squared a pass from the endline to Hashemian who would score his second and Iran’s third goal for a 3-2 victory. With the win Qatar would be eliminated while Iran remained tied on points with Jordan although Iran had the easier game in hand. 

In the final game at Home against Laos, anticipating goal difference to play a role in the standings, Iran cruised to a 7-0 victory with goals by Daei (4), Nekounam (2) and Borhani. 

As it turned out a win or even a tie would have been sufficient as Jordan succumbed to defeat against Qatar, Iran topped the group and in the next round would face Bahrain, Japan and North Korea with the top two teams advancing to the World Cup.

Iran would start the next round away to Bahrain. For Iran, Fereydoun Zandi, a Bundesliga player born to an Iranian father and a German mother, would make his national team debut.

Given the memories of Iran’s last encounter there, plus the harsh treatment of Iranian spectators, segregated in the stands in a cage-like structure, the encounter produced much anxiety. In the end the teams would settle for a scoreless draw. 

Iran would next face Asian champions Japan in Azadi. 

The game began with Iran’s constant attacks. Hashemian would pounce on a loose ball and open the scoring in the 13^th minute following a failed clearance from a freekick. 

In the second half a throw-in from the left side and a lobbed long ball to the far post saw a Japanese player outjump Rezaei and head the ball to his teammate who swung a side kick at the high-bouncing ball and drilled it past the keeper, bringing Japan back on level terms. But in the 75^th minute, an Iranian counterattack led by Karimi turned Japan's flank on the right side. Japan failed to contain him and Karimi was able to keep the ball from crossing the end line with a quick chip in front of the net. The ball found Hashemian who easily won the aerial battle, heading home Karimi's cross and giving Iran the lead and overall a 2-1 win. In spite of the win, a low point was the trampling that happened after the game and resulted in seven spectator deaths. 

Five days later Iran would face North Korea away. A first half Mahdavikia header and a second half Nekounam shot would give Iran a 2-0 win.

The Koreans believed they had been cheated out of a penalty kick and even went as far as repeatedly shoving the referee around to show their objection. 

Following the game, Iran had to barricade themselves in their locker room as the Koreans attempted to get their hands on them and settle the score off of the field.

Iran would begin its return games against North Korea. 

With Rezai smashing his header under the crossbar and into the net Iran would emerge 1-0 winners and put themselves within striking distance of the World Cup as a win against Bahrain in Azadi would clinch qualification. 

Iran would go out all attacking against Bahrain.

Highlights of the first half included Nosrati hitting the post from a Zandi corner kick. In the second half the two would combine again off a Zandi freekick and this time Nosrati would convert his header. With the 1-0 win, Iran qualified for the World Cup with one game to spare. 

In a meaningless final game Iran would trail Japan 2-0 although a late Daei penalty would make the final score 2-1.