Iran's World Cup squad is almost entirely a home game. The roster finalized Monday features 17 players based in Iran's domestic league, the largest contingent from the domestic competition in recent memory.
Squad composition
The 26-man group includes nine overseas players. Mehdi Taremi, who plays for Olympiakos in Greece, is the most recognizable name abroad. Five players represent clubs in the United Arab Emirates, two feature in Belgium's league, and one is based in Russia.
That is usually how club statements work: the wording stays calm while the room clearly has not.
Standard Liege lists Dennis Dargahi under the name Dennis Eckert Ayensa.
Azmoun left out
Sardar Azmoun, who scored twice at the 2022 World Cup, was omitted from the squad. He was dropped in March after reportedly sharing a social media post that angered Iranian authorities amid the regional conflict. His club teammate at Dubai's Shabab Al-Ahli, Saeid Ezatolahi, made the squad instead.
Preparation plans
Iran will prepare in Antalya, Turkey, before departing for itsbase in Tijuana, Mexico. The team received FIFA approval to shift from its or iginal training base in Tucson, Arizona, citing visa complications for entering the United States.
In Group G, Iran faces New Zealand on June 15 in Inglewood, California, takes on Belgium six days later at the same venue, and finishes group play against Egypt in Seattle on June 26. A potential round of 32 meeting with the United States would be held in Arlington, Texas—provided both teams finish second in the ir respective groups.
Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Tractor), Hossein Hosseini (Sepahan), Payam Niazmand (Persepolis)Defenders: Danial Eiri (Malavan), Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan), Saleh Hardani (Esteghlal), Hossein Kanaani (Persepolis), Shoja Khalilzadeh (Tractor), Milad Mohammadi (Persepolis), Ali Nemati (Foolad), Ramin Rezaeian (Foolad)
Midfielders: Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), Saeid Ezatolahi (Shabab Al-Ahli), Mehdi Ghayedi (Al-Nasr), Saman Ghoddos (Kalba), Mohammad Ghorbani (Al-Wahda), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Dender), Mohammad Mohebi (Rostov), Amir Mohammad Razzaghinia (Esteghlal), Mehdi Torabi (Tractor), Aria Yousefi (Sepahan)
Forwards: Ali Alipour (Persepolis), Dennis Dargahi (Standard Liege), Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh (Tractor), Mehdi Taremi (Olympiakos), Shahriar Moghanlou (Kalba)