The head coach of Iran’s national football team, Amir Ghalenoei, has unveiled a 21-player squad for the upcoming two matches against UAE and Uzbekistan in the qualifying rounds of the FIFA World Cup 2026. This selection reflects a more refined approach to the domestic Premier League, as Ghalneoi and his assistants appear to have been actively scouting new talent.
After facing criticism for previous call-ups, which was mainly the same old players, Ghalenoei has adjusted his selection strategy, omitting two players who were deemed to have underperformed—one of whom is Saeed Saharkhizan, a promising young talent who has struggled in recent months. The other is more experienced yet short of form, Shahriar Moghanloo , who plays alongside Ghaedi and Ghoddos in Ittihad Kalba in the UAE league, who is absent from the new squad.
One of the most significant inclusions is Ali Alipour, the Persepolis striker and current top scorer in the Premier League. His selection is widely regarded as a positive move, bringing in-form domestic talent into the Team Melli setup. While some invitees have seen a dip in form at their respective clubs, the overall process of generational transition within the national team appears to be on the right track.
Premier League Representation in the Squad
Although foreign-based players still constitute the majority of the squad, the selection from Iran’s domestic league is notable. Sepahan leads the way with four representatives: Payam Niazmand, Amin Hezbavi, Arya Yousefi, and Mohammad Karimi. Persepolis follows with three players—Milad Mohammadi, Hossein Kanani, and Ali Alipour. Malavan contributes two players, Omid Norafkan and Daniyal A. Rey, while Aluminum Arak (Mohammad Khalifa) and Foolad (Ali Nemati) also have players in the squad.
Several newcomers have made the list, including:
- Ali Alipour (Persepolis) – Strictly speaking,the Premier League’s top scorer with 10 goals, is not new in Team Melli. He has been called before but not managed to be a fixture in the squad.
- Mohammad Khalifa (Aluminum Arak) – A promising young goalkeeper who has shown remarkable form for his club.
- Daniyal A. Rey (Malavan) – A 20-year-old defender who played the first half of the season at Zob Ahan. He is a player that made a big impact with his club and his form earned praise from critics.
National Team Preparations
To fine-tune the squad before the decisive matches against the UAE and Uzbekistan, Ghalenoei has planned to observe two domestic match on Sunday: Zob Ahan vs. Esteghlal Tehran and a separate fixture involving Tractor Tabriz. More players are expected to be added to the list. Additionally, Gol Gohar Sirjan’s inclusion of new players in the camp suggests that the team will enter these crucial encounters with a refreshed and competitive lineup.
With a blend of experienced legionnaires and emerging domestic talents, Iran’s national team aims to strengthen its position in the upcoming fixtures.
The 21 players list:
GOALKEEPERS:
Payam Niazam (Sepahan), Mohammad Khalifa (Aluminum),
Defenders:
Milad Mohammadi and Mohammad Hossein Kananizadegan (Persepolis),
Omid Norafkan and Danial Ai Ray (Malvan),
Ali Nemati (Foulad),
Amin Hezbawi and Aria Yousefi (Sepahan),
Midfielders:
Mohammad Mohebi (Rostov, Russia),
Mehdi Ghaedi and Saman Ghodoos (Etihad Kalba UAE),
Saeed Ezzatollahi (Shabab Al-Ahli, UAE),
Mohammad Ghorbani (Al-Wahda, UAE),
Mohammad Karimi (Sepahan),
Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Heerenveen, Netherlands),
Ali Gholizadeh (Lakh Poznan, Poland),
Forwards:
Mehdi Taremi (Inter Milan, Italy),
Javad Hosseinnejad (Dynamo Makhachkala, Russia),
Ali Alipour (Persepolis),
Sardar Azmoun (Shabab Al-Ahli, UAE).