IRN
FIFA WORLD CUP 2026 · GROUP G · POT 3

Iran
World Cup 26-man squad

Manager Amir Ghalenoei · Iranian head coach since 2023. Former Iran midfielder (20 caps) with multiple IPL titles at Sepahan — first World Cup at the helm at 62.
MD1 Jun 15 vs New Zealand MD2 Jun 21 vs Belgium MD3 Jun 26 vs Egypt
6th World Cup appearance · best finish: Group stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022)
26
Squad size
29.8
Avg. age
9 / 26
Overseas-based
14 / 12
WC veterans / Debutants
TEAM STORY

Amir Ghalenoei's Iran announced their final 26 on June 1 (trimmed from 30 → 31 → 26). This is Iran's fourth consecutive World Cup (7th overall) — they topped their AFC qualifying group. Yet to escape the group stage in any of six prior appearances, a Round of 16 berth would be unprecedented.

Spine: ace Mehdi Taremi (Olympiacos, 60 international goals) + captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Dender, Belgium, 98 caps) + 146-cap legend Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan) + Alireza Beiranvand (Tractor, famed Ronaldo penalty-saver). IPL-heavy squad with players spread across Gulf, Belgium, Türkiye, etc.

Group G opponents: New Zealand, Belgium, Egypt. June 15 vs NZL (Los Angeles Stadium) → June 21 vs BEL (Los Angeles Stadium) → June 26 vs EGY (Seattle Stadium). Breaking the never-escaped-group-stage curse and reaching the R16 for the first time ever is the historic target.

PREDICTED XI

LIKELY 4-3-3.

Ghalenoei's preferred 4-3-3. Ace Taremi (Olympiacos, 60 international goals) at No.9 with captain Jahanbakhsh + Mohebi flanking. Ezatolahi anchors with Cheshmi/Torabi. Veteran CB pair Kanaanizadegan + Khalilzadeh, Hajsafi at left-back, Rezaeian at right-back.

4-3-3 (predicted)
KEY PLAYERS

KEY PLAYERS.

The five players who set the tone in the group stage — by role and trait.

3
LB · DF
Ehsan Hajsafi
Sepahan · 36
146 caps · 7G WC: 2014, 2018, 2022
146-cap legend left-back
9
ST · FW
Mehdi Taremi
Olympiacos · 33
105 caps · 60G WC: 2018, 2022
Striking ace (60 international goals)
ACE
1
GK · GK
Alireza Beiranvand
Tractor · 33
86 caps · 0G WC: 2018, 2022
Famed Ronaldo-penalty-saver
14
CM · MF
Saman Ghoddos
Kalba · 32
67 caps · 3G WC: 2018, 2022
Premier League-experienced midfielder
7
RW · MF
Alireza Jahanbakhsh
Dender · 32
98 caps · 17G WC: 2014, 2018, 2022
Captain & Premier League-experienced winger
CAPTAIN
SQUAD

SQUAD 26.

GK GOALKEEPERS 3
DF DEFENDERS 9
MF MIDFIELDERS 8
FW FORWARDS 6
GROUP G

GROUP G.

BEL
Belgium
POT 1
EGY
Egypt
POT 2
IRN
Iran
POT 3
NZL
New Zealand
POT 4
Mon, Jun 15
New Zealand vs Iran
Los Angeles Stadium · Inglewood, CA
Iran's fourth consecutive World Cup (7th overall). Vs NZ (back after 16 years) at Los Angeles Stadium — Taremi's finishing must secure three points.
View lineups →
MD1
Sun, Jun 21
Belgium vs Iran
Los Angeles Stadium · Inglewood, CA
Los Angeles showdown vs Pot 1 Belgium (De Bruyne, Lukaku). Veteran CBs Kanaanizadegan + Khalilzadeh must stay focused against a powerful attack.
View lineups →
MD2
Fri, Jun 26
Egypt vs Iran
Seattle Stadium · Seattle, WA
Group decider in Seattle vs Egypt (Salah, Marmoush). Iran has never reached the Round of 16 — focus and giant-killer mentality required against their Premier League-based attack.
View lineups →
MD3

Road to the final

Spoiler-free: the potential bracket route by final group position. No results shown.

Win Group G
  1. Round of 32 Jul 01 · Seattle vs 3rd place (A/E/H/I/J)
  2. Round of 16 Jul 06 · Seattle vs Winner of Match 81
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 10 · Inglewood vs Winner of Match 93
  4. Semi-finals Jul 14 · Arlington vs Winner of Match 97
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 102
Runners-up, Group G
  1. Round of 32 Jul 03 · Arlington vs Runners-up Group D
  2. Round of 16 Jul 07 · Atlanta vs Winner of Match 86
  3. Quarter-finals Jul 11 · Kansas City vs Winner of Match 96
  4. Semi-finals Jul 15 · Atlanta vs Winner of Match 99
  5. Final Jul 19 · East Rutherford vs Winner of Match 101
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