Iran U-17 eliminated by Uruguay
Our boys finally met their match in the round of 16.
The Blue-Shirt boys of Uruguay played a very gritty and determined match and at the end it was them that got their tickets to go through.
But, let’s remember that our boys made history. No other Iranian football team, of any age group, had ever made it past the first round of a FIFA World Cup tournament. These boys got their names hacked into the history of Iranian football, and years from now will always be remembered as the team that paved the way through.
Congratulations to you young heroes for a fantastic

Coach Afshin Ghotbi invited 30 players to Team Melli camp in preparation for the November 14 Asian Cup Qualifier against Jordan in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.
Team Melli will play friendly matches with Iceland on November 10 and Macedonia on November 18.
Iran is currently at the top of Group 5 of the 2010 ...
Uruguay and Italy tied 0-0 as a result Italy won Group F, but third place Uruguay got to go through and their Round of 16 opponents? Yes, you guessed it, Iran.
A football freak South American friend mine told me that the Colombians were a better team, so since we fared ...
Our U17 boys accomplished something that the senior side has failed to do in three tries; they made it to the second round of the U17 World Cup.
They defeated the European heavyweights Netherlands 1-0 to win the group. They now await the results of the other group matches ...
Iran U17 play a goalless draw with Colombia
Our boys played a goalless draw against a very talented Colombian team under torrential rain in Calabar.
I did not see the game, but talked to a couple of friends who did. I think the general agreement is that both teams did ...
Coach Afshin Ghotbi has left the door open for former Steel of Azin star midfielder Ali Karimi who retired from the international game earlier this year.
Ghotbi who is dealing with one of the least talented pool of players in recent years may be desperate to bring back some of the veterans ...
There are not good days for Iranian fans. We failed to qualify for South Africa, our football’s talent pool is very shallow, our football federation is totally inept, and our league’s football quality is mediocre at best. But, there is a glimmer of hope!
Our U17 boys who won the Asian Championships ...
Iranian Football Federation Vice President Mehdi Taj thinks that Team Melli needs new blood.
In an interview with Reporters Taj told reporters that he thinks new and younger players need to be recruited into Team Melli.
“I am generally happy with the progress that is being made in the senior ...
The latest Iranian Professional League coach to take a potshot at Team Melli Coach Afshin Ghotbi is Saipa FC coach Nader Faryadshiran.
It is not unusual for any nation’s national team coach to become the target of other coaches. There are many reasons for such behavior. It could be honest professional disagreement with ...
Team Melli Coach Afshin Ghotbi met with the U17s before their trip to Nigeria for the U16 World Cup tournament.
Ghotbi, who has been observing the U17 over the last few days, told reporters that he had enjoyed watching the camaraderie and positive energy of the ...
Team Melli dropped two positions in the latest FIFA rankings landing on 62nd overall and 5th spot in the AFC behind Australia, Japan, Korea Republic, and Bahrain in that order.
This of course does not come as a surprise to those of us who have been flowing Team Melli’s recent performance going back ... 