Iran
IRN · AFC
Head Coach
Amir Ghalenoei
Amir Ghalenoei leads Iran into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, tasked with guiding the squad through a competitive Group G and beyond. The coaching staff has been preparing tactical approaches tailored to the expanded 48-team tournament format.
Group Stage Venue
Philadelphia
Iran will play their group stage matches in Philadelphia. The 2026 World Cup is the first to be hosted across three nations — the United States, Mexico, and Canada — with matches spread across 16 world-class venues.
Squad (26 players)
Goalkeepers
Defenders
Midfielders
Forwards
Recent Form & Current State
Iran qualified through AFC qualification and remain one of Asia's strongest teams. Under Amir Ghalenoei, they have maintained their defensive solidity and counter-attacking style. Mehdi Taremi continues to be their main goal threat from his European club career.
Form heading into a major tournament is often a key indicator of how far a team can progress. Iran, currently ranked #21 in the FIFA World Rankings, will look to carry momentum from their recent qualifying and friendly campaigns into the group stage. Consistency in results and squad cohesion built during the qualification cycle will be vital assets. The AFCrepresentatives will be eager to demonstrate their quality on the world's biggest stage in 2026.
World Cup History
Iran have appeared in six World Cups. Their best result is the group stage, though they have been competitive in recent tournaments. In 2022, they beat Wales and narrowly lost to the USA in a decisive group match. Their first appearance was in 1978.
The FIFA World Cup is the pinnacle of international football, and Iran's history in the competition provides important context for their 2026 campaign. With the tournament expanding to 48 teams for the first time, every nation faces both new opportunities and new challenges in the revamped group stage format featuring groups of four with the top two advancing to a 32-team knockout round. Iran will aim to write a new chapter in their World Cup story at this historic edition of the tournament.
Group G Opponents
Iran faces Belgium and Egypt and New Zealand in Group G. The top two teams from each group advance to the Round of 32. Group dynamics, head-to-head records, and tactical matchups will all play a role in determining which teams progress from this stage.