AFC · Group G
Iran at FIFA World Cup 2026
Iran qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026, the first 48-team edition, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Group G opponents
Iran plays the following three teams in the group stage. Top 2 advance to the Round of 32; the 3rd-placed team can still advance via the best-3rd-placed playoff route (8 of 12 third-placed teams qualify).
Iran fixtures
Iran in the tournament
Iran arrives at the 2026 World Cup ranked #21 in the FIFA World Ranking with a tournament strength rating of 71/100. AFC (Asia) sends 8 teams to 2026. South Korea, Japan, and Australia have all reached the knockout rounds in recent tournaments.
The 48-team format puts Iran in Group G with Belgium, Egypt, New Zealand. On FIFA ranking alone, the group averages #38, with Iran in the middle of the pack. Top 2 advance automatically; the best 3rd-placed teams (8 of 12) also qualify for the Round of 32.
Iran squad for World Cup 2026
Announced June 1, 2026 · 26 players · Head coach: Amir Ghalenoei
Iran's seventh World Cup and fourth consecutive appearance. Captain Ehsan Hajsafi anchors with 145+ caps; Olympiacos forward Mehdi Taremi leads the attack with 100+ goals for club and country; Alireza Jahanbakhsh provides creative spark. Iranian-domestic coach Amir Ghalenoei has steadied the team since 2023. Open against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.
Goalkeepers3
- Alireza Beiranvand(Tractor)
- Payam Niazmand(Persepolis)
- Hossein Hosseini(Sepahan)
Defenders8
- Ehsan HajsafiCaptain(Sepahan)
- Milad Mohammadi(Persepolis)
- Ramin Rezaeian(Foolad)
- Hossein Kanaanizadegan(Persepolis)
- Shojae Khalilzadeh(Tractor)
- Saleh Hardani(Esteghlal)
- Ali Nemati(Foolad)
- Danial Eiri(Malavan)
Midfielders10
- 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)
Forwards5
- Mehdi Taremi(Olympiacos)
- Shahriyar Moghanlou(Kalba)
- Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh(Tractor)
- Ali Alipour(Persepolis)
- Dennis Eckert(Standard Liege)
Sources: Sports Illustrated, Al Jazeera. Squads may change due to injury or disciplinary action before the tournament.
Frequently asked questions about Iran
When does Iran play at the FIFA World Cup 2026?
Iran plays 3 scheduled group-stage matches starting June 16, 2026. The opener is against NZL. See the full fixtures list below for every kickoff time and venue.
What group is Iran in at the World Cup 2026?
Iran is in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, New Zealand. The top two from each group advance to the Round of 32, plus the 8 best 3rd-placed teams across all 12 groups.
What is Iran's FIFA ranking?
Iran entered the FIFA World Cup 2026 ranked #21 in the FIFA World Ranking. This places them in the top 25 globally. Rankings update through the qualification cycle.
Can Iran win the World Cup 2026?
Iran's pre-tournament strength rating is 71/100, derived from FIFA ranking, recent form, and squad depth. They are competitive group-stage participants; advancing to the knockouts would be a strong tournament. Try them in the bracket predictor to test your scenario.