Before signing an employment agreement with a foreign player, Iranian football clubs must comply with internal regulations issued by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI). These regulations stipulate that only players who meet specific professional experience requirements are eligible to join Iranian clubs. Eligibility is determined by the number of matches played, either for National Teams or in certain club competitions, within the two years preceding the contract.
The required experience is divided into two categories: National Team appearances and leagues matches. If the player does not meet these criteria, their contract will not be registered and the player cannot be fielded. Even if, for any reason, the contract is registered, the player will be deemed ineligible.
Note that in the event of a breach of these regulations, no liability shall be attributed to the player. Moreover, regarding FIFA and CAS jurisprudence, the employment agreement is valid. However, it is essential to be informed of these requirements prior to signing with an Iranian club.
The eligibility criteria, categorized under National Team appearances and club matches, are outlined as follows:
National Team
Regarding the nationality of players and playing in official or friendly National Teams’ matches:
A. Players with nationalities Associated with AFC or OFC
Group 1. Players with the nationality of Japan, South Korea, Qatar, UAE, Australia, Saudi Arabia, China, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Oman, Syria, and New Zealand:
a) Must have played in at least three matches for the U-23 National Teams, or
b) Must have played in at least two matches for the National Team of that country.
Group 2. Players with the nationality of other countries within the AFC or OFC region:
Must have played in at least four matches for the National Team.
B. Players with nationalities Associated with CAF
Group 1. Players with the nationality of South Africa, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco, and Ghana:
a) Must have played in at least three matches for the U-23 National Teams, or
b) Must have played in at least two matches for the National Team of that country.
Group 2. Players with the nationality of other CAF countries
Must have played in at least four matches for the Senior National Team.
C. Players with nationalities Associated with CONCACAF
Group 1. Players with the nationality of the USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica:
a) Must have played in at least three matches for the U-23 National Teams, or
b) Must have played in at least two matches for the Senior National Team of that country.
Group 2. Players with the nationality of other CONCACAF countries:
Must have played in at least four matches for the National Team.
D. Players with nationalities Associated with CONMEBOL
Must have played in at least in one match of the Senior National Team or U-23 National Teams.
E. Players from UEFA Region
Group 1. Players with the nationality of any of the following:
England, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Croatia, Netherlands, Scotland, Sweden, Poland, Austria, Ukraine, Serbia, Turkey, Russia, Greece, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland, Wales, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Norway, Northern Ireland, Iceland, Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina:
Must have played in at least one match of Senior National Team or U-23 National Team
Group 2. Players with the nationality of other UEFA countries
Must have played in at least four matches for the senior National Team.
Leagues Matches
Regardless of nationalities of players:
A. Leagues Associated with AFC and OFC
Players who played in the leagues of Japan, South Korea, Qatar, UAE, Australia, Saudi Arabia, China, Uzbekistan, Iraq, or New Zealand:
a) Must have played in at least eight official matches in the top-tier league and national cup competitions of that country, and
b) Their former club must have finished ranked 1st to 6th in the league table.
B. Leagues Associated with CONCACAF
Players who played in the leagues of the USA or Mexico:
a) Must have played in at least eight official matches in the top-tier league and national cup competitions of that country, and
b) Their former club must have finished ranked 1st to 6th in the league table.
C. Leagues of CONMEBOL countries
Group 1. For Brazil and Argentina leagues:
Players who have played in the first and/or second national league and cup competitions.
Group 2. For other leagues associated with CONMEBOL countries:
Must have played in at least eight official matches in the top-tier league and national cup competitions.
D. Leagues of UEFA countries
Group 1. Players who have played in the national league and cup competitions of England, France, Spain, Italy, or Germany.
Group 2. Players who have played in the leagues of: Portugal, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Croatia, Netherlands, Scotland, Sweden, Poland, Austria, Ukraine, Serbia, Turkey, Russia, Greece, Czech Republic, Republic of Ireland, Wales, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Norway, Northern Ireland, Iceland, Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina:
Must have played in at least eight official matches in the top-tier league and national cup competitions of that country.
Group 3. Other UEFA leagues:
- a) Must have played in at least eight official matches in the top-tier league and national cup competitions of that country, and
- b) Their former club must have finished ranked 1st to 6th in the league table.
E. Continental Competitions
Players who have played in at least one match of any continental club competition, such as the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Copa Libertadores, or the AFC Champions League Elite, are eligible.
Notes:
- The player must have actually played in the matches, being on the bench does not count.
- Two criteria are considered for players: National Team appearances and club competition experience. If a player meets only one of the two criteria, he is eligible to conclude an employment agreement with an Iranian football club.
- All statistics must be from the two years preceding the conclusion of an agreement with an Iranian club.
- National Team
| Confederation | Group / Nationality | Minimum Required Matches |
| AFC / OFC | ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? | 3 U-23 matches or 2 senior NT matches |
| Other AFC / OFC countries | 4 senior NT matches | |
| CAF | ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? | 3 U-23 matches or 2 senior NT matches |
| Other CAF countries | 4 senior NT matches | |
| CONCACAF | ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? | 3 U-23 matches or 2 senior NT matches |
| Other CONCACAF countries | 4 senior NT matches | |
| CONMEBOL | All countries | 1 U-23 or 1 senior NT match |
| UEFA | ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? etc. | 1 U-23 or 1 senior NT match |
| Other UEFA countries | 4 senior NT matches |
- Leagues Matches
| Confederation / Region | League / Country | Minimum Requirements |
| AFC / OFC | ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? | 8 matches in top-tier league or national cup and club ranked 1st–6th |
| CONCACAF | ???????? ???????? | 8 matches in top-tier league or national cup and club ranked 1st–6th |
| CONMEBOL | ???????? ???????? | Played in first or second division and national cups (no match minimum) |
| CONMEBOL | Other CONMEBOL leagues | 8 matches in top-tier league or national cup |
| UEFA | ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? | Played in national league or cup competitions (no match minimum) |
| UEFA | ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? ???????? etc. | 8 matches in top-tier league or national cup |
| UEFA | Other UEFA leagues | 8 matches in top-tier league or cup and club ranked 1st–6th |
| Continental Competitions | UEFA CL / EL, AFC CL Elite, Copa Libertadores, etc. | 1 match played in any major continental competition |