Iran names 23-man squad for U20 Asian Cup
Iran head coach Hossein Abdi announced the 23-man squad for the upcoming AFC U20 Asian Cup in China.
A winner of four successive titles in the 70s, Iran will begin its Group C campaign against Indonesia in Shenzhen on February 13.
Abdi’s boys will then take on Yemen three days later before squaring off against defending champion Uzbekistan on February 19.
The top two of the group will progress to the last-eight round, with the four semifinalists qualifying for the FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile in September.
Australia and Kyrgyzstan will go head-to-head in the opening match of the competition on Feb. 12 in Group A – also featuring the host and Qatar.
Five-time champion Iraq, was beaten by Uzbekistan in the 2023 final, heads the Group B cast with Jordan, Saudi Arabia and North Korea also vying for the two quarterfinal spots.
South Korea, the most decorated team in the event with 12 titles, is in Group D alongside Japan, Syria, and Thailand.
The following is Iran’s full squad for the tournament:
Goalkeepers: Arsha Shakouri (Havadar), Mohammad Gandomi (Persepolis), Armin Abbasi (Persepolis)
Defenders: Alireza Homaeifard (Persepolis), Hesam Nafari (Zob Ahan), Erfan Darivish-A’ali (Foolad Khuzestan), Ali Hassani (Foolad Khuzestan), Nima Andarz (CD Leganés), Yaqoub Baraje’eh (Persepolis), Sina Mo’azamitabar (Fajr Sepasi), Mobin Dehqani (Khaybar), Abolfazl Zoleikhaei (Esteghlal)
Midfielders: Samir Hoboubati (Persepolis), Abolfazl Zamani (Esteghlal), Mahan Sadeqi (Malavan FC), Esmaeil Qolizadeh (Sepahan), Yousef Mzaraeh (Foolad Khuzestan), Abbas Kahrizi (Paykan), Amirmohammad Razzaqinia (Golgohar)
Strikers: Mohammad Dindar (Havadar), Pouria Shahrabadi (Golgohar), Abolfazl Moredi (Foolad Khuzestan), Reza Ghandipour (Malavan FC).