Iran calls up 30-man squad for World Cup training camp
Iran head coach Amir Qalenoei named a 30-man squad, comprising domestic league players, for an upcoming training camp ahead of the FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada from June 11.
The players reported for a first training session of the camp on Monday, which is expected to continue for three to four weeks.
The decision to hold the camp with 50 days remaining until the global showpiece came after the League Organization of the Iranian Football Federation confirmed on Friday that the remainder of the Persian Gulf Pro League will resume after the conclusion of Team Melli’s World Cup campaign.
The Iranian top flight has been postponed since February 28, when the United States and Israel initiated a war campaign against Iran, and Qalenoei is desperate to ensure his domestic players remain in proper condition despite a lack of competitive action until the World Cup.
Iran will kick off its Group G campaign in the United States against New Zealand at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on June 15, before facing European heavyweight Belgium at the same venue six days later.
The team will then travel to Seattle, Washington, to face Egypt in its final group game at Lumen Field on June 26.
With eight third-placed teams across the 12 groups advancing to the round of 32, Iran will fancy its chances of securing its first-ever knockout spot at the seventh attempt.
Team Melli was last in action in a friendly double-header in Antalya, Türkiye, during March’s international break, falling to a 2-1 loss to Nigeria before bouncing back to hammer Costa Rica 5-0.
However, Mahdi Taj, the chairman of the sport’s national governing body, cast further doubt on Iran’s World Cup participation on Sunday, saying “high-ranking authorities in the country will have the final say on the issue.”
His remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump said in the early stages of the ongoing military conflict that he considers it not “appropriate” for Iran to take part in the tournament “for their own life and safety.”
FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, however, said last week that Iran will play “for sure” at the World Cup, insisting that “sports should be outside of politics.”
The following is Iran’s 30-man squad for the World Cup training camp:
Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Tractor), Payam Niazmand (Persepolis), Seyyed Hossein Hosseini (Sepahan), Mohammad Khalifeh (Iralco)
Defenders: Shoja Khalilzadeh (Tractor), Ali Ne’mati (Foolad Khuzestan), Aref Aqasi (Esteghlal), Hossein Kan’anizadegan (Persepolis), Hossein Abarqouei (Persepolis), Danial Eiri (Malavan FC), Masoud Mohebbi (Khaybar Khorramabad), Ramin Rezaeian (Foolad Khuzestan), Danial Esmaeilifar (Tractor), Saleh Hardani (Esteghlal), Arya Yousefi (Sepahan), Milad Mohammadi (Persepolis), Ehsan Hajsafi (Sepahan)
Midfielders: Rouzbeh Cheshmi (Esteghlal), Amirmohammad Razzaqinia (Esteghlal), Omid Nourafkan (Sepahan), Aref Haji-Eidi (Sepahan), Hadi Habibinejad (Chadormalou), Mahdi Hashemnejad (Tractor), Mahdi Torabi (Tractor), Mohammad-Mahdi Mohebbi (Sepahan)
Strikers: Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh (Tractor), Ali Alipour (Persepolis), Ehsan Mahrouqi (Foolad Khuzestan), Amirhossein Mahmoudi (Persepolis), Kasra Taheri (Zob Ahan).