The article contains information about the 2021–22 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 will start on 14 November 2021.
In total 85 teams (65 teams in the first stage in 5 groups, 20 teams in second stage) competed in this season's competitions.
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 3rd Division – 2nd Stage (10 Teams): Esteghlal Shoosh Pishgaman Fonoon Pars Kanyav Oshnavieh (Replaced by Damash Gilan ) Sanat Abrisham Isfahan (Replaced by Zarbeh Azad Naghsh-e-Jahan) Farhang Isar (Moghavemat) Astara Yazd Looleh Parag Tehran Khalij Fars Minab PAS Gilan Damavand Amol
Remaining from 3rd Division – 1st Stage (15 Teams):
Arian sepand Tehran Sohan Mohammad Qom (Replaced by Ario Bam Eslamshahr) Shohadaye Garous Bijar Perspolis Borazjan Oghab Shiraz Shariat Novin Mashhad Setaregan Simorgh Alborz (Green) Keshavarz Nahavand Piroozi Negin Khoormooj (Replaced by Esteghlal Jonoob Tehran) Foolad Hormozgan Darya Harabdeh Mahmoudabad Arya Minoo Khorramdareh Kavian Naghadeh Pardis Khorramabad (Replaced by Gahar Novin Dorood) Shahid Bagheri Goyom Fars (Replaced by Perspolis Shiraz)
Promoted from Provincial Leagues (34 Teams):
Vahdat Aghasht (Alborz) Heyat Football Germi (Ardebil) Ettehad Solduz (Azarbayejan Gharbi) Zist Sabz Tabriz (Azarbayejan Sharghi) Safa Javan Gostar (Boushehr) Shohadaye Aboozar Farsan (Chaharmahal & Bakhtiyari) Shayan Dizel Fars (Fars) Payam Moghavemat Anzali (Gilan) Novin Keshavarz Aliabad (Golestan) Eksir Alvand (Hamedan) Harang Javan Bastak (Hormozgan) Shahrani Dehloran (Ilam) Taraz Chadegan (Isfahan) Shahid Zahmatkeshan Jiroft (Kerman) Zagros Javanrood (Kermanshah) Entezar Khorasan Jonoubi (Khorasan Jonoubi) Khayam Beton Neyshabur (Khorasan Razavi) Shahin Bojnord (Khorasan Shomali) Yadavaran Dokoohe Andimeshk (Khouzestan) Erfan Eghtedar Kish (Kish) Aboozar Basht (Kohgiluye & Boyer Ahmad) Abidar Sanandaj (Kordestan) Khorram Kesht Aflak Khorramabad (Lorestan) Aluminium Pars Saveh (Markazi) Yaran Hadi Norouzi (Mazandaran) Ettehad Qazvin (Qazvin) Sorkhpooshan Qom (Qom) Pasargad Damghan (Semnan) Ettehad Nikshahr (Sistan & Balouchestan) Setaregan Sorkh Tehran (Tehran) Borna Rastin Maham (Tehran's runner-up) Shahin Dehdari Tehran (Tehran Suburbs) (Yazd) Yazd didn't submit any teams as Province Champion Alavi Khoramdareh (Zanjan)
Free slots (6 teams): Kimia Roshd aqqalla Shahrvand Ramsar Caspian Fereydoonkenar Savalan Meshkinshahr Mehrgan Dareshahr KIA Tehran
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Second stage
In this stage, 10 teams who qualified from 1st stage will join to 16 remaining teams from previous season and 4 relegated teams from 2nd division (total 30 teams). Teams will be divided into 3 groups of 10 teams each and play a round-robin home and away matches. The winner of each group will promote to 2nd division and 3 runners-up and the best 3rd placed team will qualify to Play-off stage. The 3 bottom clubs in each group and the worst 7th placed team among groups will relegate to next season's 1st stage.
Qualified teams Relegated from 2nd Division (4 Teams):
Avalan Kamyaran Sardar Bukan Naft va Gaz Gachsaran (Replaced by Melli Haffari Ahvaz) Naft Omidiyeh
Remaining Teams from last season (16 Teams):
Khalij Fars Mahshahr (Replaced by Mohtasham Tabriz And Then, Setareh Ettehad Tabriz) Omid Vahdat Birjand (Replaced by Parsa Sanat Birjand) Artam Tabriz Sepahan Novin Isfahan Naft Iranian Tehran (Replaced by Darya Babol) Shahrdari Fooman Iman Sabz Shiraz (Replaced by Samit Tehran) Mardan Pasha Karaj Besat Kermanshah (Replaced by Panik Talesh) Moghavemat Tehran Sepahan Novin Izeh Javan Novin Sari Kian Arak Farhang ramhormoz Mohajer Novin Mashhad (Shadkaam Mashhad) Benyamin Varzesh Tehran
Promoted from 1st Stage (10 Teams):
Novin Keshavarz Aliabad Damash Gilan Moghavemat Astara Esteghlal Shoosh Yazd Looleh Shahin Bojnord Ario Bam Eslamshahr Alavi Khoramdareh KIA Tehran Foolad Hormozgan
Group 1
Group 2
Group 3
Ranking of third-placed teams
Ranking of seventh-placed teams
The worst seventh-placed should relegate to 3rd Division - 1st Stage. But due to direct relegation of Gol Reyhan Alborz from 2nd division to 3rd Division - 1st Stage (instead of 3rd Division - 2nd Stage), they remained in 3rd Division - 2nd Stage and not relegated.
Play-offs The draw of the play-off round held on July 11 2022, between following teams:
Qualified teams 2nd placed teams in Second Stage (3 teams): KIA Tehran Benyamin Varzesh Tehran Sepahan Novin Isfahan Best 3rd placed team in Second Stage (1 team): Damash Gilan
First round Team 1ScoreTeam 21st leg2nd legNotesSepahan Novin Isfahan2-2 (3-5 p)Benyamin Varzesh Tehran1-11-1 (a.e.t.) Kia Tehran1-2Damash Gilan0-01-2
Benyamin Varzesh Tehran won 5-3 on penalties and promoted to second play-off round.
Damash Gilan won 2-1 on aggregate and promoted to second play-off round.
Second round Team 1ScoreTeam 21st leg2nd legNotesDamash Gilan4-1Benyamin Varzesh Tehran2-02-1
Damash Gilan won 4-1 on aggregate and promoted to 2022-23 Iran Football's 2nd Division.
References