Iran at the FIFA World Cup 2026

FIFA ranking: 21
Group: G
Confederation: AFC
Coach: Amir Ghalenoei
World Cup titles: 0
Best result: Group stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022)

History

Iran have qualified for the FIFA World Cup seven times (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026), making them one of Asia's most frequent World Cup participants. However, they have never progressed beyond the group stage. Their most famous result remains the 2-1 victory over the United States at France 1998 in Lyon. At Qatar 2022 they claimed three points with a 2-0 win over Wales but were eliminated after losing to the United States and England. Their record 4 points at a single tournament came in 2018. Away from the World Cup, Iran are three-time AFC Asian Cup champions (1968, 1972, 1976), a record they share with Japan, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia.

Qualification

Iran qualified for the 2026 World Cup on March 25, 2025, after a 2-2 home draw against Uzbekistan in the third round of AFC qualification, confirming their place as group winners. Coach Amir Ghalenoei, in his second spell as national team head coach, led a pragmatic campaign built on defensive organisation and set-piece efficiency. Iran's Asia Cup record of consistent qualification reflects the strength of their domestic football structure under the Persian Gulf Pro League, although the league was suspended from late February 2026 following the US-Israel attack on Iran on February 28.

Preparation

Iran's World Cup preparations have been disrupted by significant challenges. The Persian Gulf Pro League was suspended in late February 2026, leaving 17 of the final 26-man squad's home-based players without competitive football for several months. Coach Ghalenoei took the squad to a training camp in Antalya, Turkey, in mid-May 2026, as US entry visas had not yet been issued at the time of departure. On 29 May Iran beat Gambia 3-1 in a friendly at the Mardan Sports Complex in Aksu, Antalya: after Omar Colley put Gambia ahead, Aria Yousefi, Ramin Rezaeian and Mehdi Taremi scored for Iran. Ghalenoei named his final 26-man squad on 1 June. The team's tournament base camp, originally planned for Tucson, Arizona, was relocated to Centro Xoloitzcuintle in Tijuana, Mexico after FIFA approval (24 May) and a public hosting confirmation from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum (25 May), with the squad to be based in Mexico and cross the border for matches; as of 28 May the federation was still awaiting US multiple-entry visas. Iran open their Group G campaign against New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles.

Latest news

Ghalenoei names final 26-man squad; Azmoun left out, Taremi captain

Mon 1 Jun · squad

Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei announced his final 26-man World Cup squad on 1 June 2026, captained by Mehdi Taremi and including veterans Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Alireza Beiranvand and Ramin Rezaeian. Rouzbeh Cheshmi and Aria Yousefi were added; Sardar Azmoun, dropped in March, remains omitted. The list contains 17 home-based players whose clubs have not played since February.

beinsports.com · 2026-06-02
aol.com · 2026-06-02
flashscore.com · 2026-06-02

Iran beat Gambia 3-1 in Antalya warm-up friendly

Fri 29 May · matches

Iran came from behind to beat Gambia 3-1 in a friendly at the Mardan Sports Complex in Aksu, Antalya on 29 May 2026. Omar Colley put Gambia ahead before second-half goals from Aria Yousefi, Ramin Rezaeian and captain Mehdi Taremi sealed the win during Iran's pre-tournament camp in Turkey.

espn.com · 2026-06-02

Iran demands US multiple-entry visas as squad waits, base camp set for Tijuana

Thu 28 May · general

On 28 May 2026 federation president Mehdi Taj said the US must grant Iran's squad and staff multiple-entry visas, as the team will repeatedly leave and re-enter the country for matches from its FIFA-approved base camp at Centro Xoloitzcuintle in Tijuana, Mexico. The squad had not yet received visas, though some members attended appointments in Turkey the previous week.

aljazeera.com · 2026-06-02

Squad

Player	Position	Club
Alireza Beiranvand	GK	Tractor SC
Hossein Hosseini	GK	Sepahan
Payam Niazmand	GK	Persepolis
Ehsan Hajsafi	DF	Sepahan
Shojae Khalilzadeh	DF	Tractor SC
Milad Mohammadi	DF	Persepolis
Ramin Rezaeian	DF	Foolad
Hossein Kanaanizadegan	DF	Persepolis
Danial Eiri	DF	Malavan Bandar Anzali
Ali Nemati	DF	Foolad
Saleh Hardani	DF	Esteghlal
Aria Yousefi	DF	Sepahan
Saeid Ezatolahi	MF	Shabab Al Ahli
Rouzbeh Cheshmi	MF	Esteghlal
Saman Ghoddos	MF	Ittihad Kalba
Mohammad Ghorbani	MF	Al Wahda
Amir Razzaghinia	MF	Esteghlal
Alireza Jahanbakhsh	FW	FCV Dender EH
Mehdi Torabi	FW	Tractor SC
Mehdi Ghayedi	FW	Al-Nasr
Ali Alipour	FW	Persepolis
Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh	FW	Tractor SC
Dennis Eckert Darkahi	FW	Standard Liege
Mohammad Mohebi	FW	Rostov
Shahriyar Moghanlou	FW	Ittihad Kalba
Mehdi Taremi	FW	Olympiacos