Did you know that Team Melli – the National Team of Iran – played its first ever World Cup qualifying match in 1973? Iran did not participate in World Cup qualification from 1930 to 1970.
Iran hosted North Korea in Tehran on 4 May 1973 but the match ended in a scoreless draw.
Team Melli finished top of Group B in Zone 1. The group consisted of Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Kuwait.
Iran faced Australia in a two-legged play-off but was defeated 3-2 on aggregate. Australia went on to defeat South Korea to qualify to the 1974 World Cup in West Germany.
