Iran confirmed their final 26-player squad for the 2026 World Cup on June 1, with Amir Ghalenoei trusting a domestic-heavy group and captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh wearing the armband. Mehdi Taremi leads the attack at his third World Cup. The big talking point is the absence of striker Sardar Azmoun, left out after a reported rift with the federation.
The Iran World Cup 2026 squad blends seasoned internationals with a handful of young domestic picks. Seventeen players come from the Iran Pro League, while nine play their club football abroad, mostly in the UAE. This is Iran’s seventh World Cup. Team Melli go in ranked 21st by FIFA, drawn in Group G with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.
This is your full Iran squad list, schedule, and key player breakdown for the 2026 tournament.
Iran 26-Player Squad for World Cup 2026
| Position | Player | Club | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| GK | Alireza Beiranvand | Tractor | 33 |
| GK | Seyed Hossein Hosseini | Sepahan | 33 |
| GK | Payam Niazmand | Persepolis | 31 |
| DF | Ehsan Hajsafi | Sepahan | 36 |
| DF | Milad Mohammadi | Persepolis | 32 |
| DF | Ali Nemati | Foolad | 30 |
| DF | Danial Iri | Malavan | 22 |
| DF | Shojae Khalilzadeh | Tractor | 37 |
| DF | Mohammad Hossein Kanaanizadegan | Persepolis | 32 |
| DF | Arya Yousefi | Sepahan | 24 |
| DF | Saleh Hardani | Esteghlal | 27 |
| DF | Ramin Rezaeian | Foolad | 36 |
| MF | Alireza Jahanbakhsh (C) | Dender | 32 |
| MF | Saeid Ezatolahi | Shabab Al Ahli | 29 |
| MF | Rouzbeh Cheshmi | Esteghlal | 32 |
| MF | Amirmohammad Razaghnian | Esteghlal | 20 |
| MF | Mohammad Mohebi | Rostov | 27 |
| MF | Mehdi Ghayedi | Al Nasr | 27 |
| MF | Saman Ghoddos | Ittihad Kalba | 32 |
| MF | Mohammad Ghorbani | Al Wahda | 24 |
| MF | Mehdi Torabi | Tractor | 31 |
| FW | Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh | Tractor | 25 |
| FW | Ali Alipour | Persepolis | 30 |
| FW | Shahriar Moghanlou | Ittihad Kalba | 31 |
| FW | Denis Dargahi | Standard Liège | 29 |
| FW | Mehdi Taremi | Olympiacos | 33 |
For all 48 teams’ squads, see our World Cup 2026 squads tracker.
Quick Stats
Iran’s squad leans on experience and a strong domestic core. Key numbers:
- Average age: 29.8 years
- Captain: Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Dender)
- Most-capped player: Ehsan Hajsafi (142 caps)
- Top scorer in the squad: Mehdi Taremi (56 international goals)
- Iran Pro League players: 17
- Foreign-based players: 9 (five in the UAE, the rest in Belgium, Greece and Russia)
- Notable omission: Sardar Azmoun (57 goals in 91 caps)
Key Players to Watch in the Iran World Cup 2026 Squad
Mehdi Taremi, Olympiacos. Taremi is Iran’s main man and their most dangerous finisher. He has 101 caps and 56 international goals, and he scored twice against England at Qatar 2022. The 33-year-old netted 10 goals in 15 qualifiers. His movement and link play decide whether Iran finally escape the group.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Dender. The captain leads from wide areas and carries real pedigree. He was the first Asian player to finish top scorer in a major European league, with 21 goals for AZ Alkmaar in 2017-18, before spells at Brighton and Feyenoord. At 32, his delivery and big-game calm matter against better-ranked sides.
Alireza Beiranvand, Tractor. Beiranvand is Iran’s first-choice goalkeeper and one of its great stories. He slept rough in Tehran as a teenager before turning professional. The veteran has more than 80 caps and famously saved a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty at the 2018 World Cup. His shot-stopping keeps Iran in tight games.
Ehsan Hajsafi, Sepahan. Hajsafi is the squad’s most experienced player with 142 caps and a fourth World Cup ahead of him. The left-back doubles as a utility man across defence and midfield. He led the team during the 2022 tournament, and his leadership steadies a side full of younger domestic players.
Saman Ghoddos, Ittihad Kalba. Ghoddos gives Iran control in the middle third. The Sweden-born, former Brentford midfielder reads the game well and keeps possession ticking under pressure. He’s one of five UAE-based players in the squad. His passing range links Iran’s deeper players to Taremi up front.
Arya Yousefi, Sepahan. Yousefi is the bright young option in Ghalenoei’s group at 24. The Sepahan defender earned his call-up with composed domestic form. He offers cover and versatility across the back line. A World Cup debut would mark a big step for one of Iran’s emerging talents.
Iran World Cup 2026 Schedule
Iran play all three group games on the US West Coast. Local kick-off times are listed in both Eastern Time (ET) and Iran Standard Time (IRST) for fans back home.
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Kickoff (ET) | Kickoff (IRST) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 15 | New Zealand | Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium), Los Angeles | 9:00 PM | 4:30 AM (June 16) |
| June 21 | Belgium | Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium), Los Angeles | 3:00 PM | 10:30 PM |
| June 26 | Egypt | Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field), Seattle | 11:00 PM | 6:30 AM (June 27) |
Iran prepared with a training camp in Antalya, Turkey, where they beat The Gambia 3-1 on May 29, before relocating their base to Mexico. All kick-off times follow the official 2026 World Cup fixture schedule, with group positions confirmed at the December 5, 2025 draw.
How Iran Qualified for World Cup 2026
Iran booked their place through the AFC route. They topped third round Group A, a section that included Uzbekistan, the UAE, Qatar, North Korea and Kyrgyzstan. Top spot meant automatic qualification, and Ghalenoei’s side rarely looked troubled.
Iran sealed their ticket on March 25, 2025, a 2-2 home draw with Uzbekistan confirming top spot. They were among the first nations to reach the expanded finals. Taremi drove the campaign with 10 goals, taking the pressure off a defence that conceded sparingly.
Across the full qualifying run Iran played 16 matches, winning 11, drawing four and losing one, with 35 goals scored and just 12 conceded. That record underlines why Ghalenoei’s side arrive as Group G’s second seeds. You can read the complete Iran World Cup history for the full picture.
Head Coach: Amir Ghalenoei
Amir Ghalenoei, born in 1963, is the most decorated coach in Iran Pro League history. He won multiple league titles, mostly with Sepahan, and has also coached Esteghlal, Tractor and Mes Kerman. He managed the national team once before, at the 2007 Asian Cup.
Ghalenoei returned to lead Team Melli in 2023 and reached the 2023 Asian Cup semi-finals. He then steered Iran through qualifying with room to spare, and the federation extended his deal through the tournament. He favours a compact 4-2-3-1 that prioritises defensive shape before springing Taremi and the wide players.
His selection tells you plenty about his approach. Ghalenoei trusts the domestic league for the spine of the team and asks his experienced heads to set the tone. The plan is clear: stay solid, stay organised, and back Taremi to punish chances on the break.
Group G at a Glance
Iran sit second seeds in Group G behind Belgium, with Egypt and New Zealand completing the section.
| Team | FIFA Ranking | World Cup Appearances | Best Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 9 | 15th | Third place (2018) |
| Egypt | 29 | 4th | Group stage |
| Iran | 21 | 7th | Group stage |
| New Zealand | 85 | 3rd | Group stage |
Belgium are clear favourites and a serious knockout contender. Egypt carry a genuine threat through their attack and will fancy second place. Iran’s realistic aim is to fight for the runner-up spot or a place among the eight best third-placed teams that reach the Round of 32. New Zealand are the group’s lowest seed, which makes the June 15 opener pivotal. Follow the Group G standings as results land.
FAQ About Iran World Cup Squad 2026
What is Iran’s nickname?
Iran are known as Team Melli, which simply means “the national team” in Persian. Fans also call them the Princes of Persia. They play in red, white and green, the colours of the national flag.
Who is Iran’s all-time leading scorer?
Ali Daei is Iran’s all-time leading scorer with 109 international goals, a long-standing world record. He retired in 2006 and is not in the squad. Mehdi Taremi, on 56 goals, leads the current players.
Have Iran and New Zealand met before?
Yes, the two sides have met twice. Iran won their most recent meeting 3-0 at the 2003 AFC-OFC Challenge Cup. The June 15 group opener in Los Angeles is their first competitive fixture.
How did Iran perform at the 2022 World Cup?
Iran exited at the group stage in Qatar. They beat Wales 2-0 with two late goals but lost to England and the United States. They’ve never advanced past the group stage in six previous appearances.
Iran’s World Cup 2026 Hopes
The Iran World Cup Squad 2026 is built on experience, a tight domestic core, and Taremi’s goals. Six previous tournaments have all ended at the group stage, so the target is obvious. Ghalenoei wants Iran to be hard to beat and ruthless on the counter.
The best-case scenario is a win over New Zealand, a result against Egypt, and a disciplined display against Belgium. That could be enough for the runner-up spot or one of the eight third-place places that advance. Iran have the spine and the leadership to finally reach a first knockout round. They won’t scare Belgium, but they’re more than capable of dragging themselves out of Group G.
