Afshin Ghotbi

Building a Championship Legacy
with Persepolis

Three World Cups with the USA
& South Korea National Teams

Two FIFA World Cup Qualifications
Iran and Curacao National Team

Two Asian Cups Finals with
South Korea & Iran National Teams

South Korea Olympic Team
Road to Beijing 2008

Cup Winner in Multiple Top Leagues
MLS (USA), IPL (Iran), KL (South Korea)

Global FIFA World Cup Strategist

Afshin Ghotbi has left his mark on the world’s biggest football stage. With United States in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, driving tactical insights and match preparations. Later, he played a pivotal role with South Korea, in 2002, helping the team reach the semi-finals, and returning in 2006 to deliver expert tactical and technical support.

Our Blog

Global Spotlight

Afshin's Notes

March 15, 2026

Ghotbi Suggests Neutral Path for Iranian Players at the World Cup

In a recent interview with BBC News, renowned football …

Football Notes

March 15, 2026

Football Should Never Be Defined by Politics

Afshin Ghotbi on Unity, Hope, and the True Power …

News

March 15, 2026

Iran’s Women Footballers Show Courage on the World Stage

The Iran women’s football team became “heroes” when they …

HIGHLIGHTS

Afshin's Notes

November 6, 2025

From Pasadena to the Podium: The Making of Peter Vagenas

Some players are born into the game, others are built through it. Peter Vagenas is both. His journey from the youth fields of Pasadena to representing the United States at the 2000 Olympic Games and later guiding the LA Galaxy to a historic double stands as …

April 9, 2013

A World Cup Journey: More Than Just a Game

For Afshin Ghotbi, the FIFA World Cup is more than a tournament; it’s a journey that has defined his career, blending tactical innovation with deeply personal and emotional moments. From his first World Cup with the U.S. Men’s National Team in 1998 to guiding South Korea …