At the official draw for the 2025–26 Persian Gulf Pro League, held in Tehran, Mehdi Taj, President of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), emphasized the federation’s commitment to technological advancement, particularly the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) across multiple domains.

Taj stated that AI will be used to:

• Enhance refereeing accuracy
• Support medical diagnostics and injury prediction
• Improve match scheduling and operational oversight

He cited a case from Bayern Munich, where AI successfully predicted a player’s injury, underscoring the potential of smart systems in football management.

The federation also plans to:

• Implement electronic ticketing
• Delegate stadium operations to fan associations
• Enforce seat-specific regulations using facial recognition cameras

Taj stressed the need for independent oversight of league operations, separating execution from monitoring to ensure transparency. He acknowledged past officiating errors and expressed hope that AI-assisted systems will reduce such incidents.

The Super League will begin under the banner of “Martyrs of National Defense and Iran’s Strength”, commemorating those lost in the recent 12-day war. Taj noted that over 10% of the martyrs were from the sports community, including 14 football and futsal players.

He concluded by urging clubs and regional heads to:

• Limit post-match press conferences to 15 minutes
• Prioritize national team cooperation, as Iran prepares for World Cup qualifiers, Asian Cup U23, and Olympic selection