Iran coach Afshin Ghotbi wants his team to win the Asian Cup title to provide ''a source of inspiration'' for the divided Persian nation.
Iran defeated Iraq in its opening Group D match and will play North Korea on Saturday.
Ghotbi compared Iran's ambition at this year's continental championship to Iraq's win in 2007. Sectarian violence had raged across Iraq but the football victory united Iraqis in celebration.
The Islamic Republic of Iran has been in political turmoil since the opposition crackdown following the disputed re-election of the hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in June 2009.
''As the Iraqi people really needed to unite in 2007, and the Iraqi team made the people happy and gave them hope (by winning), I think the Iranian people could use this championship as a source of inspiration,'' Ghotbi said. ''My players are very, very motivated by this challenge and we hope Iran on Jan. 29 holds the cup, not for themselves, but for the people.''
The Iranian coach has lived and worked in the United States and served as an assistant for the Los Angeles Galaxy. He recently returned to Iran after 30 years abroad to win the Iranian league title with Persepolis. He was appointed national team coach at the end of 2009.
''It's really the most gratifying job to be able to be working for my people,'' Ghotbi said, brushing aside criticism of his confidence on the international stage and for speaking in English, rather than Farsi, during the tournament in Qatar.
''The Iranian people have been very kind to me and supportive of my ambition, my effort and what I stand for,'' Ghotbi said. ''I really would love to give them a gift, and this gift is this championship.''
Iran, which won the last of its three Asian Cup titles in 1976, leads Group D with three points after beating defending champion Iraq 2-1 in the opening match. North Korea and the United Arab Emirates each have a point after their opening match ended in a 0-0 draw.
Only two teams from each group will advance to the quarterfinals.
''We are pleased with the first victory and we will design our destiny in the next match,'' Ghotbi said. ''We played a good match against Iraq and the question is who will qualify with us to the next round.''
