Iran Name World Cup Squad With Taremi Leading Attack
Iran have named their 26-man World Cup squad with Mehdi Taremi leading the forward line. Amir Ghalenoei selected a veteran-heavy group built around Alireza Beiranvand, Ehsan Hajsafi, Alireza Jahanbakhsh, and Taremi. Team Melli will face Belgium, New Zealand, and Egypt in Group G. The squad gives Iran a clear experience base before World Cup 2026 begins.
The biggest selection point sits in attack, where Taremi remains the central figure. Dennis Eckert also joins the forward group, giving Iran a different profile off the bench. Sardar Azmoun is not listed in the final 26, which keeps the spotlight on Taremi’s workload. Iran need his finishing because their group offers no soft route to the knockout phase.
The final list also confirms how much Ghalenoei trusts continuity. Several players have carried Iran through Asian qualifying, previous World Cup appearances, and high-pressure away fixtures. That experience can help the team manage difficult spells against stronger opponents. It also means younger players must win minutes through specific roles rather than reputation.
Iran’s Full 26-Man Squad
Ghalenoei kept three goalkeepers, eight defenders, ten midfielders, and five forwards. The list leans on players with deep international experience, especially in defence and central midfield. Hajsafi, Jahanbakhsh, Taremi, Beiranvand, and Ezatolahi give the side a spine that has handled major Asian and global matches. Younger options such as Danial Eiri and Amirmohammad Razzaghinia add fresh legs.
The balance suggests Iran will rely on compact defending, set-piece delivery, and quick service into the front line. Beiranvand remains the likely starting goalkeeper, while Taremi gives the side a focal point against stronger possession teams. Jahanbakhsh and Ghoddos can carry attacks through wide and half-space areas. That mix matters because Iran have never advanced beyond the World Cup group stage.
| Position | Players |
|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | Alireza Beiranvand (Tractor), Payam Niazmand (Persepolis), Hossein Hosseini (Sepahan) |
| Defenders | Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan), Milad Mohammadi (Persepolis), Ramin Rezaeian (Foolad), Hossein Kanaanizadegan (Persepolis), Shojae Khalilzadeh (Tractor), Saleh Hardani (Esteghlal), Ali Nemati (Foolad), Danial Eiri (Malavan) |
| Midfielders | Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Dender), Saeid Ezatolahi (Shabab Al-Ahli), Saman Ghoddos (Kalba), Mehdi Torabi (Tractor), Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), Mohammad Mohebi (Rostov), Mehdi Ghayedi (Al-Nasr), Mohammad Ghorbani (Al-Wahda), Aria Yousefi (Sepahan), Amirmohammad Razzaghinia (Esteghlal) |
| Forwards | Mehdi Taremi (Olympiacos), Shahriyar Moghanlou (Kalba), Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh (Tractor), Ali Alipour (Persepolis), Dennis Eckert (Standard Liege) |
Group G Pressure Around Taremi
Iran open their tournament against New Zealand before facing Belgium and Egypt. That opener may shape the entire campaign because Iran need points before the group difficulty rises. Taremi’s movement and penalty-box decisions can define whether Iran control that first match. If he draws extra defenders, Iran can use Jahanbakhsh and Mohebi in transition.
The Belgium match will test Iran’s defensive discipline because Belgium can stretch teams through multiple attacking lanes. Egypt then brings a different challenge with speed and physical duels. Iran’s older core must manage recovery between fixtures, especially in North American travel conditions. Squad depth across midfield gives Ghalenoei enough options to rotate without losing structure.
Why The Squad Choice Feels Conservative
This selection rewards trust and tournament familiarity. Beiranvand, Hajsafi, Rezaeian, Jahanbakhsh, Ezatolahi, Ghoddos, and Taremi have handled pressure together across several qualifying periods. Ghalenoei appears to value that shared understanding over a wider youth refresh. That choice carries logic because Group G will punish loose spacing and slow rest defence.
Even so, Iran still need enough attacking variety against Egypt and Belgium. Eckert’s inclusion gives the bench a forward who can change the rhythm. Ghayedi and Mohebi can support Taremi if Iran chase a match. The squad’s ceiling depends on whether those support runners turn possession recoveries into clear shots.
Iran’s route will likely depend on small margins. A clean sheet in the opener, one set-piece goal, or one Taremi finish could change the table before the stronger games arrive. That is why the squad’s defensive experience matters as much as the headline forward names. Ghalenoei has built a team that can live in tight matches if concentration holds.
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Iran’s squad gives Ghalenoei a settled spine and a clear attacking leader. The next question is whether that experience can finally push Team Melli beyond the group stage.
Stay tuned to FWCTimes.com for the latest FIFA World Cup 2026 updates.
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