In preparations for the upcoming friendly international match against Uzbekistan in Tashkent, FFIRI has announced a list of 29 players invited by Carlos Queiroz to join the squad for training.
As usual, there are always question marks on the selections for one reason or another. Two players have announced their retirement after the world cup 2018, Azmoun and Ghochannejad. However, although Azmoun is included, the latter is not!
Also, Vouriya Ghafoori is recalled after the World Cup snub by Queiroz. However, Jalal Hosseini, The Persepolis Captain and the most capped Team Melli player in not included. Jalal Hossein , 36 years old with 114 caps career as Team Melli player is as good as over.
Carlos Queiroz himself, is another enigma, one day leaving, the other staying drama continues.
The objective of the preparation is towards the best possible team for the AFC Asian Cup 2019, a trophy that Iran has failed to lift since 1976 . The tournament that will be held in the UAE forms a major challenge to Iran. Not only it has to face 4 powerful contenders in Japan, South Korea, Australia and Uzbekistan , it is held in a hostile government & territory of Emirates where the officials will do their utmost to poke and make life miserable for the Iranians, a trait that the Arabs excel in.
The Squad
| # | Player | Age | Club | Country |
| GOALKEEPERS | ||||
| 1 | ABEDZADEH, Amir | 25 | C.S. Marítimo |  |
| 2 | BIRANVAND, Alireza | 25 | Persepolis |  |
| 3 | HOSSEINI, Hossein | 26 | Esteghlal | |
| 4 | MAZAHERI, Mohammad Rashid | 29 | Zob Ahan | |
| DEFENDERS | ||||
| 5 | CHESHMI, Rouzbeh | 25 | Esteghlal | |
| 6 | GHAFOORI, Vourya | 30 | Esteghlal | |
| 7 | HOSSEINI, Majeed | 22 | Trabzonspor |  |
| 8 | KHANZADEH, Mohammadreza | 26 | Al Ahli |  |
| 9 | MOHAMMADI, Milad | 24 | Akhmat Grozny |  |
| 10 | MOHARRAMI, Sadegh | 22 | Dinamo Zagreb |  |
| 11 | MONTAZERI, Pejman | 34 | Esteghlal | |
| 12 | POURALIGANJI, Morteza | 26 | Eupen |  |
| 13 | REZAEIAN, Ramin | 28 | K.V. Oostende | |
| 14 | SOHRABIAN, Armin | 23 | Esteghlal | |
| MIDFIELD | ||||
| 15 | AMIRI, Vahid | 30 | Trabzonspor | |
| 16 | DEJAGAH, Ashkan | 32 | Tractorsazi | |
| 17 | EBRAHIMI, Omid | 30 | A Ahli | |
| 18 | EZZATOLLAHI, Saeid | 21 | Reading |  |
| 19 | GHODDOS, Saman | 24 | Amiens |  |
| 20 | HAJSAFY, Ehsan | 28 | Tractorsazi | |
| 21 | KARIMI, Ali | 24 | Esteghlal | |
| 22 | SHOJAEI, Masoud | 34 | Tractorsazi | |
| 23 | TORABI, Mehdi | 24 | Persepolis | |
| FORWARDS | ||||
| 24 | ANSARIFARD, Karim | 28 | Olympiacos F.C. |  |
| 25 | AZMOUN, Sardar | 23 | Rubin Kazan | |
| 26 | GHOLIZADEH, Ali | 22 | Charleoi | |
| 27 | REZAEI, Kaveh | 26 | Brugge | |
| 28 | JAHANBAKHSH, AliReza | 24 | Brighton | |
| 29 | TAREMI, Mehdi | 26 | Al Gharrafah | |