Written and Fact-checked by Whereig Editors | Last Updated On: June 05, 2026
Iran In 1998, Iran beat the United States in one of the most politically charged matches in World Cup history. They've been a fixture at the tournament ever since, always competitive, never quite breaking through. Asia's most consistent side arrives again — quieter than most, deadlier than many, and long overdue a deep run.
Iran heads into the 2026 FIFA World Cup with one of the strongest squads in international football and high expectations after consistent performances in recent major tournaments. Explore Iran’s latest squad list, fixtures, records, results, and all-time World Cup statistics.
Iran continues to remain one of Europe’s leading football nations with a talented squad featuring experienced internationals and emerging young stars. The team is expected to challenge for another deep run at the FIFA World Cup.
The national side has built strong momentum through recent World Cup and UEFA European Championship performances. Iran’s attacking quality, midfield depth, and defensive balance continue to make the team one of the strongest contenders in world football.
FIFA World Cup Iran Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | Iran |
| Football Association | Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) |
| Confederation | Asian Football Confederation (AFC) |
| Nickname | Team Melli |
| Manager | Amir Ghalenoei |
| Captain | Mehdi Taremi |
| First FIFA World Cup Appearance | 1978 |
| World Cup Appearances (Including 2026) | 7 |
| Best FIFA World Cup Result | Group Stage (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022) |
| World Cup Titles | 0 |
| AFC Asian Cup Titles | 3 (1968, 1972, 1976) |
| Total World Cup Matches Played | 18 |
| Total Wins | 3 |
| Total Draws | 4 |
| Total Losses | 11 |
| Goals Scored | 13 |
| Goals Conceded | 31 |
| Most World Cup Appearances | Javad Nekounam (9 matches) |
| Top World Cup Goalscorer | Mehdi Taremi (3 goals) |
Iran FIFA World Cup 2026 Full Squad List
Manager: Amir Ghalenoei
Captain: Mehdi Taremi
Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Tractor), Seyed 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-Nasr), 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), Mehdi Taremi (Olympiacos), Shahriyar Moghanlou (Kalba).
Iran FIFA World Cup 2026 Group Stage Schedule
| Match No. | Date | Time (Local) | Match | Venue | City |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | Mon, June 15 | 18:00 PDT | Iran vs New Zealand | SoFi Stadium | Inglewood (Los Angeles) |
| 53 | Sun, June 21 | 12:00 PDT | Belgium vs Iran | SoFi Stadium | Inglewood (Los Angeles) |
| 76 | Fri, June 26 | 20:00 PDT | Egypt vs Iran | Lumen Field | Seattle |
Iran FIFA World Cup 2026 Results
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has not started yet and Iran's official tournament results will be updated after each match.
| Date | Match | Result | Score | Venue | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 June 2026 | Iran vs New Zealand | Upcoming Fixture | TBD | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood | Group Stage |
| 21 June 2026 | Belgium vs Iran | Upcoming Fixture | TBD | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood | Group Stage |
| 26 June 2026 | Egypt vs Iran | Upcoming Fixture | TBD | Lumen Field, Seattle | Group Stage |
Iran FIFA World Cup Best Performances
| Year | Host Country | Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Argentina | Group Stage |
| 1998 | France | Group Stage |
| 2006 | Germany | Group Stage |
| 2014 | Brazil | Group Stage |
| 2018 | Russia | Group Stage |
| 2022 | Qatar | Group Stage |
| 2026 | Canada, Mexico, United States | Qualified |
Iran All-Time FIFA World Cup Stats
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 18 |
| Wins | 3 |
| Draws | 4 |
| Losses | 11 |
| Goals Scored | 13 |
| Goals Conceded | 31 |
| Clean Sheets | 4 |
| Round of 16 Appearances | 0 |
| Quarter-final Appearances | 0 |
| Semi-final Appearances | 0 |
| Final Appearances | 0 |
Iran Most FIFA World Cup Appearances
| Rank | Player | Matches | Tournaments | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Javad Nekounam | 9 | 3 | 2006-2014 |
| 2 | Ehsan Hajsafi | 9 | 3 | 2014-2022 |
| 3 | Karim Ansarifard | 8 | 3 | 2014-2022 |
| 4 | Masoud Shojaei | 8 | 3 | 2006-2018 |
| 5 | Andranik Teymourian | 8 | 2 | 2006-2014 |
| 6 | Alireza Beiranvand | 8 | 2 | 2018-2022 |
| 7 | Sardar Azmoun | 7 | 2 | 2018-2022 |
| 8 | Mehdi Taremi | 6 | 2 | 2018-2022 |
| 9 | Ashkan Dejagah | 6 | 2 | 2014-2018 |
| 10 | Ali Daei | 6 | 2 | 1998-2006 |
Iran Top Scorers in FIFA World Cup
| Rank | Player | Goals | Matches | World Cups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mehdi Taremi | 3 | 6 | 2018-2022 |
| 2 | Sardar Azmoun | 2 | 7 | 2018-2022 |
| 3 | Karim Ansarifard | 2 | 8 | 2014-2022 |
| 4 | Ramin Rezaeian | 1 | 5 | 2018-2022 |
| 5 | Rouzbeh Cheshmi | 1 | 4 | 2018-2022 |
| 6 | Vahid Amiri | 1 | 5 | 2018-2022 |
| 7 | Yahya Golmohammadi | 1 | 3 | 1998 |
| 8 | Hamid Estili | 1 | 3 | 1998 |
| 9 | Mehdi Mahdavikia | 1 | 6 | 1998-2006 |
| 10 | Ali Daei | 1 | 6 | 1998-2006 |
References
- FIFA Official Website
- Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran
- RSSSF Football Statistics
- ESPN Football