Iran and S. Korea: Friends in Football

Iran, as a giant Persian Gulf energy producer, counts on Korea as a main destination for its oil and gas exports. The two sides have also shown an eagerness to participate in each other's industrial projects.

Today, cultural relations between two countries are increasingly being expanded as a source of mutual interest, as the recently held "Glory of Persia" exhibition in Seoul reveals.

Iran has also signed several contracts with Korean TV stations to translate and broadcast the popular Korean TV series "Jewel in the Palace," the most predominant of popular foreign TV series in Iran. Lee Young Ae has said she was honored to have fans in Iran.

In the field of sports, the exciting Taekwondo competition between Iran and Korea has intensified over the last five years as Iran got used to sweeping the Olympic medals of Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 but never budging Korea from its perch as the cradle of world Taekwondo.

The basketball crusade between the two sides has also been interesting as Iran succeeded in snatching the Asia FIBA champion's title and gaining a berth for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

In a ranking of all-time Olympic medal counts, South Korea stands 20th with 215 medals, passing strong countries such as Austria, Poland, Denmark and Belgium.

In the same table, Iran ranks 44th, with 46 Olympic medals, passing powers such as Czech Republic, Ireland, India and Portugal.

Additionally, in the Asian games medal count table from 1951 to 2006, South Korea potently passes Iran with a total medal count of 1,587, taking third place, while Iran reserved the fourth rank with a total medal count of 379.

As football is a common interest of the two nations, Iran and Korea have held many official and friendly football matches in the past 50 years and recorded an interesting figure. Out of 21 matches, both Iran and Korea have won eight and left five drawn.

It is an accepted fact that the national football teams of Iran and Korea are traditional rivals for each other and share some equal strength.

South Korea has made 7 World Cup appearances with the fourth place ranking at the 2002 World Cup its best result. In 11 appearances at the AFC Asian Cup, Korea has won two champion titles. It has also made eight Olympic appearances.

Iran is the three times AFC Asian Cup champions with 11 appearances. It has qualified for the FIFA World Cup 3 times and made three appearances in the Olympics.

Iran and Korea are in the same group for the 2010 South African World Cup qualifications round. They will play twice in the next few months with rising chances and abundant hopes.