Iran World Cup 2026: Can major underdogs spring a surprise?

Iran qualified comprehensively for the 2026 World Cup in June of last year, topping their AFC group. However, the attacks on their country from Israel and the United States of America, with the latter joint-hosting this World Cup, and the following war in the Middle East have rather overshadowed a side preparing for its fourth consecutive World Cup.

The team is scheduled to play three games in the United States, but players and staff have still not received any US visas. They will now be based in Mexico and travel to the games if possible. On this backdrop of uncertainty, below you can find my Iran World Cup 2026 preview.

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Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Tractor), Hossein Hosseini (Sepahan), Payam Niazmand (Persepolis)

Defenders: Danial Eiri (Malavan), Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan), Saleh Hardani (Esteghlal), Shoja Khalilzadeh (Tractor), Milad Mohammadi (Persepolis), Ali Nemati (Foolad), Ramin Rezaeian (Foolad), Hossein Kanaanizadegan (Persepolis)

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 (Olympiacos), Shahriyar Moghanlou (Kalba)

Mexico offered to host the Iranian team ahead of the World Cup, as the United States did not want them staying in their country overnight, so their trianing base will now be in Centro Xoloitzcuintle in Tijuana, Mexico. 

It’s right on the border of the USA, and just a short hop to Los Angeles, where they will play two of their three group games. The preparation for this tournament has been far from ideal, and the provisional squad above still are not 100% sure whether they will be allowed into the USA at the time of writing. 

However, on the pitch, Iran have grown as a footballing nation and their consistent appearances at World Cups this millennium prove that. Four in a row is some going and they will view this expanded tournament as a real chance for them to get out of the group for the very first time.

I think this is a kind group, and they will be favourites to beat New Zealand in their opener. Belgium and Egypt will be tougher but a point against either would surely take them into the knockout stages, which would be a terrific achievement. 

World Cup Odds

Amir Ghalenoei is the current man in charge and his side face a unique problem heading into the World Cup. Almost all of them play their football in the Persian Pro League, the top tier of Iranian football, and that league has been suspended since February. 

It means their players have only played two friendlies during the March international break since then, and so there is very little form to go off and match sharpness could be a serious issue. They’ve got one friendly planned before the tournament gets underway, and they are currently training in Turkey before heading to Mexico.

On a positive note, they yet again nailed AFC qualifying, only losing one of their 16 total qualifiers as they topped their group ahead of Uzbekistan. There’s talent and determination in this group, with former Brighton man Alireza Jahanbakhsh nearly at 100 caps, and Mehdi Taremi set to lead the line. Talking of which…

Group G Fixtures:

15 June 6pm local (16 June 2am BST) - vs New Zealand (Los Angeles)

21 June 12pm local (8pm BST) - vs Belgium (Los Angeles)

27 June 8pm local (28 June 4am BST) - vs Egypt (Seattle)

Key Player: Mehdi Taremi 

One of the few Iran players to actually get to the end the regular league season, there is no doubt that Taremi is Iran’s key man. The man who made his name at Porto now plays in Greece with Olympiacos, and he is still banging in the goals, with 10 in 24 league games this term. He also scored two in the Champions League, which is a far higher level than any of his international teammates. 

Fifty-nine goals in 103 international appearances is a top record, and this is likely to be the 33-year-old’s final World Cup. He can make a big impression on Group G and drag his side towards the knockout stage.

Prediction: Last 32

I’m going to back Iran to do something pretty special in the United States and make it out of the group. Despite a lack of games, I think they can beat a weak New Zealand outfit in their opening match, and if they can eek out another point, or avoid heavy defeats in their following two fixtures. 

I don’t think they will be able to win a knockout match, but getting there will be a ginormous achievement. 

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