Iran confirms 12-man squad for Beach Soccer World Cup
Head coach Ali Naderi announced Iran’s 12-man squad for the upcoming FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, starting Thursday in Dubail, the United Arab Emirates.
Stepping into the event as the reigning Asian champion, courtesy of a final victory over Japan in Thailand last March, Iran is in Group B of the competition – also featuring two-time runner-up Tahiti, Spain, and Argentina.
Goalkeepers Hamid Behzadpour and Mahdi Mirjalili will be joined by skipper Moslem Mesigar, Amirhossein Akbari, Mohammad-Ali Mokhtari, Ali Mirshekari, Mohammad Ma’soumizadeh, Movahed Mohammadpour, Reza Amirizadeh, Mohammad Moradi, Mahdi Shirmohammadi, and Saeid Piramoun in the Iranian squad, which will begin its campaign against Spain, finalist in the 2013 edition, on the opening day of the tournament.
Iran, a four-time Intercontinental Cup champion, will then take on Argentina on Saturday, before squaring off against Tahiti – in a repeat of a 2017 semifinal – two days later.
Piramoun joined up with the rest of his teammates in Dubai on Monday after recovering from a groin injury.
In a final friendly before the tournament, Nadri’s men came out on top against Colombia with a 3-2 victory in Dubai on Friday, thanks to a Ma’soumizadeh’s double plus a Mokhtari’s strike.
The top two of each of the four groups will progress to the quarterfinals with the final showdown set to be staged at the at the Dubai Design District Stadium on February 25.
The host country is pitted against Egypt, the United States, and Italy in Group A, with Senegal, Belarus, Colombia, and Japan – runner-up to Russia in 2021 – battling it out for last-eight spots in Group C.
Brazil – the most decorated team in the competition with five trophies – Oman, Portugal – two-time champion in 2015 and 2019 – and Mexico are in Group D.
Iran’s best result in the sport’s flagship international event came in the 2017 edition in Bahamas, where the Asian side defeated Italy 5-3 to finish on the third podium.