Iran

Group GFIFA Ranking #21AFC

Coach

Amir Ghalenoei

World Cup Appearances

Best Finish

Group Stage

Training Base

Tijuana

Centro Xoloitzcuintle

Complete Team Guide

Iran arrive at World Cup 2026 as the only team commuting to their matches from another country. Following the US-led bombing campaign on Iran in February 2026, the US refused to accommodate the squad on American soil, moving Iran's base camp to Tijuana, Mexico. Amir Ghalenoei has excluded Sardar Azmoun (57 goals in 91 caps) in what is widely reported as a politically motivated decision. Mehdi Taremi, who moved from Inter Milan to Olympiacos and refused to celebrate a goal as protest against the Iranian government, leads the attack. Ehsan Hajsafi, four caps from Iran's all-time appearance record, captains the side. Group G: Belgium, Egypt, New Zealand.

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Iran World Cup 2026 Group

What group is Iran in for World Cup 2026? Iran is in Group G at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Follow the group fixtures, standings, and knockout path from the Group G page.

Use the World Cup 2026 Predictor to predict Iran group matches, compare their possible finish, and build a knockout bracket that includes their route through the tournament.

Group G World Cup 2026 →Predict Iran World Cup 2026 matches →

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Road to 2026

Iran qualified for World Cup 2026 once again and remain one of Asia's most dependable programs. FIFA's qualified-teams tracker placed Team Melli among the direct AFC qualifiers, confirming yet another finals appearance for a side that rarely lack structure, physical edge or emotional intensity.

Key Players

Mehdi Taremi

Forward

Inter Milan

Taremi remains the most recognisable final-third reference and the player opponents still focus on first.

Alireza Beiranvand

Goalkeeper

Tractor

Beiranvand's experience and presence make him one of the core veterans of the side.

Ramin Rezaeian

Defender

Sepahan

Rezaeian gives Iran width, service and attacking value from deeper areas.

Milad Mohammadi

Defender

Persepolis

Mohammadi helps balance the back line and gives Iran another experienced wide defender in tournament play.

Saman Ghoddos

Midfielder

Brentford

Ghoddos offers composure and technical quality, particularly useful when Iran need more than intensity.

Official WC 2026 Squad

27 playersRead our squad analysis →

Goalkeepers

Alireza Beiranvand

Tractor

Hossein Hosseini

Sepahan

Payam Niazmand

Persepolis

Defenders

DEF

Danial Eiri

Malavan

DEF

Ehsan Hajsafi

Sepahan

DEF

Saleh Hardani

Esteghlal

DEF

Hossein Kanaani

Persepolis

DEF

Shoka Khalilzadeh

Tractor

DEF

Milad Mohammadi

Persepolis

DEF

Ali Nemati

Foolad

DEF

Omid Noorafkan

Foolad

DEF

Ramin Rezaeian

Foolad

Midfielders

MID

Rouzbeh Cheshmi

Esteghlal

MID

Saeid Ezatolahi

Shabab Al-Ahli

MID

Mehdi Ghaedi

Al-Nasr

MID

Saman Ghoddos

Kalba

MID

Mohammad Ghorbani

Al-Wahda

MID

Alireza Jahanbakhsh

Dender

MID

Mohammad Mohebi

Rostov

MID

Amir Mohammad Razzaghinia

Esteghlal

MID

Mehdi Torabi

Tractor

MID

Aria Yousefi

Sepahan

Attackers

ATT

Ali Alipour

Persepolis

ATT

Dennis Dargahi

Standard Liege

ATT

Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh

Tractor

ATT

Amirhossein Mahmoudi

Persepolis

ATT

Mehdi Taremi

Olympiacos

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Follow Iran in the World Cup 2026 bracket

Match Schedule

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Group Stage - Group G

2026-06-15

Iran

2 - 2

New Zealand

SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

Group Stage - Group G

2026-06-21

Belgium

0 - 0

Iran

SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles

Group Stage - Group G

2026-06-26

Egypt

1 - 1

Iran

Lumen Field, Seattle