Author: admin

Iran vs. New Zealand referee announced.

Team Melli opener at the Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles, against New Zealand will be refereed by the Mexican César Arturo Ramos.
The 42-year-old Mexican international referee has refereed in the FIFA World Cup 2018 and 2022. He refereed the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-final match between France and Morocco on 14 December.

Ramos was the referee of Team Melli's match against Oman in AFC Asian Cup 2019

Ramos will be assisted by compatriots Alberto Morin and Marco Bisguerra.

The 4th Official is Vusuke Araki of Japan

The match starts at 6 PM local time.

Banned for 20 Days for Exposing What Everyone Knows: The Dadashzadeh Case

Following a temporary order issued by the Ethics Committee of the Football Federation, Behzad Dadashzadeh has been banned from all football and futsal activities for 20 days. The suspension will remain in effect while allegations he made regarding the national team are investigated.

According to ISNA, Dadashzadeh—a former player for Team Melli, Esteghlal, and Persepolis—recently claimed that the process of selecting players for the national football team has been influenced by financial transactions, suggesting that some players pay to receive call-ups. It is these claims that prompted the Ethics Committee’s interim ruling.

In a statement last week regarding the national team squad, Dadashzadeh said: “We must respect and support Ghalenoei’s current squad. I have told the coaching staff and my good friends that we need to give young players a chance to secure their football future. What goes on behind the scenes, however, is another matter. I have heard there have been fights and arguments at the Olympic Hotel over the squad list.

The fact that a few brokers have pressured the national team’s coaching staff to include their own players is questionable, though I cannot make a definitive judgment. Take Ehsan Hajsafi, for example—he is a separate case. He voted for Mehdi Taj in the Football Federation presidential election and, in return, secured his place on the national team. That is, he became a permanent fixture in the squad.

That said, most players invited to Team Melli have not performed badly in the league, to be honest. But Aref Aghasi’s invitation is debatable—given his performances at Esteghlal, it is unclear why he should have been among those called up. Back when we were playing, there was a lot of infighting, and some players resorted to lobbying just to make it to the World Cup.”

Allegations of under-the-table payments, excessive influence of player agents, and political maneuvering within football have persisted for many years. It is an open secret that such practices remain widespread. Dadashzadeh is far from the first person to expose this, but history shows that none of these claims are ever investigated by an independent counsel—for the simple reason that any real inquiry would expose many powerful figures.

Dadashzadeh, as a football veteran, has strong opinions about the state of various teams and the management of Iranian football. He has criticized the performance of the Persepolis team and its management and has emphasized the need for changes in this area. Behzad Dadashzadeh, with a rich history in Iranian football, continues to be recognized as an influential figure in the sport, and his opinions on Iranian football are taken into account.

In hindsight, looking at the current Team Melli squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, even casual fans—let alone experts—might find reasons to suspect that Dadashzadeh has a point or two.

Inside the U.S. Decision to Block Iran’s World Cup Delegation

While all 26 players and head coach Amir Ghalenoei have successfully received U.S. entry visas for the upcoming World Cup matches, nearly the entire administrative and a portion of the technical and coaching staff have been denied. In total, 12 team personnel will not be permitted to accompany Team Melli on U.S. soil.

The Iranian national football team departed Turkey today, en route to Tijuana, Mexico, where they will establish their base for the tournament. The travel list notably included Mehdi Taj, the head of the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI).

Key figures denied visas :

Mehdi Mohammadnabi, Team Manager and Board Member of FFIRI.

Mehdi Taj , FFIRI President

Hedayat Mombini, Secretary General of the Football Federation

Siamak Ghlichkhani, media team member

Mohsen Motamedkia, Communications and Media Director

Mehdi Kharati, Executive Director of the national team

Apart from the top two, none of the above individuals are known to have current or prior affiliations with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Mehdi Taj and Mohammadnabi have faced previous scrutiny over past connections. It has been suggested that the U.S. visa denials may have been informed by intelligence provided by Iranian diaspora groups in California, many of whom are vocally opposed to the current Iranian government. However, this claim remains unverified.

Additionally, sources indicate that none of the security and intelligence personnel, often accompanying Team Melli as informal minders (known as Herasat), applied for U.S. visas altogether, reportedly fearing certain rejection or even arrest upon arrival in the United States.

Technical Impact vs. Logistical Challenges

From a sporting perspective, the team remains intact. The absence of these 12 individuals is not expected to directly affect game plans, player preparation, or on-field training. However, the loss of key administrative and logistical personnel could severely disrupt operations behind the scenes, potentially handicapping Team Melli’s World Cup campaign through disorganized coordination, travel arrangements, and media management.

All 12 denied individuals are expected to remain in Tijuana, Mexico, for the duration of the World Cup, operating from across the border.

Concerns Over Entry Procedures for Players and Coaches

Despite being granted visas, there are growing fears among the Iranian camp that the team’s actual entry into the United States may not go smoothly. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (ICE) officials retain broad discretionary powers at ports of entry, and there are concerns that players and coaching staff could be subjected to extended questioning or detention for hours, adding unnecessary emotional and physical strain ahead of crucial matches.

Some Iranian officials have alleged that U.S. authorities may exploit procedural measures to pressure the team, with one source quoted as saying, “the Americans will do everything in the book and outside it to hurt Iran.” Such claims remain unconfirmed and reflect the heightened political tensions surrounding the Iranian team’s participation in a U.S.-hosted sporting event.

Uncertainty Over FIFA’s Guarantees

It remains to be seen whether FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s personal assurances of safe and swift passage for all World Cup participants will hold true for Iran. With off-field political pressures already mounting, Team Melli faces the dual challenge of navigating both on-field competition and a complicated, high-stakes logistical environment.

FULL LIST OF TEAM MELLI STAFF

Coaching Staff — Iran

AG

Amir Ghalenoei - Head Coach
Rahman Rezaei - Assistant Coach
Andranik Teymourian - Assistant Coach
Alin Dincă - Goalkeepers Coach
Ali Asghar Ghorbanalipour - Fitness Coach
Alireza Shahab - Physiotherapist
Parhan Khanlari - Team Doctor
Amir Esmaeili - Staff

Team Melli squad has been granted US visas for the FIFA World Cup 2026

By Emily Green

June 5 (Reuters) - Iran's World Cup soccer players have been granted visas to enter the United States, a White House official told Reuters on Friday, just 10 days before their first match in Los Angeles amid a conflict between the two countries.

Iran's ambassador to Mexico, Abolfazl Pasandideh, said late on Thursday the squad had still not received their U.S. visas, but these were granted overnight, the White House official said.
A spokesman for Iran's World Cup federation could not immediately be reached for comment.

The U.S. had not yet issued visas to some members of the Iran team's technical and administrative staff, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Friday.

"Visas for some members of the national team's technical and executive staff have not yet been issued, and the U.S. embassy has so far refused to issue them," it said, without citing a source.

Iran's Full Squad List: Team Melli Squad FIFA World Cup 2026 Canada, US, Mexico - Team Melli

The Iran war has turned the World Cup – the biggest global sporting event – into a geopolitical contest, with both sides appearing to use the tournament for political posturing.

It is the first World Cup, since its inception in 1930, in which a host nation is set to receive a country it is at war with.

Tehran negotiated a last-minute move of the team's base from Arizona to Tijuana in Mexico due to the visa issues and a growing feeling in Iran that the squad’s presence in the United States should be kept to a minimum.

They are scheduled to land in Tijuana early on Sunday.

Iran are due to play their first Group G match on June 15 against New Zealand in Los Angeles, where they will also face Belgium before taking on Egypt in Seattle.

The U.S. had never formally said it did not want the Iran team to stay on its territory, ambassador Pasandideh said.

However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on Tuesday that the U.S. would not allow Iran to include in its World Cup delegation individuals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, a powerful branch of the Iranian armed forces.

Mehdi Taj, president of Iran's soccer federation, was denied entry for the tournament draw in Washington in December. He is a former commander in the Revolutionary Guards.

Iran's desire to compete in the World Cup underscored its efforts to reach a resolution in the war with Washington, Pasandideh said.

"Iran's participation in the World Cup -- even on the soil of what is seen as its enemy -- shows that Iran seeks peace," Pasandideh said, speaking through a Spanish interpreter at the Iranian embassy in Mexico City.

Progress in peace talks between Iran and the U.S. has been slow, with both sides seemingly inching toward an interim agreement even as they continue to carry out military strikes.

Team Melli defeats Mali in the last preparation match before the World Cup

For its last World Cup warm-up match, played this Thursday in Antalya (Turkey), behind closed doors, Iran beat Mali (2-0). Before flying to Mexico on Saturday and returning to their base camp in Tijuana during the World Cup (June 11-July 19), Iran won their last warm-up match against Mali (2-0) on Thursday. This result comes after a first victory against Gambia (3-1), on May 29.
The match was held behind closed doors, without any media, at the Titanic Stadium in Antalya, Turkey, where Team Melli had started its gathering. Both goals were scored by Saeid Ezatolahi (14th) and Ramin Rezaeian (55th).

Amir Ghalenoei made 9 substitutions in a match that saw two of the excluded players given minutes in the match, including a debut match for Hadi Habibinejad, who replaced Arya Yousefi in the 77th minute. Amirhossein Mahmoudi also found playing time

The 21st nation in the FIFA ranking will start the competition on July 15 against New Zealand. In Group G, the Iranians, who have received their visas for Mexico but not yet for the United States, will also face New Zealand and Egypt.

Age of Stagnation: Why Ghalenoei’s Conservative Selections Have Made Iran the Second-Oldest Team at the 2026 World Cup

PERSIAN VERSION
  • پیریِ مرگبار: چرا انتخاب‌های محافظه‌کارانهٔ قلعه‌نویی، ایران را دومین تیم پیر جهان در جام جهانی ۲۰۲۶ کرده است
    با نزدیک شدن به جام جهانی ۲۰۲۶، تمام تیم‌ها لیست نهایی بازیکنان خود را به کمیته برگزاری تحویل داده‌اند. طبق آمار منتشرشده از میانگین سنی هر تیم، تصویری روشن و برای برخی، هشداردهنده به دست آمده است:

Continue reading "Age of Stagnation: Why Ghalenoei’s Conservative Selections Have Made Iran the Second-Oldest Team at the 2026 World Cup" →

With the 2026 World Cup rapidly approaching, all participating nations have submitted their official player lists to the organizing committee. Recent data released on the average age of each squad has painted a telling, and for some, alarming picture. According to the records:

  • Panama (30.4 years)
  • Iran (30.3 years)
  • Colombia (30.1 years)

These three nations stand as the oldest teams in the competition. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Ivory Coast boasts the youngest squad with an average age of just 25.8 years—a full 4.5 years younger than Team Melli.

Iran’s Aging Roster: A Symptom, Not a Coincidence

For Iranian fans and analysts, seeing their national team ranked as the second-oldest in the world is not merely a statistical curiosity. It is a glaring indictment of head coach Amir Ghalenoei’s philosophy, risk aversion, and failure to regenerate the squad since he took over in March 2023, barely three months after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

On the surface, relying on experienced players might seem prudent for a team facing the likes of England and European powerhouses. Veterans bring composure, tactical discipline, and big-match know-how. However, the deeper problem is that under Ghalenoei, experience has become an excuse for exclusion, specifically, the systematic exclusion of young, dynamic, and technically gifted emerging talents.

Ghalenoei’s Core Failure: A Closed Door to Youth

The most damning charge against Ghalenoei is his inability, or outright refusal, to introduce a single player of lasting value to the national squad during his entire tenure. In nearly four years at the helm, spanning the AFC Asian Cup 2023, World Cup qualifiers and friendly matches, he has not blooded a promising young star who could credibly claim a starting spot in 2026.

Unlike predecessors who at least attempted transitions (e.g., Queiroz introducing Sardar Azmoun and Saman Ghoddos as youngsters, or even Branko Ivanković giving early caps to Ehsan Hajsafi), Ghalenoei has fallen back on the same core of aging, often injury-prone players. Names like Shoja Khalilzadeh (37), Ramin Rezaeian (36), and Ehsan Hajsafy (36) continue to receive call-ups, while talents such as:

  • Kasra Taheri
  • Mohammad Amin Hazbavi (defensive prodigy)
  • Saeid Saharkhizan (prolific young striker)
  • Javad Hosseinnejad

Are given token minutes that amount to little more than window dressing.

A Culture of Distrust and Fear

Ghalenoei’s selection patterns reveal a deep-seated distrust of youth, often rationalized in press conferences with vague phrases like “they are not ready” or “the pressure is too high.” But this is a smokescreen. The reality is a conservative, fear-driven approach: the coach prioritizes short-term results (avoiding a humiliating loss in a qualifier) over long-term development (giving a 21-year-old 45 minutes against a weaker Asian side).

This fear has paralyzed Iran’s natural footballing cycle. While Japan, Australia, and even Saudi Arabia have lowered their average age and injected pace and energy, Iran has remained static. The result is a squad that, by 2026, will rely on several players past their physical prime, easily exploited by faster, younger opponents in a condensed tournament schedule.

Impunity and Institutional Failure: The Role of Mehdi Taj and FFIRI

Yet, Ghalenoei alone is not the culprit. His job security, despite underwhelming performances and a visible lack of tactical evolution, is underwritten by the blind trust of Mehdi Taj, the president of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI), and a notoriously silent, ineffective board.

The FFIRI has historically oscillated between micromanagement and neglect. Under Taj, the federation has abdicated its responsibility to challenge the head coach. No public questioning of Ghalenoei’s squad selection. No pressure to integrate U-23 players. No performance reviews with clear KPIs regarding player development. Instead, Ghalenoei operates with impunity, knowing that as long as Iran scrapes past Hong Kong or Turkmenistan, his position is secure.

This institutional complacency is catastrophic. It sends a message to every young player in the Persian Gulf Pro League: no matter how well you perform, you will not be trusted until you are nearly 30. That kills ambition, depresses the league’s competitive intensity, and accelerates the exodus of promising talent to Qatar or the UAE merely for playing time.

The Cost of Impunity

The shadow of doubt cast by Ghalenoei’s tenure extends far beyond the 2026 World Cup. Even if Iran manages a respectable performance (e.g., a single win or a draw against top-tier opposition), the underlying structural damage remains. By refusing to build for the future, Ghalenoei and the FFIRI are setting up Iranian football for a hard landing after the tournament.

When the current crop of 30-somethings retires en masse post-2026, there will be no experienced replacements—only a generation of 24-to-27-year-olds with fewer than ten caps and zero big-tournament experience. That is the hallmark of managerial negligence.

Conclusion: A Lost Cycle

The statistic that Iran is the second-oldest team at the 2026 World Cup is not a badge of honor. It is a funeral bell for a lost development cycle. Amir Ghalenoei’s distrust of young players, rooted in a conservative and fearful mindset, has denied a generation the chance to grow. And with Mehdi Taj’s FFIRI offering no oversight, there is no incentive to change.

Iranian football deserves a coach who sees youth as an asset, not a liability. Until Ghalenoei is held accountable, or replaced by someone willing to take calculated risks, Team Melli will remain old, slow, and predictable. And that is a far more dangerous opponent for Iran than any European powerhouse.

Ivory Coast, with an average age of 25.8 years, is known as the youngest team in the competition.

Ranking of the top 10 teams (oldest and youngest) The oldest teams in the 2026 World Cup:

1 - Panama 30.4 years
2 - Iran 30.3 years
3 - Colombia 30.1 years
4 - Cape Verde 29.7 years
5 - Qatar 29.4 years
6 - Brazil 29.2 years
7 - Scotland 29.2 years
8 - Argentina 29.1 years
9 - Congo 29.1 years
10 - Paraguay 29.0 years

The youngest teams in the 2026 World Cup:
1 - Ivory Coast 25.8 years
2 - Bosnia 26.0 years
3 - Ecuador 26.1 years
4 - Morocco 26.4 years
5 - Tunisia 26.6 years
6 - Spain 26.7 years
7 - South Africa 26.8 years
8 - Norway 26.8 years
9 - Algeria 26.9 years
10 - USA 26.9 years

PERSIAN VERSION
  • پیریِ مرگبار: چرا انتخاب‌های محافظه‌کارانهٔ قلعه‌نویی، ایران را دومین تیم پیر جهان در جام جهانی ۲۰۲۶ کرده است
    با نزدیک شدن به جام جهانی ۲۰۲۶، تمام تیم‌ها لیست نهایی بازیکنان خود را به کمیته برگزاری تحویل داده‌اند. طبق آمار منتشرشده از میانگین سنی هر تیم، تصویری روشن و برای برخی، هشداردهنده به دست آمده است:

Continue reading "Age of Stagnation: Why Ghalenoei’s Conservative Selections Have Made Iran the Second-Oldest Team at the 2026 World Cup" →

Team Melli Still Waiting for U.S. and Mexico Visas, Says Mehdi Taj

The Iranian national football team, known as Team Melli, has yet to secure entry visas for Mexico and the United States ahead of their upcoming international fixtures. This was confirmed by Mehdi Taj, the head of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI).

Taj also provided insight into the team’s recent friendly match arrangements and the logistical challenges involved.

“The reality is that the region has been affected by war. Qatar and the UAE lost their FIFA Days in March as a result, but we managed to hold a training camp in Turkey. That camp cost us nearly $1.2 million. Now, we paid $100,000 to arrange a friendly with Mali, and we also covered their team’s hotel expenses,” Taj explained.

He further detailed the costs of a proposed match in North America: “We will need to spend another $1.2 million to fly the national team to Mexico. We have nearly eight tons of cargo, and the plane has only 36 business-class seats.”

On the pressing issue of visa issuance, Taj said: “After the final player list was confirmed, we submitted it to FIFA. Based on that list, we are supposed to receive Mexican visas first, followed by U.S. visas as quickly as possible. The truth is that FIFA is caught in the middle between us and the United States.”

Four Dropped Players May Still Travel as Observers

Taj also addressed the status of the four players who were excluded from the final World Cup squad. “They are supposed to travel with the team to the World Cup. Of course, whether they accompany the team as observers is up to them,” he said.

Political Atmosphere May Have Influenced Squad Selection

In a highly unusual statement regarding national team selection, Taj suggested that off-pitch factors could have played a role. “The conditions and the atmosphere in the stadiums may have had an impact on the selection of players, and Mr. Ghalenoei [Team Melli’s head coach] took this into account.”

This remark implies that the political environment—specifically the possibility of dissent or protests, including from the Iranian diaspora—may have influenced player selection. Taj did not clarify how such considerations were measured in terms of athletic ability, nor whether the player's political stance or reputation played a role.

Friendly with Grenada Likely Behind Closed Doors

The FFIRI has held talks with the Grenada Football Federation to arrange a friendly match prior to the World Cup. Team Melli had originally been scheduled to face Puerto Rico in their final warm-up match in the United States, but that game was canceled after the team’s camp was moved to Tijuana, Mexico.

The potential match against Grenada—ranked 163rd in the FIFA rankings—would be played behind closed doors.

Upcoming Test Against Mali

In two days, Team Melli will face Mali in what is expected to be a much tougher test for the Iranian side. The match will serve as a crucial evaluation just before the team departs for Mexico.

It could also provide an opportunity for head coach Amir Ghalenoei to give playing time to those who have not yet featured in the current camp, including Mehdi Ghayedi, Saman Ghoddos, and Dennis Dargahi. The latter, Dargahi, has yet to make his senior debut for Team Melli, despite being named in the final 26-player squad.

Persian Version

مهدی تاج، رئیس فدراسیون فوتبال جمهوری اسلامی ایران

، تأیید کرد که تیم ملی ایران ()

هنوز موفق به دریافت ویزای ورود به مکزیک و ایالات متحده برای دیدارهای بین‌المللی پیش‌رو نشده است.تیم ملی

تاج همچنین درباره چیدمان دیدارهای دوستانه و چالش‌های لجستیکی پیشِ رو توضیح داد:

«واقعیت این است که منطقه تحت تأثیر جنگ قرار گرفته است. قطر و امارات در ماه مارس روزهای فیفا را از دست دادند، اما ما اردوی خود را در ترکیه برگزار کردیم. این اردو نزدیک به ۱.۲ میلیون دلار هزینه داشت. حالا برای برگزاری بازی دوستانه با مالی ۱۰۰ هزار دلار پرداخت کردیم و هزینه هتل تیم مالی را هم متقبل شدیم.»

او در ادامه به هزینه‌های سفر به مکزیک اشاره کرد: «برای پرواز دادن تیم ملی به مکزیک مجبوریم ۱.۲ میلیون دلار هزینه کنیم. نزدیک به ۸ تن بار داریم و هواپیما فقط ۳۶ صندلی بیزینس کلاس دارد.»

وضعیت ویزا: فیفا میان ایران و آمریکا گیر کرده است

تاج در مورد آخرین وضعیت صدور ویزای تیم ملی گفت: «بعد از نهایی شدن لیست نهایی، آن را در اختیار فیفا قرار دادیم. فیفا بر اساس این لیست ابتدا ویزای مکزیک و سپس ویزای آمریکا را برای ما صادر خواهد کرد. واقعیت این است که فیفا بین ما و آمریکا گیر کرده است.»

چهار بازیکن خط‌ خورده ممکن است به عنوان ناظر همراه تیم شوند

تاج همچنین درباره چهار بازیکنی که از لیست نهایی خط خورده‌اند، گفت: «این چهار بازیکن قرار است همراه تیم به جام جهانی سفر کنند. البته این که به عنوان ناظر همراه تیم باشند یا نه، به خودشان بستگی دارد.»

تأثیر جو سیاسی بر انتخاب بازیکنان؛ اظهارنظر بی‌سابقه رئیس فدراسیون

تاج سپس به موضوعی اشاره کرد که در تاریخ انتخاب بازیکنان تیم‌های ملی بی‌سابقه است. او گفت: «شرایط و جو حاکم بر ورزشگاه‌ها ممکن است روی انتخاب بازیکنان تأثیر گذاشته باشد و آقای قلعه‌نویی این مسئله را مدنظر قرار داده است.»

این اظهارنهاد حاکی از آن است که فضای سیاسی - از جمله احتمال اعتراضات یا مخالفت‌ها از سوی هواداران ایرانی خارج از کشور - در انتخاب بازیکنان مؤثر بوده است. تاج توضیح نداد که چگونه این موضوع از نظر توانایی فنی سنجیده می‌شود یا این که آیا سابقه یا موضع‌گیری سیاسی نقشی در این انتخاب‌ها داشته است.

دوستانه با گرانادا پشت درهای بسته

فدراسیون ایران با فدراسیون گرانادا برای برگزاری یک بازی دوستانه پیش از جام جهانی مذاکره کرده است. قرار بود تیم ملی آخرین بازی تدارکاتی خود پیش از جام جهانی در آمریکا برابر پورتوریکو برگزار کند، اما این بازی به دلیل انتقال اردوی تیم ایران به تیجوانای مکزیک لغو شد.

دیدار احتمالی با گرانادا که در رده‌بندی فیفا در جایگاه ۱۶۳ قرار دارد، پشت درهای بسته برگزار خواهد شد.

تست سخت برابر مالی در دو روز آینده

تیم ملی ایران ظرف دو روز دیگر به مصاف مالی خواهد رفت. این دیدار برای شاگردان قلعه‌نویی آزمونی دشوارتر محسوب می‌شود و انتظار می‌رود چالش جدی پیش از سفر به مکزیک باشد.

این بازی می‌تواند فرصتی برای قلعه‌نویی باشد تا از بازیکنانی استفاده کند که تاکنون در این اردو به میدان نرفته‌اند؛ از جمله مهدی قایدی، سامان قدوس و دنیس درگاهی.  با وجود قرار گرفتن در لیست نهایی ۲۶ نفره تیم ملی، هنوز اولین بازی رسمی خود را برای ایران انجام نداده است.

Experience Over Youth as Iran Prepares for World Cup

Amir Ghalenoei has announced the final list of players who will travel to Mexico and then the USA for the 2026 World Cup matches. As expected, the squad contains few surprises, largely consisting of the same familiar names that have represented Iran for many years.

Although several young players showed promise during the training camp in Turkey, it was inevitable that Ghalenoei would leave them out once the final roster was published. Kasra Taher, Amir Mahmoudi, Omid Noorafkan, and Mohammad Khalifeh were the ones omitted.

The final squad carries a strong flavor of experience, though the average age is notably high compared to other teams in the tournament. On a more positive note, the team’s collective goal-scoring record stands out. Most players have found the net for the national team, and the defenders have been particularly impressive in that regard. Between them, the defenders have scored 24 goals, compared to 45 from midfielders and 78 from forwards. However, the forwards' tally is misleading, as it is heavily inflated by Mehdi Taremi’s exceptional record. If the Olympiacos forward’s contributions are removed, the rest of the forward line has scored just 18 goals combined.

What these numbers do not reveal is current form and quality. Despite some questionable selections—such as the inclusion of Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Shahriyar Moghanlou, and the unproven Dennis Dargahi (also known as Eckert)—the team remains an experienced group capable of going head-to-head with opponents like New Zealand and Egypt. Belgium, on the other hand, is in a different class altogether.

New Zealand will be a tough opener, capable of springing a surprise or two. As the first match of the tournament, it represents either a golden opportunity if Iran secures a positive result or a potential disaster if Team Melli loses. On paper, Iran is well capable of defeating the Kiwis, but that will require organization and tight, compact defending.

Player selection for this match will be crucial. Given the lack of quality up front, Iran may need the trickery of someone like Mehdi Ghaedi to weave through the All-Whites' defense.

The midfield, however, remains a question mark. In a match like this, Saeid Ezatollahi and Saman Ghoddos must step up and be counted. Much will depend on their dynamism and ball distribution, while Ezatollahi, in particular, needs to be at his best in defensive duties.

Despite a dip in form, Alireza Beiranvand remains the best of the three goalkeepers. Payam Niazmand had a poor season, conceding soft goals, while Hossein Hosseini, despite a few encouraging performances, has lacked consistency.

TM SQUAD WC 2026
NAMEPOSTAGECAPSGOALSCLUBHEIGHTWEIGHT
1Hossein HosseiniG3314Sepahan18881
2Alireza BeiranvandG3386Tractor19683
3Payam NiazmandG3115Persepolis19689
DEFENDERS
4Shoja KhalilzadehD37572Tractor17874
5Ehsan HajsafiD361437Sepahan17882
6Ramin RezaeianD36736Esteghlal18373
7Milad MohammadiD32761Persepolis17869
8Hossein KananiD32646Persepolis18588
9Ali NematiD3017Foolad18377
10Saleh HardaniD27171Esteghlal17567
11Aria YousefiD24131Sepahan18073
12Danial IriD220Malavan18579
13Saeid EzatolahiM29831Shabab Al-Ahli (UAE)19188
14Mehdi TorabiM31527Tractor18073
15Saman GhoddosM32673Ittihad Kalba (UAE)17578
16Rouzbeh CheshmiM32413Esteghlal19481
17Mohammad MohebiM273614FC Rostov (RUS)18583
18Mohammad GhorbaniM2415Al Wahda (UAE)18582
19Amir RazzaghiniaM203Esteghlal18882
20Alireza JahanbakhshM329917Dender EH (BEL)18078
21Mehdi TaremiF3310560Olympiakos (GRE)18582
22Ali AlipourF30131Persepolis18069
23Amirhossein HosseinzadehF25185Tractor17872
24Dennis Eckert DargahiF2900Standard Liège (BEL)18379
25Shahriyar MoghanlouF31202Ittihad Kalba (UAE)19284
26Mehdi GhayediF272810Al-Naser (UAE)16558
Averages302110176.569.6

Team Melli Squad FIFA World Cup 2026 Canada, US, Mexico

Final list of Team Melli squad.

GOALKEEPERS

Payam NIAZMAND
Payam NIAZMAND 12

Payam NIAZMAND

Jersey Number: 12

Post: Goalkeeper

Birth Date: 1995-04-06

Age (2026): 31

Caps: 16

Goals: 0

View Profile
Seyed Hossein HOSSEINI
Seyed Hossein HOSSEINI 22

Seyed Hossein HOSSEINI

Jersey Number: 22

Post: Goalkeeper

Birth Date: 1992-06-30

Age (2026): 34

Caps: 15

Goals: 0

View Profile
Alireza BEIRANVAND
Alireza BEIRANVAND 1

Alireza BEIRANVAND

Jersey Number: 1

Post: Goalkeeper

Birth Date: 1992-09-22

Age (2026): 33

Caps: 91

Goals: 2

View Profile

DEFENDERS

Ramin REZAEIAN
Ramin REZAEIAN 23

Ramin REZAEIAN

Jersey Number: 23

Post: Defender

Birth Date: 1990-03-21

Age (2026): 36

Caps: 78

Goals: 9

View Profile
Shojaa KHALILZADEH
Shojaa KHALILZADEH 4

Shojaa KHALILZADEH

Jersey Number: 4

Post: Defender

Birth Date: 1989-05-14

Age (2026): 37

Caps: 61

Goals: 2

View Profile
Arya YOUSEFI
Arya YOUSEFI 17

Arya YOUSEFI

Jersey Number: 17

Post: Defender

Birth Date: 2002-04-22

Age (2026): 24

Caps: 16

Goals: 1

View Profile
Ali NEMATI
Ali NEMATI 19

Ali NEMATI

Jersey Number: 19

Post: Defender

Birth Date: 1996-02-08

Age (2026): 30

Caps: 22

Goals: 0

View Profile
Ehsan HAJSAFI
Ehsan HAJSAFI 3

Ehsan HAJSAFI

Jersey Number: 3

Post: Midfielder

Birth Date: 1990-02-25

Age (2026): 36

Caps: 146

Goals: 7

View Profile
Saleh HARDANI
Saleh HARDANI 2

Saleh HARDANI

Jersey Number: 2

Post: Midfielder

Birth Date: 1998-09-14

Age (2026): 27

Caps: 20

Goals: 1

View Profile
Hossein KANANI-ZADEGAN
Hossein KANANI-ZADEGAN 13

Hossein KANANI-ZADEGAN

Jersey Number: 13

Post: Defender

Birth Date: 1994-03-23

Age (2026): 32

Caps: 68

Goals: 6

View Profile
Milad MOHAMMADI
Milad MOHAMMADI 5

Milad MOHAMMADI

Jersey Number: 5

Post: Defender

Birth Date: 1993-09-29

Age (2026): 32

Caps: 81

Goals: 1

View Profile
Danial EIRI
Danial EIRI 25

Danial EIRI

Jersey Number: 25

Post: Defender

Birth Date: 2003-10-26

Age (2026): 22

Caps: 1

Goals: 0

View Profile

MIDFILDERS

Mehdi TORABI
Mehdi TORABI 16

Mehdi TORABI

Jersey Number: 16

Post: Midfielder

Birth Date: 1993-09-10

Age (2026): 32

Caps: 54

Goals: 7

View Profile
Rouzbeh CHESHMI
Rouzbeh CHESHMI 15

Rouzbeh CHESHMI

Jersey Number: 15

Post: Defender

Birth Date: 1993-07-24

Age (2026): 32

Caps: 41

Goals: 3

View Profile
Mohammad GHORBANI
Mohammad GHORBANI 21

Mohammad GHORBANI

Jersey Number: 21

Post: Midfielder

Birth Date: 2001-05-21

Age (2026): 25

Caps: 17

Goals: 0

View Profile
Saman GHODDOS
Saman GHODDOS 14

Saman GHODDOS

Jersey Number: 14

Post: Midfielder

Birth Date: 1993-09-06

Age (2026): 32

Caps: 71

Goals: 3

View Profile
Saeid EZATOLAHI
Saeid EZATOLAHI 6

Saeid EZATOLAHI

Jersey Number: 6

Post: Midfielder

Birth Date: 1996-10-01

Age (2026): 29

Caps: 87

Goals: 2

View Profile
Amirmohammad RAZZAGHINIA
Amirmohammad RAZZAGHINIA 26

Amirmohammad RAZZAGHINIA

Jersey Number: 26

Post: Midfielder

Birth Date: 2006-04-11

Age (2026): 20

Caps: 4

Goals: 0

View Profile
AliReza JAHANBAKHSH
AliReza JAHANBAKHSH 7

AliReza JAHANBAKHSH

Jersey Number: 7

Post: Forward

Birth Date: 1993-10-08

Age (2026): 32

Caps: 101

Goals: 17

View Profile

FORWARDS

Mohammad MOHEBI
Mohammad MOHEBI 8

Mohammad MOHEBI

Jersey Number: 8

Post: Forward

Birth Date: 1998-12-10

Age (2026): 27

Caps: 39

Goals: 15

View Profile
Amir Hossein HOSSEINZADEH
Amir Hossein HOSSEINZADEH 18

Amir Hossein HOSSEINZADEH

Jersey Number: 18

Post: Midfielder

Birth Date: 2000-10-30

Age (2026): 25

Caps: 20

Goals: 5

View Profile
Dennis Eckert Dargahi
Dennis Eckert Dargahi 24

Dennis Eckert Dargahi

Jersey Number: 24

Post: Forward

Birth Date: 1997-01-09

Age (2026): 29

Caps: 0

Goals: 0

View Profile
Mehdi GHAEDI
Mehdi GHAEDI 10

Mehdi GHAEDI

Jersey Number: 10

Post: Forward

Birth Date: 1998-12-05

Age (2026): 27

Caps: 30

Goals: 10

View Profile
Mehdi TAREMI
Mehdi TAREMI 9

Mehdi TAREMI

Jersey Number: 9

Post: Forward

Birth Date: 1992-07-18

Age (2026): 33

Caps: 109

Goals: 60

View Profile
Ali ALIPOUR
Ali ALIPOUR 11

Ali ALIPOUR

Jersey Number: 11

Post: Forward

Birth Date: 1994-11-11

Age (2026): 31

Caps: 15

Goals: 1

View Profile
Shahriyar MOGHANLOU
Shahriyar MOGHANLOU 20

Shahriyar MOGHANLOU

Jersey Number: 20

Post: Forward

Birth Date: 1994-12-21

Age (2026): 31

Caps: 24

Goals: 2

View Profile

Team Melli beats Gambia 3-1 in World Cup warm-up

Team Melli defeated Gambia 3-1 in Antalya, Turkey, in a friendly international match held as part of their final training camp before the FIFA World Cup. Iran’s goals were scored by Arya Yousefi (47'), Ramin Rezaeian (59'), and Mehdi Taremi (68').

It was a game of two contrasting halves. Team Melli were slow starters and found themselves a step behind a young, energetic Gambian side, most of whose players ply their trade as “legionnaires” in Europe. Iran struggled to cope with the agility of the Gambians, and it was only fitting that the African team took a 1-0 lead from a corner kick, following appalling defensive work. Gambian center-back and captain Omer Colley was given acres of space inside the six-yard box to finish comfortably past Beiranvand. The first half ended 1-0 to Gambia.

The hot weather was partly to blame for Iran’s lethargic first-half performance.

The second half saw several changes to Iran’s lineup. The introduction of Ramin Rezaeian revitalized the right flank. Two minutes into the half, Arya Yousefi finished nicely from a clever pass, slotting the ball to the left of the Gambian keeper. On the hour mark, Rezaeian sent a rocket from the edge of the 18-yard box into the Gambian goal from a rebound to make it 2-1.

Another clever move down the left saw Ali Alipour evade his marker and send the ball to Taremi, who turned sharply and shot toward the far right. The ball deflected into the net after hitting the post, making it 3-1.

In the last 15 minutes, Gambia bombarded Iran with wave after wave of attacks. The Iranians stood firm and prevented any serious threat to Beiranvand, though Gambia’s finishing left much to be desired. In the final ten minutes, Team Melli could have added at least two more goals while catching Gambia on the counterattack. Mehdi Torabi should have made it four, but his finishing was poor as he flicked the ball over the bar. The miss of the match, however, came from substitute Moghanlou, who found himself one-on-one with the Gambian goalkeeper with no defender near him. He calmly handed the ball straight into the keeper’s hands. Moghanlou, not for the first time, proved that he may lack the quality required for the World Cup.

Gambia turned out to be a good opponent for Team Melli at this stage. Despite their low ranking, they were fast, skillful, and organized. They lacked quality in the final ball and finishing, but their ability to dribble past Iranian markers was evident, something the Team Melli players notably lacked.

With two weeks to go until the World Cup, there is little that head coach Ghalenoei can do to change the team’s fundamental issues. The same old shortcomings- lack of quality in the center of the field and some awful defending—are problems Iran will have to live with when the competition starts. What Ghalenoei needs to focus on now is emotional intelligence and building team spirit. Players like Shoja Khalilzadeh, who is always one step closer to a red card, and others must be much more composed at the World Cup, where the competition will be ten times tougher and more skillful. Controlling temper and tempo remains vital for Iran, despite the lack of quality on several fronts.

Iran lineup: Alireza Beiranvand, Mohammad Hossein Kananizadegan, Ali Nemati, Aria Yousefi ( Mehdi Torabi), Ehsan Hajsafi (Shoja Khalilzadeh), Saeed Ezzatollahi (Mohammad Ghorbani), Amir Mohammad Razaghinia (Ramin Rezaian), Mohammad Mohebi (Amir Hossein Mahmoudi), Amir Hossein Hosseinzadeh (Shahryar Moghanlou), Mehdi Taremi (Omid Noorafkan) and Kasra Taheri (Ali Alipour).

Gambia lineup: Babokar Gayeh, Omar Kouli, Seini Sanyang, Yaya Bojang, Tijan Sonha, Mahmoud Bajo, Mohammad Drama, Abrima Adams, Abrima Kouli, Adama Sidibe (Adama Bojang) and Saliu Drama (Karamba Gassama).