Sports Desk: Iran has announced its final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with veteran striker Sardar Azmoun emerging as the most notable omission from the roster. The squad includes 17 home-based players despite the disruption of domestic football activities in recent months due to the regional conflict in the Middle East. Head coach Amir Ghalenoei has placed his faith in a mix of experienced internationals and domestic talent as Iran prepares for its fourth consecutive World Cup appearance. The attack will be spearheaded by veteran forward Mehdi Taremi, who currently plays for Olympiacos in Greece. Overseas-based players from the United Arab Emirates, Belgium, Russia and Greece have also been included in the squad.
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Azmoun, Iran’s long-serving striker and one of the country’s leading goal scorers, was left out after being excluded from the preliminary squad earlier this year. Reports have linked his omission to controversy surrounding a social media post, although the national federation has not officially commented on the reasons behind the decision. Iran is currently holding a training camp in Antalya, Turkey, before travelling to its World Cup base in Tijuana, Mexico. FIFA recently approved the relocation of the team’s training base from Arizona following visa-related complications. Iran will begin its Group G campaign against New Zealand on June 15 in Los Angeles. The team will then face Belgium on June 21 before taking on Egypt in Seattle on June 26.
