Historic qualification takes Iranian women’s football to next level

A qualification for the 2022 AFC Women’s Asian Cup will surely go down in history as a pivotal point for Iran’s women’s football.

Following a goalless draw in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Zohreh Koudaei saved two spot-kicks as Iran beat Jordan 4-2 in the shootout on Saturday to book a first-ever place in the final showdown in India.

Level in the table after both sides had delivered 5-0 wins over Bangladesh, Iran and Jordan went into the Group G encounter knowing that a draw will see the shootout drama decide the qualification.

With the recent Arab Cup title under their belts, Jordanians came into the match as favorites but failed to break through a Koudaei-led backline.

Iran showed nerves of steel from the spot, with captain Behnaz Taherkhani scoring the first penalty, before Melika Motevalli, Zahra Qanbari and Sana Sadeqi made a clean sweep of spot-kicks.

“I’m so delighted for this achievement, and it’s even a greater joy seeing months of hard work pay off,” said the Iranian keeper.

This was a huge success for the Iranian women’s team, which had even been removed from the FIFA Women’s World Ranking for five months – for what the international football governing body had described as lack of competitive action for two years – before regaining its spot in mid-April.

Manager Maryam Irandoust was quick to praise the Iranian federation for the overwhelming support, which saw “all training camps being held according to plan throughout the preparation.”

Irandoust also offered her gratitude to the federation chief, Shahabeddin Azizi-Khadem, who contributed massively to the women’s team finding “the character to succeed at the continental stage.”

For the women’s sport in Iran, which has enjoyed global triumphs in multiple individual sports over the years, the historic feat comes as a further step in the development of team sports, having seen the national team recently qualify for the World Women's Handball Championship, following the country’s domination in the AFC Women's Futsal Asian Cup in 2015 and 2018.

Irandoost’s women will now be among the 12 teams in January’s Asian Cup, squaring off against the continent’s elite for the five berths available for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The host country India, the defending champion Japan, and the 2018 runner-up Australia, as well as China, South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines have also secured a spot at the Asian Cup.