Qalenoei to stay on as Iran coach for Asian Cup, Taj confirms
Amir Qalenoei will remain in charge of Iran through the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, which begins on January 7 in Saudi Arabia, Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) president Mehdi Taj has confirmed.
The announcement ends recent speculation over the future of the national team’s bench following a mixed World Cup campaign in the United States.
Iran drew all three of its Group G matches – 2-2 against New Zealand, goalless against Belgium, and 1-1 with Egypt – to finish third in the standings and miss out on a place in the knockout stage of the expanded 48-team tournament.
“Mr. Qalenoei will continue as Iran head coach. We have already received his plans for the Asian Cup, and preparations will begin during the upcoming FIFA international window in September,” Taj told Iranian state television on Saturday.
A semifinalist at the previous two editions, Iran will begin its bid for a fourth Asian Cup title – and its first since 1976 – against China in Group C, which also features Kyrgyzstan and Syria, at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena on January 9.
Never-ending debate
Debate continues among Iranian fans and pundits over Team Melli’s World Cup campaign in the United States.
Iran produced some spirited performances and completed the group stage unbeaten for the first time in its World Cup history, an achievement many considered noteworthy given the politically charged and disrupted buildup Qalenoei’s side endured amid the country’s conflict with one of the tournament’s co-hosts.
All Iran-based players in the squad arrived at the tournament without competitive action after the outbreak of the war in late February, while the national team had little opportunity to play high-profile warm-up matches before the World Cup.
Logistical problems – including travel restrictions, visa denials affecting support staff, and repeated trips back to the team’s training base in Tijuana, Mexico, after each match – also complicated Iran’s campaign, with Qalenoei and several players publicly complaining about those conditions throughout the tournament.
Describing Iran as the “most oppressed” team at the World Cup, Qalenoei urged FIFA after the Egypt match “not to let the hosts treat teams and players the same way in the future.”
Captain Mahdi Taremi also labeled the tournament a logistical “disaster,” saying Team Melli had not been made to feel welcome in the United States.
Despite those challenges, Qalenoei has faced mounting criticism over his tactical approach and decision-making during the three group-stage matches. Critics argue he failed to deliver on the team’s stated objective of reaching the knockout rounds for the first time in seven World Cup appearances, despite what many observers viewed as a favorable group-stage draw.
Qalenoei, who returned for a second spell as Iran head coach in March 2023, broke his silence on Wednesday with a lengthy social media post reflecting on the World Cup campaign. However, he stopped short of offering an apology for the team’s elimination, prompting further criticism from those who accused him of refusing to take responsibility for the early exit.
The 2027 Asian Cup will be a fourth major tournament for Qalenoei, whose current contract is due to expire on July 23, as Iran head coach. During his first spell in charge, Iran was knocked out by South Korea in the quarterfinals of the 2007 Asian Cup, while his second tenure has so far produced a semifinal finish at the 2024 edition, where Team Melli lost to host Qatar.