Lausanne, Switzerland, June 19, 2018 - Iran host bottom of the table Korea Sunday in Tehran looking to start their home weekend with a win to please their fans. It's only the second time that the two go head-to-head in a world competition, Korea having beaten Iran in straight sets at the 1991 FIVB World Cup - though they did last play at the 2015 Asian Championship with Korea winning again in four sets.
Head-to-Head
• Iran and Korea have met once before at a world level major tournament. Korea won 3-0 at the 1991 World Cup.
• World level major competitions are: the VNL, Olympic Games, World Championships, World Cup, World League and Grand Champions Cup.
• Their most recent encounter at other major competitions was a 3-1 win for Korea at the Asian Championship in 2015.
• Iran's last victory versus Korea at a major tournament came at the 2014 Asian Games (3-1). A year earlier Iran had won the final of the Asian Championships against the Koreans (3-0).
Iran
• Iran have won four of their 12 VNL matches, losing eight.
• The only time Iran lost more than eight matches in a world level major competition was in the 2014 World League (9 defeats).
• Iran could suffer three consecutive defeats for the first time since the World League in 2017.
• Three of Iran's wins at the VNL came in straight sets. They could claim four wins by a 3-0 score at a major world tournament for the second time, after four wins in straight sets at the 2015 World League.
• Milad Ebadipour is Iran's top scorer at the VNL - 137 points.
• Saeid Marouf has a set average of 8.52 as setter.
Korea
• Korea claimed their first win at the VNL in their 3-0 victory against China last matchday.
• Korea can now win two matches in a row at world level for the first time since they won their last two matches at the World League in 2017.
• Korea could lose more than eight matches in straight sets at a single world level major tournament for the second time, after the 1993 World League (12).
• Jung Jiseok has made 199 serve receptions and registered 51 excellents as receiver.
• Jung is also Korea's top scorer at the VNL on 115 points.