Qalenoei forced to rethink flank options after double injury blow
With the FIFA World Cup fast approaching, Iran head coach Amir Qalenoei is grappling with a selection dilemma on the flanks of his starting XI after two of his key wingers suffered major injury setbacks within 24 hours over the weekend.
Lech Poznań’s in-form winger Ali Qolizadeh has been ruled out of the showpiece after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Saturday’s victory over Motor Lublin.
“Qolizadeh will face surgery in the coming days, followed by several months of rehabilitation,” the club said in a statement on Monday.
Iranian captain Alireza Jahanbakhsh, meanwhile, faces a race against time to be fit for his fourth World Cup participation following a muscle problem sustained during Belgian top-flight relegation playoff action on Sunday.
Should Iran’s Supreme National Security Council give the go-ahead for the national team to take part in the World Cup – amid Iran’s military conflict with the United States and Israel – Qalenoei’s men will open their Group G campaign against New Zealand in Los Angeles on June 15.
With Iranian domestic league players set to be out of competitive action until the global event, Qalenoei will likely have to build his team around his overseas players. However, the recent setbacks have added further blows to his preparation program – beyond ongoing issues related to securing friendly matches and visa approvals for players who completed their military service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Qalenoei remains hopeful that Jahanbakhsh’s fate will differ from Qolizadeh’s, though the head coach is also preparing for the worst-case scenario by exploring alternatives.
Candidates to fill the right-wing position include Mohammad Mohebi, Mehdi Qayedi, and Mehdi Hashemnejad. Mohebi and Qayedi have previously played together effectively – having shared experience at Esteghlal – with Mohebi drifting to the right and Qayedi operating on the left.
The current mini-camp also features Mohammad-Mehdi Mohebbi, Arya Yousefi, and Amir-Hossein Mahmoudi, all of whom are vying for a spot. Notably, Yousefi has been pushed forward by the head coach from full-back and could emerge as a surprise inclusion. Allahyar Sayyadmanesh, a versatile striker capable of playing on the right, is another option.
Among the hopefuls, 17-year-old Mahmoudi has had a meteoric rise: in less than a month, he earned his top-flight debut for Persepolis, scored a goal, and joined the national team camp. If selected for the trip to the United States, he could become the youngest Iranian player in World Cup history.
Qalenoei’s immediate priority is awaiting official confirmation of Jahanbakhsh’s condition. Meanwhile, Iran’s training camp in Turkey is set to begin next week, where overseas players will join their domestic counterparts. With 40 days until Iran’s opening game, the clock is ticking for Qalenoei – who is eager to lead Team Melli to a maiden knockout-stage berth in seven attempts – to resolve one of the most critical challenges of the World Cup buildup.