Iran 2018 World Cup Odds

In qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup this summer in Russia, the Iran national soccer team has locked up back-to-back appearances in the World Cup for the first time in its history. This will mark the fifth time that Iran’s football team has qualified for the event.

Each of Iran’s previous four appearances in the World Cup has ended in the group stage. The team was held winless in 1978, 2006 and 2014, but did earn its first and only win in tournament history when it defeated the United States 2-1 in the group stage in 1998.

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Iran’s Odds to Win World Cup: +50000

Iran is one of four teams on this year’s World Cup betting board going off at the extremely long odds of +50000 to win the event, sharing the same odds to win the tournament as South Korea, Tunisia and Morocco. The only two teams in the field going off at longer odds to win the World Cup in 2018 are Saudi Arabia and Panama at +100000 each.

The biggest issue for Iran heading into Russia is its group draw. With the third-highest favorite to win the World Cup in Spain (+600) and the eighth favorite Portugal (+2200) both residing in Iran’s group, just getting out of the first round will be a very tall task.

Iran’s Odds to Win Group B: +2800

Morocco is being given the same odds as Iran to win the World Cup, but in the group stage the Moroccans are considered a much bigger threat to potentially upset the top two. Iran is the biggest long shot to win Group B at +2800 behind Morocco at +1600 and then the two clear favorites in Spain at -185 and Portugal at +185.

Iran is a large favorite to be eliminated in the group stage at -1000. A successful bet on Iran advancing out of the group stage for the first time in its history would pay +600.

Iran’s Best World Cup Bets

Betting against Iran is probably the way to go in this year’s World Cup. While the team looked impressive during the qualification stage, the talent gap between Iran’s national team and two of the world’s best in Spain and Portugal will in all likelihood be too much to overcome.

There isn’t much money to be made on betting against Iran on a game-by-game basis as the team is a massive +1700 underdog against Spain (-500 to win, +525 to draw) and a +750 underdog against Portugal (-315 to win, +360 to draw). Morocco could be a decent bet at +130, but this is a game that Iran could feasibly win (as +260 underdogs) or force a draw (+200).

So perhaps the best value bet on the board for fading Iran comes in the form of the team total group points prop, with Iran’s line being set at OVER 1.5 (-105) and UNDER 1.5 (-125). The UNDER here is tempting as the most likely scenario in this group for Iran is a loss to Spain and Portugal and than either a loss or draw against Morocco.

Conversely, this prop would also be a great option for those that are high on Iran heading into the World Cup. The OVER 1.5 could cash in with a win against Morocco or a draw against Morocco and a surprise draw against Portugal or Spain.

Iran’s Player to Watch: Sardar Azmoun

At just 23 years old, Iranian striker Sardar Azmoun is already the fifth-highest goalscorer in Iran’s history. Azmoun has excelled at every level for Iran’s national team, scoring seven goals in six matches for the under-17 squad, 19 goals in 19 matches for the under-20 squad and four goals in four matches for the under-23 team.

Since joining the senior club in 2014, Azmoun has racked up 23 goals in 31 appearances. His four goals in the final stage of Iran’s qualifiers was tied for the second-highest mark among all of the players competing in this round.

Iran’s Road to Russia

Iran had a sensational run through the Asian Football Confederation FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The national team earned its spot in the third round by finishing atop its group in the second round with a 6-2-0 record and then went on to win its group in the third round as well with a 6-4-0 record. All told, Iran finished the qualifying process unbeaten with a 12-6-0 record and a +31 goal differential after scoring 36 goals and allowing only five through the two rounds of action.

In eight friendly matches since qualifiers ended last year, Iran has remained in good form with a 6-1-1 record.

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