The article contains information about the 2020–21 Iran 3rd Division football season. This is the 4th rated football league in Iran after the Persian Gulf Cup, Azadegan League, and 2nd Division. The league started on 5 December 2020.
In total 85 teams (65 teams in the first stage in 5 groups, 20 teams in second stage) competed in this season's competitions.
The challenges caused by COVID-19 pandemic in Iran made some calendar changes in previous season's final matches. Therefore, this season started later than usual time.
First stage The top 2 teams from each group advance to the Second Stage. The teams ranked 3rd, 4th and 5th in each group (total 15 teams) are eligible to play in the First Round of next season. The teams ranked 6th and lower relegate to Provincial Leagues.
Qualified teams Teams which are eligible to play in this round are as follows:
Relegated from 2nd Division (1 team):
Karoon Arvand Khoramshahr (Replaced by Esteghlal Danial Shoosh)
Relegated from 3rd Division – 2nd Stage (6 teams): Kian Tehran (Replaced by Kian Arak) Damavand Amol (Replaced by Shahid Bagheri Goyom Fars) Khalij Fars Minab Negin Sanabad Mashhad (Replaced by Aseman Mashhad) Setareh Sorkh Kashan Esteghlal Ahvaz
Remaining from 3rd Division – 1st Stage (18 teams):
Abi Delan Boneh Gaz (Replaced by Khalij Fars Mahshahr) Bargh Ara Alborz (Replaced by Shahr Ahan Khaf) Darya Babol (Replaced by Kia Academy Tehran) Darya Harbadeye Mahmoudabad Farhang Karaj (Replaced by Mardan Pasha Karaj) Foolad Hormozgan Hermas Fateh Shiran Tabriz (Replaced by Setaregan Azhand Azerbaijan) Kavian Naghadeh Naft Iranian Tehran Oghab Shiraz Perspolis Dezfool Rezvani Esfahan Roz Mooket Boroujen Sanat Foolad Koohestan Esfahan Setare Caspian Babol (Replaced by Shahrvand Noor) Shahid Oraki Eslamshahr Shahrdari Fereydoonkenar Shahrvand Ramsar
Promoted from Provincial Leagues (34 teams):
Setaregan Simorgh Alborz (Alborz) Shahrdari Bilehsavar (Ardebil) Kanyav Oshnavieh (Azarbayejan Gharbi) Oghab Tabriz (Azarbayejan Sharghi) Piroozi Begin Khoormooj (Boushehr) Shahin Lordegan (Chaharmahal & Bakhtiyari) Stock Marvdasht (Fars) Sardar Jangal Gourab (Gilan) Esteghlal Aliabad (Golestan) Keshavarz Nahavand (Hamedan) Harang Javan Bastak (Hormozgan) Shohadaye Chavar 65 (Ilam) Van Pars Naghsh-e-Jahan (Isfahan) Omid Avaran Kerman (Kerman) Setaregan Kermanshah (Kermanshah) Badamak Qaen (Khorasan Jonoubi) Shariat Novin Mashhad(Khorasan Razavi) Payam Entezar Bojnourd (Khorasan Shomali) Farhang Ramhormoz (Khouzestan) Esteghlal Kish (Kish) Shohadaye Il Bahmaei (Kohgiluye & Boyer Ahmad) Shohadaye Garous Bijar (Kordestan) Shahrdari Boroujerd (Lorestan) Aluminium Pars Saveh (Markazi) Moghavemat Jooybar (Mazandaran) Safir Novin Abyek (Qazvin) Sohan Mohammad Qom (Qom) Siman Shahrood (Semnan) Shahin Zahedan (Sistan & Balouchestan) Shahin Tehran (Tehran) Damash Parseh Tehran (Tehran's runner-up) Kia Pars Tehran (Tehran Suburbs) Sang Ahan Bafgh (Yazd) Arya Minoo Khorramdareh (Zanjan)
Free slots (6 teams): Khorshid Mehr Ghorveh Moghavemat Tehran Nikan Tehran Pardis Khorramabad Perspolis Borazjan Zobahan Ardebil
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Second stage
Second Stage started in April 2021 and finished on August 10, 2021.
Qualified teams Relegated from 2nd Division (3 teams):
Shahrdari Fooman Besat Kermanshah Shohadaye Razakan Karaj
Remaining teams from last season (17 teams):
04 Birjand (Replaced by Omid Vahdat Birjand) Bargh 3 Faz Shiraz (Replaced by Iman Sabz Shiraz) Boyer Ahmad Yasouj (Replaced by Benyamin Varzesh Tehran) Esteghlal Shoosh Farhang Isar Astara Mohajer Novin Mashhad Parag Tehran PAS Gilan Pishgaman Fonoon Pars Tehran Javan Novin Sari Sepahan Novin Isfahan Sepahan Novin Izeh Shahid Molayi Ghaemshahr (Replaced by Damavand Amol) Shahrdari Noshahr Tazan Tehran (Replaced by Artam Tabriz) Yazd Looleh Zolfaghar Kashan (Replaced by Sanat Abrisham Isfahan)
Promoted from 1st Stage (10 teams):
Moghavemat Tehran Mardan Pasha Karaj Naft Iranian Tehran Farhang Ramhormoz Van Pars Naghsh-e-Jahan Kian Arak Shahid Oraki Eslamshahr Kanyav Oshnavieh Khalij Fars Mahshahr Khalij Fars Minab
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Ranking of third-placed teams
Ranking of seventh-placed teams
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Play-offs The draw of the play-off round held on August 14, 2021, between following teams.
Qualified teams 2nd placed teams in Second Stage (3 teams): Omid Vahdat Birjand Artam Tabriz Khalij Fars Mahshahr Best 3rd placed team in Second Stage (1 team): Shohadaye Razakan Karaj
First round Team 1ScoreTeam 21st leg2nd legNotesKhalij Fars Mahshahr0-1Omid Vahdat Birjand0-00-1 Shohadaye Razakan Karaj4-3Artam Tabriz1-13-2
Omid Vahdat Birjand won 1–0 on aggregate and promoted to second play-off round.
Shohadaye Razakan Karaj won 4–3 on aggregate and promoted to second play-off round.
Second round Team 1ScoreTeam 21st leg2nd legNotesShohadaye Razakan Karaj3-0Omid Vahdat Birjand1-02-0
Shohadaye Razakan Karaj won 3–0 on aggregate and promoted to 2021-22 Iran Football's 2nd Division.
References