This is just the second ever meeting between Wales and Iran, with the Red Dragons winning the other in April 1978 – Phil Dwyer scoring the only goal of the game.
Wales have faced Asian opposition seven times in their history and have only conceded once in these games, keeping six clean sheets (W5 D2). Their most recent such game was a 6-0 win against China in March 2018.
Iran have never beaten a European opponent at the World Cup in nine previous attempts (D2 L7), conceding 20 goals across those games, with six coming on MD1 in their 6-2 defeat to England.
Four of Wales' six games at the World Cup have been drawn (67 per cent), with no side having a higher ratio of their games finishing level in the competition's history.
Iran lost 6-2 against England on MD1, the fourth time in their six participations they have lost their opening game at the World Cup. They’ve only lost their first two games at one previous World Cup, doing so in 2006.
Carlos Queiroz has only won two of his 11 matches at the World Cup (D4 L5) across spells with Portugal and Iran. His teams had only conceded seven goals in his first 10 games before Iran’s 6-2 defeat to England.
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Gareth Bale has made 109 appearances for Wales in all competitions – the joint-most of all players in the nation's history, along with fellow squad member Chris Gunter.
10 of Wales’ 14 goals at their last three major tournaments (EURO and World Cup) have seen at least one of Gareth Bale or Aaron Ramsey involved as goalscorer or assist provider.
Despite only coming on as a second half substitute, Kieffer Moore was involved in more of Wales' shots against USA on MD1 than any other player (3 – 2 shots, 1 chance created). He also had five touches in the opposition box, at least two more than any other Wales player.
Mehdi Taremi became the first ever Iranian player to score more than once at the World Cup with his brace against England on MD1. Indeed, Taremi was also the first player from an Asian country to net two goals in a World Cup game.