Iran

Iran’s modern history at the Asian Cup is one of torment and agony because every four years the side and the nation are consumed by the same single question: can Team Melli for the first time since 1976 win the coveted prize to fulfil their potential and satisfy their demanding fanbase?

What to expect

Iran won the Asian Cup three times before the Islamic Revolution, but have never reached the final since. Four years ago, with Carlos Queiroz at the helm, they were eliminated in the last four by Japan.

Things won’t get easier in Doha: question marks remain over coach Amir Ghalenoei, the team is top-heavy and South Korea could await in a daunting quarter-final.

With the core of the team from the 2022 World Cup intact, the side can count on star power and goals in the final third with Porto’s Mehdi Taremi and AS Roma’s Sardar Azmoun, who has found his form again under José Mourinho.

The team went unbeaten in 2023, winning nine out of eleven matches, including a 4-0 trashing of Qatar. Could this then finally be Iran’s year?

Star player

Mehdi Taremi and Sardar Azmoun are Iran’s headliners. The latter struggled at Bayer Leverkusen, but on loan in the Italian capital, he has rekindled his form.

The second-most expensive Iranian of all time, Azmoun combines creativity, bursts of speed, areal ability and a fine finishing touch.

Taremi notched up just three goals from 15 appearances with Porto in the second half of the year, but his 22 goals last season earned him the top scorer’s award as well as a second Portuguese league title.

Other players to watch are Feyenoord’s Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Brentford’s Saman Ghoddos, Vejle’s Saeid Ezatolahi, captain Ehsan Hajsafi, at his last Asian Cup, and veteran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, whose story of homelessness to realising his football dream remains inspirational.

Manager 

Amir Ghalenoei (pictured) is managing Iran for the second time after leading Team Melli to the quarter-finals of the 2007 Asian Cup. That defeat by South Korea prompted his exit and Ghalenoei felt hard done by, so in Qatar, he will be seeking some form of redemption.

At the time, he had players like Mehdi Mahdavikia and Ali Karimi at his disposal and the current Iranian generation is no less talented. He hasn’t tweaked the side too much from the design of his predecessor Carlos Queiroz.

Ghalenoei’s great domestic expertise cannot be discounted, but his general lack of international experience could be a liability at a major international tournament.

Schedule 

Saturday, January 14, 2024, 2:30 pm: Iran – Palestine – Education City Stadium, Doha

Friday, January 19, 2024, 8:30 pm: Hong Kong – Iran – Khalifa International Stadium, Doha

Tuesday, January 23, 2024, 6:00 pm: Iran – United Arab Emirates –  Education City Stadium, Doha

Squad