Iran

Queiroz’s return and the defensive blueprint

Carlos Queiroz is back for a third stint with Iran, reinstalling the compact 4-1-4-1 that nearly stunned Portugal in 2018. Porto’s Mehdi Taremi remains the outlet up front, but the real strength lies in goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand and center-back duo Hossein Kanaanizadegan and Shoja Khalilzadeh. Their 2022 campaign conceded just four goals despite facing England and the USA — expect more low-block resistance in 2026.

Azmoun’s last stand and the Bundesliga pipeline

Sardar Azmoun, now 31, remains Iran’s most lethal finisher despite fading form at Bayer Leverkusen. Younger talents like Feyenoord’s Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Brentford’s Saman Ghoddos must step up. The Bundesliga connection persists: Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ali Akman and Bochum’s Morteza Pouraliganji add depth, but creativity in midfield remains a concern.

Group déjà vu with higher stakes

Iran’s 2026 draw could mirror past battles — they’ve faced the USA twice in World Cups (1998, 2022) and nearly stunned Spain in 2018. AFC qualifying was brutal, requiring penalties to edge Qatar. Avoiding a third straight group-stage exit hinges on stealing points early; their opener will be critical. Check /world-cup-2026-groups for updates once the draw lands.

Group standings

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Belgium	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2	Egypt	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
3	Iran	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	New Zealand	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0

Fixtures & results

Match	Date	Group	Score	Status
Iran vs New ZealandEstadio Los Angeles	Tue, Jun 16, 2026 · 02:00 ET	g	–	Scheduled
Belgium vs IranEstadio Miami	Sat, Jun 20, 2026 · 20:00 ET	g	–	Scheduled
Egypt vs IranEstadio Seattle	Sat, Jun 27, 2026 · 04:00 ET	g	–	Scheduled