The purpose of this study is to develop a comprehensive conceptual model of sports tourism in Iran with an emphasis on a cultural heritage preservation approach, through the identification and systematic synthesis of drivers, challenges, and strategies reported in the research literature. The methodology of this study was conducted using a systematic review approach based on the PRISMA2020 standard protocol. The literature search was carried out in reputable national and international databases covering the period from 2000 to 2024. Out of a total of 583 initial records,42 eligible studies were selected after rigorous screening and quality assessment, and subsequently analyzed using thematic analysis. The results suggest that the competitive advantage of sports tourism in Iran extends beyond infrastructure and sporting events, and is manifested in the meaningful linkage between sporting activities and elements of cultural heritage, including rituals, history, and local identity. Furthermore, governance and integrated management emerge as fundamental pillars of development, playing a crucial role in creating synergy among the multiple stakeholders involved in sports tourism and cultural heritage. The findings also emphasize the importance of active participation of local communities at all stages of planning and implementation, as the absence of such participation may lead to the erosion of cultural authenticity, the distortion of traditional rituals, and the emergence of unsustainable patterns of commercialization. Finally, the findings highlight the necessity of moving beyond purely economic approaches toward a preservation-oriented and sustainability-based perspective. Within such an approach,