Tehran, Iran – The Iran national team has entered a bold new chapter, with the squad announced for the November FIFA window and the upcoming international tournament in Iraq signalling a striking and revolutionary shift toward rejuvenation.
The changes come after repeated calls from Mehdi Taj, President of the Football Federation, for a serious policy of rejuvenation within Team Melli, echoed by head coach Amir Ghalenoei following recent matches. Both men had come under immense pressure from the media and fans, who were the catalyst for these changes.
Taremi Headlines List of Absentees
It is safe to say that most of the players omitted from the squad will not be returning anytime soon, though some—such as Alireza Beiranvand and Hossein Kanaanizadegan—could return once they have recovered from injury.
The most notable absentee is captain Mehdi Taremi. The 34-year-old has been on the decline over the past two seasons, struggling to maintain decent form at both club and national team level.
Also missing from the roster are players who, over the past eight years—under coaches including Carlos Queiroz, Dragan Skočić, Marc Wilmots, and Ghalenoei himself—had been permanent fixtures in national team camps and major tournaments, including the World Cups.
Notable Absentees
Goalkeepers:
- Alireza Beiranvand (34)
- Seyed Hossein Hosseini (34)
Defenders:
- Milad Mohammadi (33)
- Ehsan Hajsafi (36)
- Ramin Rezaeian (36 – injured)
- Hossein Kanaanizadegan (32 – injured)
- Roozbeh Cheshmi (33)
- Shoja Khalilzadeh (37)
Midfielders and Wingers:
- Mehdi Torabi (32 – injured)
- Saman Ghoddos (34)
- Alireza Jahanbakhsh (33)
Forwards:
- Mehdi Taremi (34)
- Ali Alipour (31)
- Shahriar Moghanlou (31)
Farewell to a Memorable Generation
With these sweeping changes, Iranian football officially bids farewell to a memorable generation—a group that formed the core of the national team for years and carries experience from multiple World Cups—ushering in a new chapter built around younger, highly motivated players tasked with shaping the future of the nation's football.