Mohaddeseh Zolfi
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mohaddeseh Zolfi | ||
| Date of birth | January 16, 2005 | ||
| Place of birth | Tabriz, Iran | ||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Ista Alborz | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2022–2023 | Malavan Bandar Anzali | ||
| 2024–present | Ista Alborz | ||
| International career‡ | |||
| 2019 | Iran U15 | ||
| 2020–2021 | Iran U17 | (2) | |
| 2022–present | Iran women's national football team | 5+ | (1) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 9 June 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 9 June 2026 | |||
Mohaddeseh Zolfi (born 16 January 2005 in Tabriz) is an Iranian footballer who plays as a forward for Ista Alborz and the Iran women's national football team.
Playing career
[edit]She won the title with the Iran women's national under-15 team at the 2019 CAFA U-15 Girls Championship and was named the tournament's best player.[1][2][3]
In 2021, she also performed successfully at the 2021 CAFA U-17 Women's Championship, where she was once again named the tournament's best player. The Iran women's national under-17 team finished as runners-up in the competition.[4]
Controversies
[edit]In 2026, following the Iran women's national team's participation in Australia, several international media outlets reported that a number of Iranian women's national team players had sought asylum. Mohaddeseh Zolfi was among the players mentioned in those reports.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
Following the publication of these reports, several Iranian media outlets stated that she had returned to the Iran women's national team camp.[13][14][15][16][17]
International career
[edit]After progressing through Iran's youth national teams, Zolfi was called up to the senior Iran women's national football team and appeared in various international competitions, including the AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifiers, CAFA competitions, and official AFC tournaments.
During the qualification stage of the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup, she scored in Iran's match against Bhutan.[18][19]
Zolfi also played for Iran in the final tournament of the 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup against Australia, the Philippines, and South Korea.[20][21][22]
Honours
[edit]International
[edit]- Winner of the 2019 CAFA U-15 Girls Championship
- Runner-up of the 2021 CAFA U-17 Women's Championship
Individual
[edit]- Best Player of the 2019 CAFA U-15 Girls Championship
- Best Player of the 2021 CAFA U-17 Women's Championship
References
[edit]- ↑ "Iran crowned CAFA U15 Women's champions". Tehran Times. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Persian female leopards: From futsal players to CAFA U15 girls champions". Islamic Republic News Agency. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Zolfi named best player of the CAFA tournament". Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (in Persian). Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Iran runners-up at CAFA U17 Women's Championship". Tehran Times. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Iranian women's soccer squad member changes mind on Australia asylum offer, to return home". Reuters. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Football squad member changes mind on asylum as Iran accuses Australia of holding players 'hostage'". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Iranian women's soccer team member flip-flops on asylum — reveals secret site where her teammates hid". New York Post. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Member of Iranian football delegation granted Australian asylum changes her mind". BBC. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Mohaddeseh Zolfi named as sixth player to leave Iran women's football team in Australia". Iran International. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Conflicting narratives in women's football; Australia issued visas for six players". Euronews. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Inside the Australian hotel where Iranian footballers escaped to claim asylum". BBC. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Iranian women's soccer squad member changes mind on Australia asylum offer". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Three members of Iranian women's football team pull Australia asylum bids". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Three Iranian women soccer players to return home after seeking asylum in Australia". sports yahoo. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "21-year-old Iranian footballer Zolfi revokes asylum, plans return to Iran". biz.chosun. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Six Iranian women footballers remained in Australia seeking humanitarian protection". Voice of America Persian News Network (in Persian). Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Continuing story of Iran women's football team players; what do we know about the change of mind?". BBC Persian (in Persian). Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Iran too strong for Bhutan in AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifier". Mehr News Agency. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Qualifiers - Group A: IR Iran 7-1 Bhutan". AFC. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Filipinas strengthen #WAC2026 q'final push with 2–0 win over Iran". Philippine Football Federation. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "AFC Women's Asian Cup 2026 Teams – Players & Qualified Nations". Asia Cup. Retrieved 9 June 2026.
- ↑ "Iran women's national team's campaign ends at the Asian Cup". IRIB News (in Persian). Retrieved 9 June 2026.
External links
[edit]- Mohaddeseh Zolfi at Soccerway
- Mohaddeseh Zolfi at ESPN FC
- Mohaddeseh Zolfi at Global Sports Archive
- Mohaddeseh Zolfi at FBref.com
- Profile at FotMob