Should Iran play in the Arab Cup, if invited?

[ParthianDE]

I voted no, because it doesn't make sense on two levels:

One: Iran is obviously not an Arab country.

Two: not too much to be gained in terms of football experience, since, due to the way the WCQ are structured into West and East Asia, we always mostly play Arab teams anyway in WCQ.

So thanks, but no thanks. Better to orient towards Central Asia plus Mediterranean (incl. Northenr Africa), Southern Europe (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Balkan), Turkey/Greece, IMO for geographically close countries.

[ImmortalPassion]

I am neutral on this so I didn't vote since there was no neutral option!
In a way I don't like to see Iran to play in a tournement that is called "Arab" cup because it has definted itself based on an ethno-linguistic basis that we simply do not belong to.
That being said Iran plays so little games that playing even a sub-par Algeria and Egypt(all the north African teams are quite good) would be hell lots better than playing Vietnam and Iraq.

In order to make the tournament truly international they should change its name to "Middle-East Cup, and incorporate Turkey and Iran.

Yes I know they would have to include Israel too which has better relations with the Arab league. So there is no way it could happen with the current government in power.

[Arman2]

Thank you all for your honest opinions. I do understand some of your concerns. I really hope an wish for a day, where Iran, Israel and Turkey can also take part in a similar tournament.

[Hosseini]

Thank you all for your honest opinions. I do understand some of your concerns. I really hope an wish for a day, where Iran, Israel and Turkey can also take part in a similar tournament.

I don't. I don't think we should ever play against apartheid states unless we have to. Would some of you have wished to play against South Africa back when they were an apartheid state?

[AIrani]

I don't. I don't think we should ever play against apartheid states unless we have to. Would some of you have wished to play against South Africa back when they were an apartheid state?

Excellent for your care and understanding.

When white phosphorus bombs are dropped on helpless people, majority of whom are children and elderly, I would not want to deal with the apartheid state.

We are Iranians. We are children of Saadi who wrote:
" Human beings are members of a whole
In creation of one essence and soul
If one member is afflicted with pain
Other members uneasy will remain
If you have no sympathy for human pain
The name of human you cannot retain "

[Arman2]

I don't. I don't think we should ever play against apartheid states unless we have to. Would some of you have wished to play against South Africa back when they were an apartheid state?

Their football team has nothing to do with it. Please don't mix sports with politics. As Iranians we don't like our TM to be linked to IR do we?

[Sholehzard]

I don't. I don't think we should ever play against apartheid states unless we have to. Would some of you have wished to play against South Africa back when they were an apartheid state?

IR Iran is a gender apartheid state bro. what if teams dont wanna play us??? and they dont. football and politics shouldnt mix. many of our players have had arab and israeli teammates and got along well with them

[Kavian]

Before you waste too much time here negotiating with yourselves if Iran should be part of Arab Cup or no, may be someone should go and ask the Arabs to see if they even want us there!

And the answer is pretty obvious! It is a big NO! ... As this Arab Cub is not all about football. There is big politics behind this and that politics is pan-arabic and by its virtue is anti-Iran and Persian Culture!

So screw the Arab Cup! We don't need to lick their hairy ass, we are Persians, the sons of Cyrus and Darious!

Think of "Persian Cup" -- the most glorious gathering of nations, territories and countries who have been touched by the Persian culture.

Persian Cup will include; Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, India, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Kenya, and Tanzania and may be even Yemen and Bahrain. Is this less than Arab Cup? I guess NOT!!

Get rid of this MF Akhound regime, we will be once again the most powerful cultural empire of the world!

[AIrani]

Before you waste too much time here negotiating with yourselves if Iran should be part of Arab Cup or no, may be someone should go and ask the Arabs to see if they even want us there!

And the answer is pretty obvious! It is a big NO! ... As this Arab Cub is not all about football. There is big politics behind this and that politics is pan-arabic and by its virtue is anti-Iran and Persian Culture!

So screw the Arab Cup! We don't need to lick their hairy ass, we are Persians, the sons of Cyrus and Darious!

Think of "Persian Cup" -- the most glorious gathering of nations, territories and countries who have been touched by the Persian culture.

Persian Cup will include; Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, India, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Kenya, and Tanzania and may be even Yemen and Bahrain. Is this less than Arab Cup? I guess NOT!!

Get rid of this MF Akhound regime, we will be once again the most powerful cultural empire of the world!

Excellent for your care and understanding.

Saadi " Human beings are members of a whole
In creation of one essence and soul
If one member is afflicted with pain
Other members uneasy will remain
If you have no sympathy for human pain
The name of human you cannot retain "

[Hosseini]

There is no reason to play them in a friendly match and pretend things are kumbaya - they are far from that. If we are forced to in the WC, then there's no choice.

Should Iran have voluntarily played apartheid South Africa back in the day when they were being boycotted? Has Iran been illegally occupying country for 40 years according to international law and doing racial apartheid?

Many countries separate women and men for religious reasons in their domestic policy - it's medieval and sad, but they aren't all going to be boycotted for that. FIFA rightfully said Iran shouldn't host games if they don't allow women in the stadium, and rightfully so! Politics and sports will always mix. Everything has political impacts.

IR Iran is a gender apartheid state bro. what if teams dont wanna play us??? and they dont. football and politics shouldnt mix. many of our players have had arab and israeli teammates and got along well with them

[Sholehzard]

Many countries separate women and men for religious reasons in their domestic policy

yeh bro they are called taliban and isis, lol. do not absolve ir because of israel. i dont agree with israel either but the day they slaughter 1500 of their own people in the streets in 3 days - then we can compare them to ir.

---

back to football, after thinking about. i am against playing in arab cup. if we can get turkey, russia and the stan countries, for example in a tournament, it would be better. or if we can somehow get our way into copa america like qatar did.

iran would be hated by the arabs in this cup and i dont even want to know what they could potentially do to us during a tournament.

[Futbaldoost]

Another positive point about Iran participating in Arab cup is the presence of North African power houses like Morocco, Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia. It is not easy to get friendlies against those teams.

Go TM!

[PSGman#19]

Another positive point about Iran participating in Arab cup is the presence of North African power houses like Morocco, Algiers, Egypt and Tunisia. It is not easy to get friendlies against those teams.

Go TM!

Wrong. We got friendlies with Algeria Tunisia libya recently and north African C teams are nothing special.

Actually even they A team are highly overrated.
Salah, Mahrez, Mane + African cup every 2 years is really agood propaganda to overrated these teams. Egypt, Morocco finished and were beaten by Iran and KSA. We also beat Algeria in 2018.

[Futbaldoost]

Wrong. We got friendlies with Algeria Tunisia libya recently and north African C teams are nothing special.
Actually even they A team are highly overrated.
Salah, Mahrez, Mane + African cup every 2 years is really agood propaganda to overrated these teams. Egypt, Morocco finished and were beaten by Iran and KSA. We also beat Algeria in 2018.

I beg to differ doosteh azeez. CQ had to work hard to get the friendlies against Algiers and Tunisia. They are easier than most European teams but not easy by IFF standards who has proven relatively incompetent when it comes to organizing decent friendlies. Also, they are not really overrated, they are just better the Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia Arab teams.

Go TM!

[PSGman#19]

I beg to differ doosteh azeez. CQ had to work hard to get the friendlies against Algiers and Tunisia. They are easier than most European teams but not easy by IFF standards who has proven relatively incompetent when it comes to organizing decent friendlies. Also, they are not really overrated, they are just better the Persian Gulf and Southwest Asia Arab teams.
Go TM!
Go TM!

Better than 0 doesn't mean it is useful. I rather have games with 2nd rate European (belarus, macedonia, Montenegro..) than C team from overrated team.
Friendly for our B/C team is useless,specially against low level teams.
Cq wasn't there to arrange friendlies with SK (wilmots era), bosnia, mali (skocic)