The Iran and Iraq national football teams are sporting rivals since 1962.

[1][2][3] According to The Malay Mail, "Emotions are always high when Iran and Iraq meet on the football pitch".

[5] Iran and Iraq are neighboring countries, that share a long history.

In the contemporary era, especially during the reign of Saddam Hussein, the two countries had bad relations.

[2][3] In 2001, an Iran-Iraq match was not held at a neutral venue for the first time in decades.