COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — World Lacrosse today welcomed Iran to its growing global community of members, bringing its National Federations total to 79.  

Iran joins World Lacrosse as the 18th member of the Asia Pacific Lacrosse Union Association and the fifth addition from Asia in the past year. 

Iran’s membership continues incredible momentum for the sport’s international governing body, which has now welcomed nine new federations in the last year and 36 members in the last decade, a growth of 84 percent.  

World Lacrosse Development Committee Chair Rick Mercurio said: “Iran becoming the 79th member of World Lacrosse marks the beginning of their continued achievements in developing the game. I want to extend an appreciation of the efforts of the APLU in helping in the growth of lacrosse in the Middle East region, and warmly welcome Iran Lacrosse to our global family.”  

Iran Lacrosse President Ali Heidari said: “As an emerging national governing body, we are working to grow the game in our country, and Iran’s membership in the world lacrosse community is a golden milestone. We are part of lacrosse history and will pursue ambidexterity at the top of our organization with the motto ‘build locally, explore globally.’” 

In the last year, nations have joined World Lacrosse from four continents; Uruguay was the most recent member to join in August, and Nigeria and Rwanda were confirmed in June. Cambodia and Nicaragua became members in February, while Indonesia, India and Vietnam secured their inclusion in November of 2021. 

The Asia Pacific Lacrosse Union was formed in 2004 with four members and has since more than quadrupled its growth. The addition of Iran adds to a successful year for the Continental Federation, which recently hosted its first ever men’s lacrosse qualifier for a world championship in October and sent teams to all three World Lacrosse competitions from June through August.