Once a nation that was mostly an afterthought in the global soccer landscape, Iran has reshaped itself into one of Asia’s most consistent sides. Team Melli breezed through qualifying for the third straight time. Now, it’s entering a World Cup with largely the same team with which it missed out on the knockout stage by only a point in 2018—in a group featuring Spain and Portugal, no less.
But the story of Iran heading into Qatar primarily surrounds the turmoil off the pitch. Amid ongoing protests in the country surrounding the treatment of women, multiple former members of the national team have been arrested for speaking out. Current national side players have been continuously silenced, leading to more symbolic acts like covering the team’s emblem during the national anthem prior to a tune-up match. A campaign has begun in recent weeks to urge FIFA to disqualify Iran from the tournament due to the ongoing political situation.
On the pitch, it’s been a disastrous run-up to the World Cup. Manager Dragan Skokic was fired in July, then reinstated just days later, then replaced by former manager Carlos Queiroz in September. Forward Sardar Azmoun, whose 10 goals and four assists in qualifying powered the team to Qatar, picked up an injury playing with club Bayer Leverkusen. He will make the trip, though his availability and effectiveness remain unclear.
Whether the team’s veteran presence and resolve are enough to overcome all the other noise will determine if Iran can reach its first World Cup knockout stage.
Group B Schedule (all times Eastern)
- England, Nov. 21, 8 a.m.
- Wales, Nov. 25, 5 a.m.
- USA, Nov. 29, 2 p.m.
Coach
Carlos Queiroz, hired in September 2022
Xinhua/Imago Images
Players to Watch
Mehdi Taremi, forward
The Porto man has reportedly garnered interest from Arsenal after recording double-digit goals and assists in each of the last two years in the Portuguese Primeira Liga. The 30-year-old is an intelligent player with plenty of big-game experience—he’s played in 15 Champions League matches with Porto and scored two goals to win a domestic cup final. He didn’t produce much in 2018, but he is in perhaps the best form of his career this time around.
Hossein Kanaanizadegan, center back
Queiroz didn’t select Kanaanizadegan in 2018, but now the 28-year-old is a fixture in the Iranian defense. He played more minutes than anyone else in qualifying. He’s also the largest player on Iran’s back line, meaning he’ll play an important role in the box defending when his side will likely face plenty of set pieces against superior opponents.
Alireza Beiranvand, goalkeeper
Beiranvand now enters his second World Cup after a very solid showing in 2018—he only allowed two goals in three matches (and saved a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo). Another solid run in qualifying should secure his spot as the starter for the second tournament running.
Johannes Friedl/GEPA Pictures/Imago Images
Breakout Candidate
Ali Gholizadeh, attacking midfielder
Gholizadeh, 26, is a key member of the attack for Iran as one of the few sure starters without extensive national team experience. He featured just nine times before this year’s qualifying run, where he played primarily on the right wing and scored three goals in 14 matches.
Playing for Belgian team Charleroi, Gholizadeh hasn’t gotten consistent starts this season but has featured heavily off the bench when he’s not in the starting XI. His ability as a threat on the ball, both playing forward-thinking passes and dribbling past defenders, will be useful for Team Melli, whether it’s in a reserve role coming on for one of the two strikers or if he starts on the wing.
World Cup History
- Sixth appearance
- Last appearance: 2018 (Group stage)
- Best appearance: Group stage in 1978, 1998, 2006, 2014 and 2018
Outlook and Expectations
The pairings with England and the United States provide some interesting political subplots, to say the least. On the field, Iran enters Qatar with the lowest FIFA composite ranking of the group, but it won’t want to go home empty-handed once again. Will it finally reach the knockout stage in its sixth try?
The turmoil back home has certainly placed some pressure on this side, and the symbolic protest at the pre-World Cup friendly showed that this tournament could be a stage for demonstrations. Combine that with the untimely managerial change, and it appears to be difficult circumstances for a team not expected to make it out of the group. Lucky for Iran, England, the U.S. and Wales have all gone through poor runs of form. Team Melli displayed its dominance in the Asian region in qualifying. If that experienced group of players can carry its form to nearby Qatar, it is more than capable of finally reaching the round of 16.
World Cup squad
GOALKEEPERS: Amir Abedzadeh (Ponferradina), Alireza Beiranvand (Persepolis), Hossein Hosseini (Esteghlal), Payam Niazmand (Sepahan)
DEFENDERS: Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), Ehsan Hajsafi (AEK Athens), Majid Hosseini (Kayserispor), Abolfazl Jalali (Esteghlal), Hossein Kanaanizadegan (Al-Ahli), Shojae Khalilzadeh (Al-Ahli), Milad Mohammadi (AEK Athens), Sadegh Moharrami (Dinamo Zagreb), Morteza Pouraliganji (Persepolis), Ramin Rezaeian (Sepahan)
MIDFIELDERS: Vahid Amiri (Persepolis), Saeid Ezatolahi (Vejle), Saman Ghoddos (Brentford), Ali Gholizadeh (Charleroi), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Feyenoord), Ali Karimi (Kayserispor), Ahmad Nourollahi (Shabab Al-Ahli), Mehdi Torabi (Persepolis)
