Iran
For all the talent Iran have produced, the same wall has stood for 15 attempts: the group stage. No side in their history has ever climbed over it, and in 2022 they came as close as a team can, eliminated in stoppage time against the United States. Amir Ghalenoei, kept on through 2026, has rebuilt the response around a deep, organised 4-3-3 led by two centre-forwards who carry the goals. Mehdi Taremi of Inter Milan and Sardar Azmoun give the attack its shape, with Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Saman Ghoddos lending experience behind them. A fourth straight finals, the longest streak the country has known, arrives alongside the kindest draw it has ever had. In Group G with Belgium, Egypt and New Zealand, second place and a maiden knockout berth look, finally, within reach.
Standings · G
After matchday 3 of 3| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BEL | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | +4 | 5 |
| 2 | EGY | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 5 |
| 3 | IRN | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | NZL | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -6 | 1 |