Iran is one of the top national football teams in Asia.
In their fourth consecutive appearance at the FIFA World Cup, Team Melli’s biggest target remains the same, to make it out of the group stage for the first time in their history.
They have qualified for seven World Cups and have never once reached the knockout rounds, which is the remarkable and painful record coach Amir Ghalenoei’s side carry into North America.
Iran sealed their place early, confirming top spot in their Asian qualifying group with a 2-2 draw against Uzbekistan in March 2025 — one of the first nations to book their ticket.
They are drawn in Group G alongside Belgium, Egypt, and New Zealand, with a realistic path to the last 32 if they perform.
The biggest selection story is the absence of Sardar Azmoun, Iran’s second all-time leading scorer with 57 goals, who was left out after local media reported he had been expelled from the national team for a perceived act of disloyalty to the government.
His absence leaves a heavy attacking burden on Mehdi Taremi.
Here are the 10 best soccer players in Iran at the 2026 World Cup.
1. Alireza Beiranvand — Goalkeeper
Age: 33 | Club: Tractor (Iran)
Iran’s undisputed number one and one of the most recognisable goalkeepers in Asian football.
Beiranvand has 86 caps and brings World Cup experience from 2018 and 2022, where he was consistently the backbone of Iran’s defensive resilience.
He is commanding, physical, and excellent at organising his penalty area under pressure from higher-ranked opposition.
In 2018, Iran conceded the fewest goals of any nation eliminated at the group stage — and Beiranvand was central to that achievement.
2. Saeid Ezatolahi — Midfielder
Age: 29 | Club: Shabab Al Ahli (UAE)
Iran’s most important defensive midfielder and the player who provides the structure that allows the attacking players ahead of him to function.
Ezatolahi has 83 caps and has been a consistent and reliable presence in Iranian midfield for the best part of a decade.
He is combative, tactically intelligent, and one of the hardest-working players in the squad, winning the ball back and recycling possession efficiently.
3. Alireza Jahanbakhsh — Midfielder
Age: 32 | Club: Dender (Belgium)
Iran’s most experienced European-based outfield player and a wide midfielder who brings genuine world-class pedigree.
Jahanbakhsh was the first Asian player ever to finish as the top scorer in a major European league, netting 21 times for AZ Alkmaar in the 2017/18 Eredivisie season.
He went on to play for Brighton in the Premier League and Feyenoord, where he won the Dutch title in 2023.
He has 98 caps and 17 international goals and carries the creative burden for Iran in the absence of Azmoun.
4. Mehdi Taremi — Forward
Age: 33 | Club: Olympiacos (Greece)
Iran’s best and most important player and one of the finest strikers the country has ever produced.
Taremi has 105 caps and 60 international goals — third on Iran’s all-time list behind only Ali Daei and the absent Azmoun.
He is the only Iranian player ever to score more than once at a World Cup, having netted twice against England at Qatar 2022.
In Asian qualifying he scored 10 goals in 15 matches, level with Son Heung-min as the second highest scorer in the entire AFC qualifying process.
He scored 10 goals in 24 Super League appearances for Olympiacos in 2025/26 after joining from Inter Milan, arriving at this tournament in sharp form.
He spent four celebrated seasons at FC Porto in Portugal, where he scored a stunning overhead kick against Chelsea that was voted UEFA’s Goal of the Season for 2021.
Whether Iran can finally reach the knockout rounds depends almost entirely on whether Taremi gets the service he needs.
5. Mohammad Mohebi — Midfielder
Age: 27 | Club: Rostov (Russia)
One of Iran’s most productive and prolific attacking midfielders and a player who carries the highest scoring rate of any midfielder in the squad.
Mohebi has 36 caps and 14 international goals — a remarkable return from a central midfield role — and gives Iran a genuine second goal threat beyond Taremi.
His ability to arrive late in the penalty area and convert chances with composure makes him dangerous when he gets forward.
6. Ehsan Hajsafi — Defender (Captain)
Age: 36 | Club: Sepahan (Iran)
Iran’s most capped player at this World Cup with 146 appearances and the captain of Team Melli.
Hajsafi made headlines around the world at the 2022 World Cup when he publicly apologised to the Iranian people in solidarity with the protests happening back home, one of the bravest acts by any athlete at a sporting event in recent memory.
He is a veteran left-back who brings decades of experience and leadership to Iran’s defensive setup.
At 36, this is almost certainly his final World Cup.
7. Mehdi Ghayedi — Forward
Age: 27 | Club: Al Nasr (UAE)
One of Iran’s most exciting attacking options and the second most prolific international scorer in the squad after Taremi.
Ghayedi has 30 caps and 10 international goals, and brings pace, directness, and a real finishing instinct that gives Ghalenoei a different attacking dimension when he needs it.
His movement alongside Taremi inside the penalty area gives Iran a dual threat that is difficult for opposing centre-backs to manage simultaneously.
8. Milad Mohammadi — Defender
Age: 32 | Club: Persepolis (Iran)
A dependable and experienced left-sided defender who has been a reliable member of the national team for years.
Mohammadi has 76 caps and gives Iran solid, organised cover on the left flank backed by the experience of multiple tournament campaigns.
9. Hossein Kanaanizadegan — Defender
Age: 32 | Club: Persepolis (Iran)
One of Iran’s most experienced centre-backs with 65 caps and an impressive 6 international goals — a noteworthy return from a defensive position.
Kanaanizadegan gives Iran’s backline physical authority and defensive organisation that Ghalenoei relies upon when the team needs to hold a result against quality opposition.
10. Saman Ghoddos — Midfielder
Age: 32 | Club: Kalba (UAE)
One of Iran’s most technically accomplished midfielders and a player who spent several seasons in the Championship with Brentford in English football.
Ghoddos has 68 caps and 3 international goals and brings a composure and ball retention quality that gives Iran a calmer option in possession when they want to control the tempo rather than press high.
His European experience makes him one of the most tactically aware players in this squad.
Honourable mentions go to Ramin Rezaeian, Aria Yousefi, and young midfielder Amirmohammad Razzaghinia — at just 20, one of the most exciting emerging talents in Iranian football.
Iran’s Moment of Truth
Seven World Cups, seven group-stage exits.
Iran head to North America knowing this is a genuine opportunity to finally change that record against a favourable Group G draw.
Taremi is as sharp as he has been in years, Jahanbakhsh brings world-class wide play, and Beiranvand gives the team a goalkeeper capable of delivering big saves in crucial moments.
The absence of Azmoun is a significant blow, but if Taremi performs at the level he showed in qualifying, Iran are capable of surprising people.
Check out more on the best football national teams in Asia, the greatest Asian players in World Cup history, and every country that has won the World Cup.
According to Squawka’s tournament analysis, Taremi scored 10 qualifying goals, second only to Almoez Ali across the entire AFC — underlining just how vital he is to this Iran squad.
Who do you think will be Iran’s best player at the 2026 World Cup? Let us know in the comments!
