Introduction
Sports and athletes are highly valued in Iran. Even three thousand years ago, sports like horseback riding, archery, and swimming were in high demand. When we look at today, we can talk about many traditional and modern sports branches in Iran. Wrestling, for example, is one of the few sports that has maintained its popularity among Iranians from the past to the present. However, football is unquestionably the most popular sport in Iran.
Local football teams have been formed in almost all Iranian cities and regions. In particular, Persepolis and Esteghlal became well-known in their respective regions and throughout Iran. These matches fill the stadium every year and draw a large audience to the screen. What are popular sports in Iran, except for football? Basketball, volleyball, karate, fitness, and skiing are popular sports in Iran, particularly among young people.
What Are the Most Popular Sports in Iran?
Association football
Football is unquestionably the most popular sport in Iran. Football is a popular sport in the country. Iran has qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times in a row. Aside from that, he has three AFC Asian Cup titles and four gold medals.
The Iranian Premier Football League began in the country and has significantly contributed to football’s advancement. Many Iranian football players are now competing in Europe’s top leagues, and Iranian football teams have begun to collaborate with European players and coaches.
Esteghlal and Persepolis are two of the country’s most important football teams. As a result, these teams’ stadiums are used as the host stadium in Iran. The Azadi Stadium has a capacity of 100,000 people and is Iran’s largest stadium.
Basketball
Basketball is the most popular sport in Iran after football. Iranian basketball, which has a very strong team and a professional league, has recently added many Asian players to its rosters. The Iranian basketball league makes a name for itself with its strong coaching and playing staff.
Previously, the Iranian national basketball team competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. They won gold at the 2007 FIBA Asian Championships and qualified for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Hamed Haddadi is the first Iranian NBA player. Women’s basketball in the United States is also improving on a daily basis.
Weightlifting
Weightlifting has almost always been one of the most popular sports among Iranians. Weightlifting was brought to the forefront in the country by super heavyweight lifter Hossein Reza Zadeh breaking the world record, and Hossein Tavakoli winning a gold medal in the Sydney Olympics.
Kabbadi
Kabbadi is a popular sport in Iran as well. The Iranian Kabbadi National Team represents Iran in the International Kabbadi Federation. In the sport of kabaddi, Iranians have won numerous championships and degrees. Concurrently, Iran hosted the Circle Asia Cup in this sport in 2011.
Skiing
With its rich mountainous regions, Iran has become an important attraction center for ski and snowboard enthusiasts. The sport of skiing in Iran began in 1938, thanks to the efforts of two German railway engineers. Tochal, Index, and Shemshak are now among the most important ski resorts in the world.
Tochal is the world’s fifth-highest ski resort. The facility was completed in 1976. It is located only 15 minutes north of Tehran, making it easily accessible and operational for nearly half of the year.
Hiking and climbing sports
Climbing sports are very popular in Iran due to the abundance of mountains. The Zagros and Alborz series provide numerous opportunities for novice and advanced users.
Hiking and trekking enthusiasts can enjoy the rustic surroundings and relatively difficult climbs in places like Alamut and Tangeh Savashi.
We already mentioned that mountainous areas are common in Iran. Climbing sports are also very popular in Iran because of this advantage. Climbers of all levels will find a plethora of options in Zagros and Alborz. At the same time, hiking and trekking areas such as Alamut and Tangeh Savashi are ideal for citizens who want to attempt a difficult climb.
Martial arts
Iran has grown in popularity in martial arts, particularly in the last 20 years. Among the most popular martial arts are judo, wushu, shotokan, taekwondo, and kyokushin.
The Judo Federation barred Iran from participating in tournaments due to animosity between Iranian judoka Saeid Mollaei and Israeli judoka. This case occurred in 2019.
Volleyball
Iran’s national volleyball team has a professional league with a strong staff and has made a name for itself worldwide. With their medals, the Iranian youth national team and men’s volleyball team under the age of 19 are among the strongest volleyball teams in the world. Iran also has a strong showing in beach volleyball. It has a men’s national beach volleyball team.
Futsal
Futsal is also a widely played sport in Iran. Futsal, which is practiced both amateur and professional, has achieved significant success by taking 6th place among national teams after Brazil, Spain, Portugal, and Argentina as of January 2019.
It has won the AFC Futsal Championship 9 times and has competed in the FIFA Futsal World Cup finals five times. There is also a futsal super league in the country.
Conclusion
As a result, association football is the first answer to the question of what are popular sports in Iran. Volleyball, basketball, weightlifting, kabaddi, skiing, and many other sports follow football. Iran has a diverse sporting culture. Sports are becoming increasingly important in Iran, and it is clear that the country has a strong and professional league.
