In Group B of the Fiba Asia Cup 2025 Qualifying, Japan and Iran are heading for another chapter with one of the region’s most balanced bruise rivals.
This is a series that was deadlocked in 7-7 of the history of the Asian Cup. Fiba.com reports that every win, every loss carrying weight.
The last time they met, Iran made Japan better, winning 88–76 in the 2022 Asian Cup. It wasn’t just a scoreline that stood out — it was two of the biggest stars of generational conflict and competition. Iranian Hamed Hadadi, the longtime king of Asian big names, packed the stats sheet with 21 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and three blocks. A familiar name to NBA fans, Japan’s Watanabe Yuta rebutted with her own rebound of 17 points and 10 rebounds.
Iranian Behnam Yakhchali and Mohammad Jamshidi stacked together for 41 points, indicating that the generations after Haddadi and Samad are still proudly carrying the torch.
Their encounter in 2015 is still a painful point for Japan. Iran crushed 86–48 in the opening game – then lagging behind Samad Nikka Balami’s epic 35-point explosion to score 68–63, rejecting Japan in the third place match.
Iran won its fourth Asian Cup medal. Japan was left without winning the podium again. This is a drought that has been extended since 1997.
Japan once owned this rivalry, winning its first five meetings between 1973 and 1991. However, Iran changed the trend in 1993. It’s been a battle of every inch ever since.
They also spilled that fight into World Cup qualifiers. Japan blew Iran in the 2019 Asian qualifiers during the Miracle 8-game victory to reach the World Cup.
The 2023 cycle turned the story over. Iran took Japan’s hot start with a 79-68 victory behind Yahoo!Challi’s 30-point explosion. Japan was then attacked six months later with 96-61 brutal retrievals, with Len Kanekika gushing out three of six in his senior team debut.
This rivalry is not just in the past – it is that two programs pull in opposite directions. Iran is trying to narrow its final drop from the golden age. Japan, new wave banks of archers, speed and swaggers.
Come to Group B, History says it’s being thrown. The reality says it could be one of the most intense games in the group phase.
rhm/