Team Melli squad has been announced for the two matches against Oman in the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers and Japan friendly match in Azadi.

Carlos Queiroz maintained his confidence in the previous squad players in an addition to a recall for the previously injured Alireza Jahanbakhsh. 2 players who have been making the news , were also picked up by Queiroz. The controversial goalkeepers of Persepolis , Sousha Makani and Naft Tehran Alireza Biranvand have been making the headlines for all the wrong reasons, mostly due to their flagrant ill discipline with their respective clubs, but in the case of Makani , it is also his weak performance in the goal on the top of his transgressions. The bad thing for the fans is that Queiroz does not read Farsi language newspapers . The squad also sees the return of Masoud Shojaei , ignored in the last selection, but once again included to claim his eternal place in Team Melli!

The young-looking squad will be in action after their strong showing in the last two qualifiers in September where Iran emerged as victors against Guam at home (6-0) and away to India (3-0). The big goal margin no doubt will help the team standing in the table. The match against Oman will shape the group final standing and will go a long way in determining who will qualify for the next rounds. Both Iran and Oman are the favorites to qualify from this group.

Making the squad for the first time is Maysam Majidi (28 years) Esteghlal Tehran right back and Rasheed Mazaheri (26 years) Zob Ahan goalkeeper.

The major absentee is Reza Ghoochannejad still on the injured list.

THE SQUAD