Iran’s U23 football crisis: A cycle of failure and fading Olympic dreams

TEHRAN – Iran’s U23 national football team have hit a new, embarrassing low. Their recent exit from the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia was not just a disappointment; it was a systemic failure that exposes deep-rooted problems within Iranian football’s youth development structure.

The statistics are damning. Under coach Omid Ravankhah, the team finished bottom of Group C with only two points, failing to score a single goal in three matches. Dominating possession and chances against South Korea, Uzbekistan, and ultimately Lebanon counted for nothing. The 1-0 defeat to Lebanon, sealed by a penalty, was a symbolic blow, highlighting a critical lack of cutting edge and composure. This wasn’t bad luck, it was a demonstration of poor preparation and tactical impotence.

This failure is part of a much larger, decades-long pattern. Iran have not qualified for the Olympic football tournament for over half a century. Each cycle repeats the same script: lofty goals, premature elimination, a coaching change, and vague promises of reform. Coach Ravankhah’s fate is now sealed, plunging the federation into yet another chaotic search for a savior, all while the core issues remain unaddressed.

The problems are old and well-known. The U23 team consistently suffer from a lack of adequate friendly matches, denying them vital competitive experience. Iranian football clubs frequently refuse to release key players, prioritizing domestic leagues over national youth development. Furthermore, the team often appear to be an afterthought for the Football Federation, lacking sustained strategic and logistical support. This creates a perfect storm where talented individuals fail to unite into a functional, winning group.

With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as the next target, the path looks extraordinarily difficult. While the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya present a theoretical chance for a quota, the team’s current state inspires zero confidence. The federation’s approach must undergo a radical shift. It is no longer enough to simply appoint a new coach. What is required is a comprehensive, long-term project focused on systematic talent development, guaranteed player availability, and a curated calendar of high-level preparation matches.

Without this fundamental change in philosophy and priority, Iranian football is doomed to repeat this painful and humiliating cycle. The U23 team continue to be a source of disillusionment, symbolizing not potential, but a chronic and seemingly accepted culture of underachievement. The dream of Olympic football remains just as a dream, fading further with every failed campaign.