The Group StageWC 2026 · ANALYTICS
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IRN
Group GAFCFIFA #21Tier 1

Iran

Asia's most consistent qualifiers, still chasing a first knockout berth.

0.2%
To win the cup
+49900

Tournament outlook

Iran are well-drilled and carry proven goalscorers in Taremi and Azmoun. The long-held dream is to finally escape the group stage.

Managed by Amir Ghalenoei, Iran head into the 2026 World Cup in Group G, where they face Belgium, Egypt, New Zealand. With a FIFA ranking of #21, expectations are calibrated accordingly, but tournament football has a way of rewriting the script.

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Key players

MT
Mehdi Taremi
ST · Inter
SA
Sardar Azmoun
ST · Shabab Al Ahli
AJ
Alireza Jahanbakhsh
RW · Heerenveen

Strengths & weaknesses

▲ Strengths

  • Experienced strikers
  • Defensive resilience
  • Set-pieces

▼ Weaknesses

  • Breaking down deep blocks
  • Knockout experience

How far can Iran go?

Iran will treat the group stage as their proving ground. An upset over a higher-ranked side would make their tournament a success. Follow our matchup previews and live odds throughout the group stage to track their progress.

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