Iran FIFA World Cup 2026: Mehdi Taremi Leads As Team Melli Set For Group G Challenge In USA

Iran on Monday finalized its 26-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in the United States, with 17 players drawn from domestic clubs that have not played competitive matches since February due to the ongoing Middle East regional conflict.

Star forward Mehdi Taremi, currently playing for Olympiakos in Greece, headlines the list of nine overseas-based players. However, notable absentee Sardar Azmoun, Taremi's strike partner at the 2022 World Cup, was once again left out. Azmoun had been dropped from coach Amir Ghalenoei's plans in March, reportedly following a social media post that drew criticism from Iranian authorities amid tensions involving the United States and Israel.

Midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi, Azmoun's teammate at UAE club Shabab Al-Ahli, was included in the squad. Iran's overseas contingent also features five players based in the United Arab Emirates, two in Belgium, one in Russia, and Taremi in Greece. Interestingly, Belgium-based Dennis Dargahi is listed under that name in the official squad but is known as Dennis Eckert Ayensa at his club, Standard Liege.

Iran is currently holding a pre-tournament training camp in Antalya, Turkey, and is scheduled to depart Friday for its tournament base in Tijuana, Mexico. The relocation comes after FIFA approved a request to move from Tucson, Arizona, due to complications surrounding U.S. visa procedures.

FIFA World Cup 2026: Fixtures

Iran will play two Group G matches in Inglewood, California, facing New Zealand on June 15 and Belgium on June 21, before traveling to Seattle to take on Egypt on June 26. A potential meeting with the United States looms in the round of 32 on July 3 in Arlington, Texas, if both teams finish second in their respective group.

Iran FIFA World Cup 2026: Squad

• 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)