Iran announce 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup
Amir Ghalenoei has named Iran’s final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Team Melli are in Group G with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
Iran has finalized its World Cup roster while training in Antalya, where the team is preparing through camp and friendlies. The squad is set to open against New Zealand in Los Angeles, then face Belgium and Egypt in the group stage.
Iran has picked the 26 players it will take to the World Cup, like choosing the final team for a big school tournament. The team is practicing in Turkey and playing warm-up games before facing three strong opponents in its group.
Analysis
Squad and preparation
Head coach Amir Ghalenoei has officially revealed Iran’s final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to the report, Team Melli are in a two-week training camp in Antalya, Turkey as part of their preparations.
Iran also came through a 3-1 friendly win over Gambia on Saturday and are scheduled to play Mali on Thursday. The article frames these matches as part of the team’s lead-up to the tournament.
Group G outlook
Iran are drawn in Group G with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand. Their group stage schedule begins against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 16, followed by Belgium on June 21, and then Egypt in Seattle on June 27.
The published squad is split across goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards. The goalkeeper group includes Alireza Beiranvand, Hossein Hosseini and Payam Niazmand. The list also features established names such as Ehsan Haji Safi, Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Mehdi Taremi, alongside other domestic and overseas-based players.
The article does not add tactical detail or explain why individual players were chosen. Its main purpose is to confirm the final roster and the immediate preparation schedule before the World Cup begins.
Key points
- Amir Ghalenoei has named Iran’s final 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- Iran are training in Antalya, Turkey as part of their buildup to the tournament.
- Team Melli beat Gambia 3-1 in a friendly and will play Mali next.
- Iran are in Group G with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.
- Iran open against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 16.
If the training camp and friendlies continue to go well, Iran could enter the World Cup with better rhythm and teamwork. A settled squad may help the team manage a tough group and compete more confidently against Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand.
The group is challenging, and Iran has limited time to refine everything before the opening match. If the warm-up games do not translate into tournament form, the team could struggle to keep pace with stronger opponents across the group stage.
