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The Iran national football team has officially revealed its final squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, notably excluding one of the country’s most talented players.

Nicknamed Team Melli, the Asian powerhouse was among the last teams to confirm its final list ahead of the tournament.

Iran announced its official 26-man roster on Monday (1 June 2026), the deadline set by FIFA for squad registration.

Head coach Amir Ghalenoei selected 26 players, with 17 coming from domestic clubs and the remaining nine playing abroad.

Among the overseas contingent are star striker Mehdi Taremi of Olympiacos and veteran midfielder Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who currently plays for Dender.

Both players remain key senior figures for Iran, each providing leadership and experience within their respective positions.

Despite a difficult season at club level, Jahanbakhsh’s presence in midfield remains vital. The 32-year-old, who plays alongside Indonesia’s Ragnar Oratmangoen at Dender, was unable to prevent the Belgian club—owned by Indonesian businessman Sihar Sitorus—from being relegated to the second division after losing the promotion-relegation playoff final to Joey Pelupessy’s Lommel SK.

One of the biggest talking points surrounding the announcement is the absence of Sardar Azmoun, widely regarded as one of Iran’s most gifted footballers.

Nicknamed the “Lionel Messi of Persia,” Azmoun was left out by Ghalenoei due to a politically charged controversy that has persisted since March.

The Iranian government sidelined him for allegedly showing disloyalty to the nation after a photo surfaced of him with the Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Iran considers the UAE a political adversary aligned with two of its main rivals, the United States and Israel.

Azmoun’s omission is a major blow on the pitch, as the former AS Roma striker has scored 57 goals in 91 international appearances, ranking just behind Taremi, who has netted 60 times.

Even without Azmoun, the Persian Lions still boast a squad filled with experienced campaigners. The defensive line includes three seasoned veterans nearing their 40s: Ehsan Hajsafi, Ramin Rezaeian, and Shojae Khalilzadeh.

In attack, Iran added an intriguing new face in Dennis Eckert, a recently naturalised player from Germany who is set to make his debut for the national team.

The squad announcement also dispels rumours that Iran might withdraw from the World Cup due to strained diplomatic relations with the United States. The team’s participation was confirmed after relocating its training base from Tucson, USA, to Tijuana, Mexico.

At the 2026 World Cup, Iran—three-time Asian Cup champions—will compete in Group G alongside New Zealand, Belgium, and Egypt.

Iran 2026 World Cup Squad

Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Tractor), Hossein Hosseini (Sepahan), Payam Niazmand (Persepolis)

Defenders: Danial Eiri (Malavan), Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan), Saleh Hardani (Esteghlal), Hossein Kanaani (Persepolis), Shoja Khalilzadeh (Tractor), Milad Mohammadi (Persepolis), Ali Nemati (Foolad), Omid Noorafkan (Foolad), Ramin Rezaeian (Foolad)

Midfielders: Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), Saeid Ezatolahi (Shabab Al-Ahli), Mehdi Ghaedi (Al-Nassr), Saman Ghoddos (Kalba), Mohammad Ghorbani (Al-Wahda), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Dender), Mohammad Mohebi (Rostov), Amir Mohammad Razzaghinia (Esteghlal), Mehdi Torabi (Tractor), Aria Yousefi (Sepahan)

Forwards: Ali Alipour (Persepolis), Dennis Dargahi (Standard Liege), Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh (Tractor), Shahriyar Moghanlou (Kalba), Mehdi Taremi (Olympiacos)