What is the Persian Gulf Pro League, and how has it helped develop the Iranian national team?

Soccer 101

TSS

Sports, Soccer

4.9 • 822 Ratings

🗓️ 11 April 2025

⏱️ 45 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We're continuing our series profiling the domestic leagues of countries that have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, and this week it's one that we knew... basically nothing about prior to researching: The Persian Gulf Pro League, the top domestic league in Iran. Why was the league originally formed in the early 2000s, what are its biggest clubs, what issues have kept the league from developing further, and how has the national team benefitted from its existence? All that, plus our attempt to understand historical geographic naming conventions. What more do you need?! WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL! We're posting all our episodes here! Smash the like and subscribe etc.! JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON! Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Become a member today at patreon.com/totalsoccershow!

Transcript

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0:00.0	I'm Dane Bruegler. I cover the NFL draft for the athletic.
0:04.3	Our draft guide picked up the name The Beast because of the crazy amount of information that's included.
0:10.0	I'm looking at thousands of players, putting together hundreds of scouting reports.
0:13.9	I've been covering this year's draft since last year's draft.
0:16.7	There is a lot in The Beast that you simply can't find anywhere else.
0:21.1	You can get The Beast and all the great coverage my colleagues do by subscribing to The Athletic.
0:25.6	You can do that at theathletic.com slash subscribe. Welcome everybody to soccer 101.
0:47.8	My name is Taylor Rockwell, and I am excited for this one and also slightly terrified.
0:52.2	Because this week we are continuing to take a look at domestic
0:55.1	soccer in the nations that have already qualified for the 2026 World Cup. We want to get a better
1:00.2	feel for the leagues, players, and coaches we might not have much or in today's case any familiarity
1:04.8	with ahead of next summer's tournament. We've already spent some time on Japan and the J League or the J1
1:09.6	league or the J.1.1. I forget what it was.
1:12.6	This week, it's another AFC country that finished top of its group.
1:15.9	It's Iran.
1:17.0	Six of their 11 starters in their final qualifier against Uzbekistan play in the domestic league.
1:22.2	And literally every player in the squad cut their teeth there as well.
1:25.8	So what is the Persian Gulf Pro League? Why is it called that? How good is it and what are the major obstacles it faces at present and in the future? Here with me today is a man who knows all about the Persian Golf Pro League. He's watched it for years, ins and outs of teams, coaches, managers. It's Graham Ruthven. Hello, Graham.
1:43.8	Hello, Taylor Rockwell.
1:44.8	Yes, you just can't stop me talking about Tractor FC on Weekend Review.
1:48.2	Every single week we have to cut that section down.
1:50.5	Yeah, I totally share your feeling, your sense ahead of this episode, which is excitement.
	...

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