Group G | Asia
IR Iran at the 2026 World Cup
An experienced Iran side with Taremi, set-piece size and a worrying defensive record in the build-up.
Watch for IR Iran early read: whether Iran defend the first box cleanly before looking for Taremi and the set-piece threat.
Story
Iran's identity is veteran resilience, but the defensive leaks are impossible to ignore.
Tactical cue
IR Iran early read: whether Iran defend the first box cleanly before looking for Taremi and the set-piece threat.
Squad, fixtures, manager, tactics, and match outlook
This page tracks IR Iran's World Cup 2026 squad shape, group fixtures, manager context, tactical profile, and key players to watch. Start with the story, then check the tactical cue and player cue against the next match.
Qualification and bracket path
Jump from the main team card into the scenario pages that matter most for this team.
- World Cup 2026 scenarios
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- Group G qualification scenarios
See the wider group qualification picture
- Knockout bracket
See the live knockout picture
Overview
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IR Iran are entering a seventh World Cup and fourth straight finals appearance, still chasing a first knockout-stage qualification despite decades of continental strength.
Trophy
Finals
Third Place
Best Finish
Group stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022)
 | Head CoachAmir Ghalenoei |
Age: 62Joined: March 2023Exp: 23 yrs Club / 4 yrs Country | |
| Coaching Philosophy Old-fashioned and pragmatic. Uses a compact, defensive mid-block, relies on surviving difficult spells and hitting on the counter. | |
| Key Achievements +Won five domestic titles in Iran, though the last was in 2013. | |
MT | Mehdi Taremi | |
Age: 33Exp: 33 yrs, Greece | ||
Current ClubOlympiacos | 🛡️ | |
T | TBD | |
Age: TBD | ||
Current ClubTBD | 🛡️ | |
T | TBD | |
Age: TBD | ||
Current ClubTBD | 🛡️ | |
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Old-fashioned and pragmatic. Uses a compact, defensive mid-block, relies on surviving difficult spells and hitting on the counter.
Tactics
◆ Tactical Analysis ◆
Attack
Iran relies on aggressive forward runs from full-backs like Ramin Rezaeian and individual efforts from Mehdi Taremi to generate scoring opportunities. The attack demonstrates resilience in recovering from deficits, though finishing remains inconsistent and frequently hampered by offside infractions.
Key Strength
IR Iran demonstrates significant defensive resilience and individual shot-stopping quality, anchored by Alireza Beiranvand's seven-save performance against Belgium. The team maintains a consistent competitive edge, successfully recovering from deficits in two of their three group stage matches.
Defence
Alireza Beiranvand anchors the defense with high-volume shot-stopping, including a seven-save performance against Belgium to secure the team's only clean sheet. Despite this individual reliance, the defensive structure remains vulnerable to early goals and lapses in concentration, having conceded three times across three group stage matches.
Fatal Weakness
Iran's inability to capitalize on numerical advantages and critical moments is compounded by a recurring reliance on offside-prone attacking sequences. This lack of clinical composure in the final third prevented the team from securing a win despite creating multiple high-quality scoring opportunities.
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Squad
Select a player to view
their scouting card.
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their scouting card.
Schedule
Fixtures List
Stats
🥅 Attack & Offence
1.0/match
11 SOT
2.7/match
3.0/match
Goals/Shots
📐 Build-up & Possession
793/1046 completed
9/37 completed
74/177 completed
🛡️ Defence & Goalkeeping
1.0/match
1 matches
38/58 tackles won
10.3/match
Effective
Shots blocked
🟨 Cards & Discipline
11.7/match
Data provided by FootieGuide research is for fan guide context. Verification source: ESPN API.
🥅 Attack & Offence
1.0/match
11 SOT
2.7/match
3.0/match
Goals/Shots
📐 Build-up & Possession
793/1046 completed
9/37 completed
74/177 completed
🛡️ Defence & Goalkeeping
1.0/match
1 matches
38/58 tackles won
10.3/match
Effective
Shots blocked
🟨 Cards & Discipline
11.7/match
Data provided by FootieGuide research is for fan guide context. Verification source: ESPN API.
News
🛰️ External Headlines (Radar)
🩹 Injuries & Availability
Defensive solidity is the main concern, made worse by disrupted domestic preparation and a league halt.
📝 Recent Warm-up Reports
No warm-up scorelines recorded.
🗣️ Manager Profile & Press
“Old-fashioned and pragmatic. Uses a compact, defensive mid-block, relies on surviving difficult spells and hitting on the counter.”
📋 Squad Context
Projected pre-tournament XI; 11 of 11 names match the June 2026 player snapshot. Final matchday selection still requires confirmation.
🛰️ External Headlines (Radar)
🩹 Injuries & Availability
Defensive solidity is the main concern, made worse by disrupted domestic preparation and a league halt.
📝 Recent Warm-up Reports
No warm-up scorelines recorded.
🗣️ Manager Profile & Press
“Old-fashioned and pragmatic. Uses a compact, defensive mid-block, relies on surviving difficult spells and hitting on the counter.”
📋 Squad Context
Projected pre-tournament XI; 11 of 11 names match the June 2026 player snapshot. Final matchday selection still requires confirmation.
Group G Context
IR Iran is in Group G with Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand.