The Iran World Cup 2026 squad is a carefully balanced group featuring experienced veterans like captain Mehdi Taremi and winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh, aiming for their first-ever knockout-stage run at their seventh FIFA World Cup appearance. Under the guidance of head coach Amir Ghalenoei, this heavily home-based roster will face Group G in the United States later this year.
Key Takeaways
- The Iran World Cup 2026 squad is captained by striker Mehdi Taremi and managed by Amir Ghalenoei for his second spell in charge.
- Striker Sardar Azmoun was shockingly omitted from the final roster as a selection decision, not due to an injury.
- The squad features 17 players based domestically in Iran’s Persian Gulf Pro League, with nine playing abroad.
- Iran opens their Group G campaign against New Zealand on June 15 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
- Forward Dennis Eckert Ayensa became a notable addition after recently obtaining an Iranian passport.
Who Is Leading the Iran World Cup 2026 Squad?
Amir Ghalenoei serves as the head coach and manager for Iran heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This is his second spell in charge of the national team; he was originally appointed in 2006-2007 before being reappointed in March 2023 to lead the squad’s qualification campaign, which they completed comfortably by topping their group with 23 points.
The leadership on the pitch falls to Mehdi Taremi, the 33-year-old Olympiacos striker who serves as both captain and the team’s most influential attacking threat. He is joined in the dressing room by a core of experienced international players, including veteran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, former captain Ehsan Hajsafi, and midfielder Saman Ghoddos, providing vital stability to the group.
What Are the Latest Team News and Omissions for Iran?
The most significant team news surrounding the Iran World Cup 2026 squad is the shock omission of striker Sardar Azmoun. Despite boasting an impressive record of 57 goals in 91 caps, Ghalenoei made a strict selection decision to leave him out of the final roster. No major injury withdrawals were reported for the remaining players, so this exclusion was purely based on tactical considerations rather than fitness concerns.
On the addition front, forward Dennis Eckert Ayensa has become a notable talking point after earning an Iranian passport and receiving his first call-up to the national team. A German-born player of Iranian descent currently at Standard Liege, he brings additional depth to the attacking options alongside established names like Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Shahriyar Moghanlou.
What Is the Full Roster of the Iran World Cup 2026 Team?
The final confirmed roster consists of exactly 26 players, divided across four positional groups. The squad composition is heavily skewed toward domestic talent, with the majority of the players competing in their home country’s top flight.
Goalkeepers
- Alireza Beiranvand (Tractor)
- Hossein Hosseini (Sepahan)
- Payam Niazmand (Persepolis)
Defenders
- Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan)
- Ramin Rezaeian (Foolad)
- Shojae Khalilzadeh (Tractor)
- Hossein Kanaanizadegan (Persepolis)
- Milad Mohammadi (Persepolis)
- Saleh Hardani (Esteghlal)
- Ali Nemati (Foolad)
- Danial Eiri (Malavan)
Midfielders
- Alireza Jahanbakhsh (FCV Dender)
- Saeid Ezatolahi (Shabab Al-Ahli)
- Saman Ghoddos (Al-Kalba)
- Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal)
- Mehdi Torabi (Tractor)
- Mohammad Mohebi (Rostov)
- Mehdi Ghayedi (Al-Nasr Dubai)
- Mohammad Ghorbani (Al Wahda)
- Amir Razzaghinia (Esteghlal)
- Aria Yousefi (Sepahan)
Forwards
- Mehdi Taremi (Olympiacos) – captain
- Dennis Eckert Ayensa (Standard Liege)
- Shahriyar Moghanlou (Al-Kalba)
- Ali Alipour (Persepolis)
- Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh (Tractor)
Squad Composition Breakdown
| Categorization | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Confirmed Players | 26 |
| Persian Gulf Pro League Players | 17 players |
| Players Based Abroad | 9 players (mostly UAE, Greece, Belgium, Russia) |
| Key Exclusion | Sardar Azmoun (selection decision) |
| New Addition | Dennis Eckert Ayensa (naturalized) |
Where Will Iran Play Their Group G Matches?
The Iran World Cup 2026 squad is drawn in a highly competitive Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand. While Belgium is considered the group favorites, Iran will be targeting their first-ever advancement to the knockout stage of the World Cup. This would break a long-standing streak, as the national team has never advanced past the group stage across six previous tournament appearances.
All of Iran’s matches in this tournament will take place away from home venues in the United States, as they are not one of the three co-host nations. The squad opens their campaign against New Zealand on Monday, June 15, 2026, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California (FIFA tournament name “Los Angeles Stadium”), with a kickoff time of 6:00 PM PT.
Their second Group G match sees them face Belgium on Sunday, June 21, 2026, also at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, kicking off at noon PT. The group concludes on Friday, June 26, 2026, when Iran takes on Egypt at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington (FIFA tournament name “Seattle Stadium”), with a scheduled kickoff of 8:00 PM PT.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players from Iran’s Persian Gulf Pro League are on the squad?
The roster features 17 of its 26 players based domestically in Iran. These home-based professionals form the core of the team, providing a strong foundation alongside the nine players competing abroad.
Why was Sardar Azmoun left out of the Iran World Cup 2026 squad?
The omission of striker Sardar Azmoun, who has scored 57 goals in 91 caps for his country, was a strict selection decision by head coach Amir Ghalenoei. It is not due to an injury or fitness concern.
Who is the captain of the Iran World Cup 2026 squad?
Olympiacos striker Mehdi Taremi serves as the team’s captain. The 33-year-old forward is widely considered the national team’s biggest attacking threat and most influential player.
Where will Iran play their opening match against New Zealand?
Iran opens Group G play on Monday, June 15, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 PM PT.
