The 2025–26 season of Iran Football's 2nd Division was the 25th under 2nd Division since its establishment (current format) in 2001. The season featured 19 teams from the 2nd Division 2024–25, three new teams relegated from the 2024–25 Azadegan League: Naft Masjed Soleyman, Shahr Raz Shiraz, Shahrdari Astara, and six new teams promoted from the 3rd Division 2024–25: Setaregan Sorkh Asia, Rakhsh Khodro Tabriz, Aseman Golestan, Malavan Bushehr, Golchin Robat Karim and Shayan Dizel Fars. These changes has been applied before the season: Team Replaced team Golchin Robat Karim Esteghlal Zahedan Nika Pars Chaloos Bargh Shiraz YASA Tehran Arka Alborz Shahr Raz Shiraz Fadak Zanjan Esteghlal Zeydoon Shahrdari Yasooj
Teams Stadia and locations
Number of teams by region RegionNumber of teamsTeams1Tehran4Espad Alvand, KIA, Setaregan Sorkh Asia, Shahin2Khuzestan4Foolad Novin, Shahrdari Mahshahr, Naft Masjed Soleyman, Esteghlal Zahedan3Bushehr3Iranjavan Bushehr, Shahin Bandar Ameri, Malavan Bushehr4Gilan3Chooka Talesh, Sepidrood Rasht, Shahrdari Astara5Fars2Bargh Shiraz, Shayan Dizel Fars6Hormozgan2Foolad Hormozgan, Shahrdari Bandar Abbas7Alborz1Arka8Ardabil1Ayande Sazan9East Azerbaijan1Rakhsh Khodro10Golestan1Aseman11Hamedan1PAS Hamedan12Isfahan1Sepahan Novin13Markazi1Petroshimi Shazand14Sistan and Baluchestan1Esteghlal Zahedan15Yazd1Shahid Ghandi Yazd16Zanjan1Fadak Zanjan
Seeding The teams were seeded according to their performance in the 2024-25 2nd Division, Azadegan League and 3rd Division. The relegated teams from 2024–25Azadegan League and the loser of the Play-off match were placed in Pot 1. The remaining teams from 2024-25 2nd Division were placed in Pot 2 to Pot 6 according to their final league position. The promoted teams from 2024–25 3rd Division were placed in Pot 6 and 7.
Pot NumberPot NameTeamsCommentsPot 1Relegated Teams from Azadegan League and 2nd Divions's Play-off loser Naft Masjed Soleyman (AL:16) Shahr Raz Shiraz (AL:17) Shahrdari Astara (AL:18) Shahid Ghandi Yazd (PL)Pot 2Temas ranked 3rd and 4th in 2nd Division Foolad Hormozgan (3) Esteghlal Zahedan (3) Shahin Bandar Ameri (4) Shahin Tehran (4)Pot 3Temas ranked 5th and 6th in 2nd Division Shahrdari Mahshahr (5) Nika Pars Chaloos (Replaced by Bargh Shiraz) (5) Chooka Talesh (6) Shahrdari Bandar Abbas (6)If Shahr Raz Shiraz (from Pot 1) and Bargh Shiraz are drawn in the same group, Shayan Dizel Fars (from Pot 7) will be placed in the other group automatically. If Shahrdari Astara (from Pot 1) and Chooka Talesh are drawn in the same group, Sepidrood Rasht (from Pot 4) will be placed in the other group automatically. If Naft Masjed Soleyman (from Pot 1) and Esteghlal Zeydoon (from Pot 2) are drawn in the same group, Shahrdari Mahshahr will be placed in the other group automatically.Pot 4Temas ranked 7th and 8th in 2nd Division Kia Tehran (7) Iranjavan Bushehr (7) YASA Tehran (Replaced by Arka Alborz) (8) Sepidrood Rasht (8)If Shahin Bandar Ameri (from Pot 2) and Iranjavan Bushehr are drawn in the same group, Malavan Bushehr (from Pot 7) will be placed in the other group automatically.Pot 5Temas ranked 9th and 10th in 2nd Division Kesht o Sanat Padyab (9) Pas Hamedan (9) Foolad Novin Ahvaz (10) Espad Tehran (10)After identifying groups of Naft Masjed Soleyman, Esteghlal Zeydoon and Shahrdari Mahshahr (from Pots 1, 2 and 3 respectively), Foolad Novin will be placed in the group with just one of these teams automatically. If Shahin Tehran (from Pot 2) and KIA Tehran (from Pot 4) are drawn in the same group, Espad Tehran will be placed in the other group automatically.Pot 6Temas ranked 11th and 12th Sepahan Novin Isfahan (11) Petroshimi Shazand (11) Setaregan Sorkh Asia (3D:1) Rakhsh Khodro Tabriz (3D:1)After identifying groups of Shahin Tehran, KIA Tehran and Espad Tehran (from Pots 2, 4 and 5 respectively), Setaregan Sorkh Asia will be placed in the group with just one of these teams automatically.Pot 7Temas promoted from 3rd Division Aseman Golestan (3D:1) Malavan Bushehr (3D:2) Golchin Robat Karim (Replaced by Esteghlal Zahedan) (3D:2) Shayan Disel Fars (3D:2)
For the provinces which have three or more teams (Tehran, Khuzestan, Bushehr, Fars and Gilan), a protection rule was applied. For example, from three teams of Hormozgan, two teams should be placed in one group and the third team can not be placed in the same group. Due to licence transfers of teams, the new location of each team (after confirmation) is considered in the draw.
League table Group A
Group B
Results Group A
Group B
See also 2025–26 Persian Gulf Pro League 2025–26 Azadegan League 2025–26 3rd Division 2025–26 4th Division 2025–26 Hazfi Cup 2025 Iranian Super Cup
References